The Unforgettable Characters of The Magic Sword (1950)

In 1950, a magical sword emerged as a prominent symbol of power and heroism. This enchanted weapon, known as the magic sword, captivated the imagination of many during that time. The sword was rumored to possess extraordinary abilities and was said to grant its wielder incredible strength, skill, and protection. The story of the magic sword unfolded in a medieval setting, where a young and courageous hero embarked on a perilous quest. Armed with only his wits and determination, he sought to retrieve the magic sword from its hidden resting place, which lay deep within a treacherous labyrinth. The legend surrounding the magic sword told of its ability to defeat any foe and protect its wielder from harm.

Sybil reminds me so much of Endora of Bewitched that I can't help but wonder if the creators of Bewitched got their idea from this movie. Anyway, it's a decent movie to watch. Not the best, but okay.

I get that the fact I thought I was going to watch it for free made it extra painful, but I m so sick of all these people putting obscure movies on line and charging for them. George legend, this movie s main attraction for adults is eighty-year-old Estelle Winwood s charmingly quirky performance as a slightly befuddled wizardess.

The legend surrounding the magic sword told of its ability to defeat any foe and protect its wielder from harm. The sword was said to glow with an inner light, illuminating even the darkest corners of the world. Its blade was rumored to be indestructible, able to cut through stone and steel with ease.

The Magic Sword

The Magic Sword very loosely based on the 'St. George And The Dragon' legend, has a princess (Anne Helm) kidnapped by evil sorcerer Lodac (Basil Rathbone) and hunted by lovesick George (Gary Lockwood).
Aided by his foster mother Sybil (Estelle Winwood) a good witch, George vows to save the princess and destroy Lodac.

Reviewer: Ascendes ad Inferos - favorite favorite favorite favorite - December 1, 2019
Subject: Gary Lockwood

Reviewer: marchegiano - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - May 3, 2019
Subject: Fantastic

Reviewer: samwise7777 - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - February 26, 2015
Subject: True Swords and Sorcery Film!

A classic from start to finish. A beautiful princess, noble knights, evil sorcery, dragons and demi- humans even a chess playing monkey! A lot of work went into this movie and it looks great for a pre CGI era. Does anyone else notice how much the dragon's roar at the end sounds like a tie fighter from Star Wars? Listen close, it's amazing.
A great film that has more heart then any of the films out nowadays. Bravo!

Reviewer: jonjonz - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - January 10, 2014
Subject: Favorite 12 year old movie

When I was 12 I saw this in a theater and it became one of my favorite cinema experiences. Basil Rathbone provides a creepy and evil foe, while Gary Lockwood, proves why he was a great actor. (2001: A Space Odyssey, Star Trek, etc.) Just remember, this was the sixties, before CGI, and it is written to scare and entertain kids, not teens, young adults or adults. Don't watch unless you are still young at heart.

Reviewer: johnnyrocco - favorite favorite favorite favorite - March 15, 2010
Subject: the best bert i gordon movie ever

the magic sword is the best bert i gordon movie ever,back in the early 70s i remember seeing it on creature features and it scared the hell out of me.kudos to the late Basil Rathbone as the mean sorcerer.and vampira as the witch.a famous monsters of filmland classic,remember that gem of a magazine?

Reviewer: Richard-III - favorite favorite favorite favorite - March 15, 2010
Subject: A rare bit of fantasy

This Bert I. Gordon production is much better that many of his cheap sci-fi movies. It has better ideas, a good (mechanical) firespitting dragon and some casual horror elements that most children love to see in a fairytale.

Thanks for uploading, only too bad about the jerky motions. Maybe you encoded it from a PAL source to NTSC?

Reviewer: picfixer - favorite favorite favorite - February 2, 2010
Subject: Dear me! Now where did I put those frogs' eyes?

The following is straight from the dragon’s mouth: As a twist on the St. George legend, this movie’s main attraction for adults is eighty-year-old Estelle Winwood’s charmingly quirky performance as a slightly befuddled wizardess. The rest is mostly for kids, although I doubt many members of the x-box generation could be bribed into watching it. There is a maiden-devouring dragon (fun for all ages) and Basil "Sherlock Holmes" Rathbone is suitably nasty as the evil wizard. Featured in the role of princess Helene is the very pretty Anne Helm, who never really clicked in films yet had a long and voluminous TV career ……….Oh yeah, and there’s some nut called Gary Lockwood who keeps swinging a damn sword all over the place!

Reviewer: surfvh - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - January 24, 2010
Subject: Great Kid's Movie!

I saw this movie back in the 1950's as kid and for 4 decades thought of it as the best sorcery/adventury film ever. I just watched it with some kids (6-10 years old) and they absolutely loved it. The kids voted this film 5 stars, so that's what I'm giving it. Your kids will love it too.

Reviewer: horseoftroy - favorite favorite favorite favorite - September 21, 2009
Subject: stained glass

a tad too dark at times to understand the direction, but the acting is understandable from minute 1, and never varies one single second.
good film for kids to see if they can stand a more shocking film, like a war film or something.
maybe even a western. maybe even one that has- gasp- voodoo in it.

Bert Gordon's TORMENTED is also PD and is on the Archive. This film is fun, but the MGM DVD is the best for quality, so if you're a big fan of this film or a purist, buy the DVD. Otherwise, enjoy what's here.

As for the comments by skybandit, I agree. Everything here is free, so if you don't like the image quality, don't bother watching it. Simple as that.

