Plot: What’s it about?
Tom Canty (Mark Lester) and Edward, Prince Of Wales (also Mark Lester) have very little in common, but soon their lives will intertwine forever. Tom is a poor peasant boy who has very little to his name, while Edward is a the son of the king and it would seem as though he could have whatever he wished for. As different as their lives are, the two could pass as twins because they look so much alike. When the two meet, they decide to have some fun and play a prank on the royals by switching clothes and roles for a short time. It seems like a simple enough plan and at first it works just fine, but then something goes wrong and the entire plan takes a turn for the unexpected. You see, the two boys become separated and as such, are forced to live the life of the other, which could become quite an unusual task. Can the two ever reunite and switch back, so they can have their true identities back at last?
If you ask me, you can never have too much swashbuckling adventures movies and that’s why I am pleased to see The Prince And The Pauper (aka Crossed Swords) arrive on DVD, thanks to the folks at Anchor Bay Entertainment. This one is loaded with adventure and stars, as it supports a cast filled to the brim with top tier talent. From Charlton Heston to Raquel Welch to George C. Scott, the whole gang is present in this film and they all turn in superb performances. I think this picture plays much like a grand stage version instead of a film at times, but that’s not a bad thing in the end. The set design is excellent and the lavish nature of the material is served well here. The attention to detail is fantastic and these sets are loaded with subtle touches, which make them that much more effective. The makeup is good also, though I do have to say Heston’s crew was a little too liberal at times. Also impressive are the costumes, which are grand and gorgeous at all times. You’ve got a great story, terrific cast, and excellent production values, what more do you need? This is a fun and exciting adventure movie, which I highly recommend to those who follow the genre.
This film was directed by Richard Fleischer, who is no stranger to helming large scale movies with successful results. Fleischer was an experienced director when he was brought onto this project, and that shows with the even handed techniques used in this film. Fleischer and his crew are able to bring all the majesty and splendor of this era to life, and the camera always seem to be just in the right place to capture it all. If you compare the widescreen and full frame transfers on this disc, you’ll see how vital the compositions are, as much is lost in the process of reformatting the movie. I am also surprised Fleischer was able to balance such a large number of talented actors, which could throw some directors for a loop. But Fleischer comes through on all counts with this movie, and delivers the swashbuckling adventure that this material deserves to be. If you want to see more of Fleischer’s films I recommend Soylent Green, Fantastic Voyage, Doctor Dolittle (1967), Tora! Tora! Tora!, and Conan The Destroyer. This film boasts an impressive cast, loaded with terrific actors who turn in superb performances. The cast includes such names as Charlton Heston (Planet Of The Apes, The Omega Man), Rex Harrison (Cleopatra, The Honey Pot), Ernest Borgnine (Baseketball, The Black Hole), Sybil Danning (Meteor, Panther Squad), Oliver Reed (The House Of Usher, Gladiator), Raquel Welch (Bluebeard, Bedazzled (1967), George C. Scott (Patton), and Mark Lester (Oliver!, Black Beauty).
Video: How does it look?
The Prince And The Pauper is presented in a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, with a full frame version also included on this dual layered disc. This is a very good transfer and I wasn’t expecting it to this good, but Anchor Bay has really delivered the goods on this title. I found no signs of compression flaws, while debris and damage to the source print was minimal at worst. The colors look natural, but bright and show no smears or blooms, while flesh tones are normal and distortion free. The contrast is excellent, even in the darkest scenes detail is high, which is remarkable for some of these sequences. This might not be a high profile title to us all, but Anchor Bay has treated it as if it were.
Audio: How does it sound?
The original mono track is used on this disc, which is good to be sure, but sometimes seems too limited for this material. With all the adventure and action we see & hear, I think a full surround remix would have been spectacular. But this one isn’t bad at all, it’s just limited and seems flat at times. The music sounds pretty good in this mix though, never becoming hollow or forced, which is common on mono tracks. The dialogue comes through fine also, with no clarity problems or volume issues in the least. This is a solid track in all respects, but I just wish a surround remix was included for the action sequences.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes the film’s theatrical trailer and a television spot, both of which bill the film under the original title, Crossed Swords.
