Mary Tudor, in love with a commoner, is forced to marry an aging French king. Duels, dastardly deeds and a damsel in distress all add up to a rousing romantic adventure in the medieval court of King Henry VIII. Based on actual historical events, THE SWORD AND THE ROSE tells the story of the forbidden love between Mary, Henry’s youngest sister, and Charles Brandon, a commoner. Unhappily betrothed to Louis XII, the King of France, and pursued by the sinister Lord Buckingham, Mary tries to run away with Charles, her one true love. Believing that Charles abducted the princess, he’s later captured and scheduled for execution. Mary barters for Charles’s life by agreeing to marry the King of France. After Louis dies, Buckingham kidnaps her and tries to force her to marry him but Charles escapes from the Tower and rescues her in an exciting swashbuckling finale. From Walt Disney.
The Sword and the Rose eschews historical accuracy in favor of wall-to-wall adventure and eye-filling pageantry. The film takes place in the court of King Henry VIII (James Robertson Justice), whose sister Mary Tudor (Glynis Johns) has fallen in love with soldier of fortune Charles Brandon (Richard Todd). Mary appoints Brandon Captain of the Guards, which rests not at all well with her erstwhile suitor, the Duke of Buckingham (Michael Gough). Rather than foment court intrigue, Brandon decides to move on to America, only to end up in the Tower of London when Mary tags along with him, disguised as a boy. Mary is ordered by Henry to wed the aging King of France (Jean Mercure), who promptly dies, leaving the girl at the mercy of the evil Dauphin (Gerard Oury). When rescued by the Duke of Buckhingham, Mary is informed that Charles is dead, but in fact her true love still lives, as he proves beyond doubt in a climactic battle with the duplicitous Duke. Sword and the Rose was based on Charles Major’s novel When Knighthood Was in Flower.
Starring Glynis Johns, Richard Todd, James Robertson Justice, Michael Gough, Jane Barrett, Peter Copley, Rosalie Crutchley, D.A. Clarke-Smith, Ernest Jay, John Vere, Philip Lennard.