To all you whiners and complainers: BEGGARS CAN'T BE CHOOSERS!

Reviewer: skybandit - favorite favorite favorite favorite - September 8, 2009
Subject: kutindebewilling

You said it a lot nicer than some other folks I could mention, but this IS a free site. Don't like the quality? Ask for your money back.

Better yet, why not write a "How-To" for us computards? I've refrained from uploading because I don't want to post anything that looks like crap. I'm embarassed about some of the early vids I put up on YouTube, and would LOVE to be able to do it better!

BTW, love this cheesy flick. Wonder why it's PD? Most of Mr. BIG'as other stuff USED to be PD, but he or his heirs or some greedy corporate hack have managed to re-copyright "War of the Collosal Beast" and other works of his.

Sybil reminds me so much of Endora of Bewitched that I can't help but wonder if the creators of Bewitched got their idea from this movie. Anyway, it's a decent movie to watch. Not the best, but okay.

I remember seeing this movie on television when I was a kid. It is total twaddle and I loved every minute of it. Basil Rathbone is a greater villan than hero. He really seemed to get into villans more. His melodramatic style of speaking really did it for me.

Reviewer: kareneliot - favorite favorite favorite - December 20, 2008
Subject: It was terribly awful and I loved every minute of it.

I almost stopped watching after the first minute, but I ended up watching the whole thing, and I even quite enjoyed it at that.

Could the person who uploaded this and many other movies in the archive please refrain from any further uploads until he or she has learned the basics of video encoding? For a start, please try to select the right framerate. You are wasting our time here.

I like it in a Grimm's fairy tale way(the Wonderful of the Brothers Grimm) Rathbone plays a dastardly villian in a most delicious way and Lockwood(although not my idea of cuddly) plays a pretty good hero type.

Reviewer: Classic_TV_and_Radio_Fan - favorite favorite favorite favorite favorite - December 4, 2008
Subject: Print is a little poor but still a fun film

This movie was made using eastmancoolor so of course the quality of the print is crap. It's still a fun movie featuring an incredibly cuddly swordsmen killing a dragon. He's very cuddly (the swordsmen, not the dragon). The film is way better than that overrated peice of crap known as The Betty Hutton Show. Betty Hutton may be cuddly, but that doesn't stop her sitcom from sucking. This is high quality entertainment for people who enjoy such other quality productions like The Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog and Kingswood Country.

a tad too dark at times to understand the direction, but the acting is understandable from minute 1, and never varies one single second.
good film for kids to see if they can stand a more shocking film, like a war film or something.
maybe even a western. maybe even one that has- gasp- voodoo in it.

As the hero ventured further into the labyrinth, facing dangerous obstacles and formidable adversaries, he remained undeterred in his mission to obtain the magic sword. Along his journey, he encountered mythological creatures and encountered other legendary artifacts, all of which tested his resolve. Finally, after facing numerous trials and tribulations, the hero reached the resting place of the magic sword. As he lay his hands upon its hilt, he felt an immense surge of power coursing through his veins. The sword seemed to come alive in his grip, resonating with energy and purpose. Armed with the magic sword, the hero emerged from the labyrinth with newfound strength and courage. With every swing, the sword cut through his enemies effortlessly, and its protective aura shielded him from harm. The hero became unstoppable, his every action guided by the mystical powers of the sword. In the years following the magic sword's discovery, tales of the hero's exploits spread far and wide. Legends were born, recounting the valiant deeds of the hero who wielded the enchanted weapon. Songs were sung and stories were told, ensuring that the magic sword would forever remain a symbol of bravery and triumph. The magic sword of 1950 continues to be remembered and revered as a symbol of the indomitable spirit of heroes. Its story serves as a reminder that, even in the face of insurmountable challenges, courage and determination can lead to extraordinary achievements..

Reviews for "Archetypal Storytelling in The Magic Sword (1950)"

1. Sarah - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "The Magic Sword 1950". The storyline was incredibly predictable and lacked any originality. The characters were one-dimensional and I felt no connection or interest in their journey. The special effects were also very outdated and took away from the overall viewing experience. I had high hopes for this film, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me.

2. Mark - 1/5 - I can't believe I wasted my time watching "The Magic Sword 1950". The acting was horrendous, and the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. The plot was all over the place and didn't make much sense. The action scenes were poorly choreographed and laughable. Overall, I found this film to be a complete disaster and would not recommend it to anyone.

3. Jane - 2/5 - "The Magic Sword 1950" had so much potential, but it ultimately failed to deliver. The pacing was incredibly slow, and I found myself losing interest within the first 30 minutes. The special effects were also very cheesy and took away from the overall fantasy aspect of the story. The performances were lackluster, and I couldn't invest in any of the characters. Overall, I was highly disappointed with this film and would not watch it again.

4. Robert - 1/5 - "The Magic Sword 1950" was a complete waste of time. The storyline was incredibly dull and unoriginal, leaving me bored throughout the entire film. The acting was subpar, with no standout performances. The sets and costumes also lacked imagination and seemed cheaply made. I was truly disappointed by this film and would not recommend it to anyone who is looking for an engaging and entertaining fantasy movie.

5. Lisa - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "The Magic Sword 1950", but it turned out to be a letdown. The plot was predictable and lacked any depth or complexity. The visuals were dated and did not captivate my attention. The characters felt underdeveloped, and I couldn't connect with their struggles or motivations. Overall, this film fell short of my expectations and I was left feeling unimpressed.

The Magic Sword (1950): A Special Effects Marvel of its Time