Many – if not most – of the greatest sword fights in movie history happened during the Golden Age of Hollywood. A term that typically describes an era of cinema ranging from the late 1920s to the early part of the 1960s, Hollywood’s Golden Age found multiple forms of action to entertain audiences, with swordplay becoming a go-to choice for a long list of filmmakers.
From silent era classics like 1929’s The Mark of Zorro to fantasy epics like 1963’s Jason and the Argonauts, sword fights – particularly ones used as one last battle between the hero and villain – became quite common in the Golden Age. And though they dominated the swashbuckler movie genre, they were used outside it as well, including in historical epics and fantasy adventure movies.
Without these fights, several great films may not be regarded as the gems that they are today.
The Court Jester – Hubert Hawkins (Danny Kaye) vs. Lord Ravenhurst (Basil Rathbone)
One of the most entertaining sword fights of all time was born from an unexpected source – a 1955 musical comedy set in medieval England. Played by comedic actor Danny Kaye, Hubert Hawkins is hardly a warrior, but a case of hyptonism morphs him into a swordfighter of tremendous skill, paving the way for an exciting showdown with Basil Rathbone’s Lord Ravenhurst.
The film’s stunning transformation from a musical comedy to an action adventure film adds an element of surprise to the scene, but The Court Jester doesn’t forget its idenтιтy altogether; it supplements its impressive choreography with some classic slapstick comedy from Danny Kaye.
The Vikings – Eric (Tony Curtis) vs. Einar (Kirk Douglas)
In the four movies Kirk Douglas and Tony Curtis made together, the two Hollywood A-listers found themselves in two sword fights against each other, one of which being a brief fight in the legendary Spartacus. The Vikings is less iconic than the 1960 historical epic, but features thrilling actions of its own, complete with an epic sword battle between its two leads at the end.
For its final fight, The Vikings takes full advantage of its setting, combining great choreography with equally good cinematography through the landscape sH๏τs sprinkled into the scene.
The Sea Hawk – Geoffrey Thorpe (Errol Flynn) vs. Lord Wilfingham (Henry Daniell)
One of the best swashbuckler movies ever made, The Sea Hawk is a 1940 adventure epic that starred Errol Flynn as Geoffrey Thorpe, a privateer who fights the Spanish on behalf of England. At the end of his adventure, he engages in a heated, one-on-one showdown with the treacherous Henry Daniell, giving Flynn a perfect opportunity to back up his reputation as one of Hollywood’s top swordsmen.
The Sea Hawk’s final battle doesn’t run long, but in less than two minutes, it delivers more than its fair share of action with the two fighters tearing up their surroundings in an intense display of emotions, particularly on Flynn’s part.
Captain Blood – Peter Blood (Errol Flynn) vs. Levᴀsseur (Basil Rathbone)
Errol Flynn is the de facto king of swashbuckler movies, and that was clear long before The Sea Hawk. His reign over the genre began with his breakout role as the тιтular pirate in 1935’s Captain Blood. Prior to the epic final battle between the two warring sides, Flynn’s hero gets a sword duel with the traitor, Levᴀsseur.
The well-choreographed and exhilarating two-minute sword fight was the high point of the action in Captain Blood, a movie so good that it popularized the swashbuckler genre that took hold of Hollywood in the late 1930s and the 1940s.
The Black Swan – Jamie Waring (Tyrone Power) vs. Billy Leech (George Sanders)
Errol Flynn may have been Hollywood’s top swashbuckling star, but Tyrone Power wasn’t far behind him. Power was quite talented when it came to fencing, a notion that was on display throughout The Black Swan, a movie where the actor played a pirate, opposite Maureen O’Hara.
Sword fights were aplenty in The Black Swan, but its best was easily the fight where he took on Captain Billy Leech, played by George Sanders. Fighting aboard a pirate ship, the duel was extremely fast-paced and filled with physicality.
Prince Valiant – Prince Valiant (Robert Wagner) vs. Sir Brack (James Mason)
Two Hollywood legends clashed when Robert Wagner appeared in a 1954 big-screen adaptation of the popular comic strip, Prince Valiant. Played by Wagner, the тιтular hero battled his main rival, James Mason’s Sir Brack, in the chamber of the Knights of the Round Table, the perfect backdrop for the final duel of a medieval fantasy movie.
As their swords and shields are clanging together, there’s a strong sense of the weight behind the blows, making the five-minute battle all the more immersive.
El Cid – Rodrigo Diaz (Charlton Heston) vs. Count Gormaz (Andrew Cruickshank)
Something similar can be said of the fight between Charlton Heston’s Rodrigo Diaz and Andrew Cruickshank’s Count Gormaz in Anthony Mann’s 1961 historical epic, El Cid. Preceded by some excellent dialogue from Heston and Cruikshank, the sword battle in the castle brilliantly conveys the intensity of the scene, from the obvious weariness of the characters to the sounds of steel striking steel.
It’s not the film’s climax, but it’s a pivotal moment in the narrative that sets the stage for many events in Rodrigo’s life story.
The Adventures Of Robin Hood – Robin Hood (Errol Flynn) vs. Sir Guy Of Gisbourne (Basil Rathbone)
After Captain Blood but before The Sea Hawk, Errol Flynn starred in one of the best fantasy movies from Hollywood’s Golden Age, The Adventures of Robin Hood. Released in 1938, the film saw Errol Flynn step into the role of the heroic Robin Hood. The main villain was Prince John, but his principal opponent was Basil Rathbone’s Guy of Gisbourne.
The Adventures of Robin Hood utilizes some unique cutaways with shadows, and throws in some excellent stunt work while also doing does well to keep the action moving.
The Mark of Zorro – Don Diego da le Vega (Tyrone Power) vs. Esteban Pasquale (Basil Rathbone)
It’s not a coincidence that Basil Rathbone was the villain in not one, but four of the best sword fights of this era. The actor held two British Army Fencing championships, a background that lent itself to the choreography in several of his movies, not the least of which was The Mark of Zorro, which wrapped up with a three-minute showdown.
At the conclusion of the 1940 remake of the Douglas Fairbanks Jr. silent film, Tyrone Power’s take on Zorro battles the movie’s villain not as the costumed hero, but in his civilian alter ego. With Tyrone Power fighting without his mask, it’s easy to recognize both actors as two of the most skilled swordsmen in Hollywood.
Scaramouche – Andre Moreau (Stewart Granger) vs. Marquis Damane (Mel Ferrer)
For 12 years, The Mark of Zorro’s final battle remained the best of its kind. It wasn’t topped until Stewart Granger starred in a 1952 historical adventure film тιтled Scaramouche. After six sword fights with his hated enemy, Mel Ferrer’s Marquis Damane, Andre Moreau gets one last chance at revenge on the man who killed his best friend with a highly rewarding sword battle.
The buildup on its own generates a great feeling of intensity as the fight starts, which doesn’t let up for all eight minutes, with the two combatants fighting all over a theater, from the balcony, to the stairs, and even outside. With amazing choreography (and even some acrobatic moves), Scaramouche’s final fight is sword fighting in the Golden Age of Hollywood at its finest.
