Aswashbuckler film is characterised byswordfighting and adventurous heroic characters, known asswashbucklers. While morality is typically clear-cut, heroes and villains alike often, but not always, follow acode of honor. Some swashbuckler films haveromantic elements, most frequently adamsel in distress. Both real and fictional historical events often feature prominently in the plot.
Right from the advent of cinema, thesilent era was packed with swashbucklers.[citation needed] The most famous of those were the films ofDouglas Fairbanks, such asThe Mark of Zorro (1920), which defined the genre. The stories came from romantic costume novels, particularly those ofAlexandre Dumas andRafael Sabatini. Stirring music was also an important part of the formula.[1] The three great cycles of swashbuckler films were the Douglas Fairbanks period from 1920 to 1929; theErrol Flynn period from 1935 to 1941; and a period in the 1950s heralded by films such asIvanhoe (1952) andThe Master of Ballantrae (1953), and the popularity of the British television seriesThe Adventures of Robin Hood (1955–1959).[2] Richard Lester's Dumas adaptations revived the genre in the 1970s.[3]
The term "swashbuckler" originates from boisterous fighters who carried a sword andbuckler (a small shield).[4] "Swashbuckler" was a putdown, used to indicate a poor swordsman who covered his lack of skill with noise, bragging, and clamour.[citation needed] Novels, and then Hollywood, altered the word's connotation to make the swashbuckler the hero of the plotline.[1]
Jeffrey Richards[who?] describes the genre as very stylized. The hero is one who "maintains a decent standard of behavior, fights for King and Country, believes in truth and justice, defends the honour of lady".[5] Though these can be regarded as the values of aknight, the setting may fall anywhere between the 11th and 19th centuries.
Fencing is an essential element of the genre, and a dramatic duel is invariably a pivotal part of the storyline. Famous fencing instructors came from the ranks of successful competitors, and includedHenry Uyttenhove,Fred Cavens,Jean Heremans,Ralph Faulkner, andBob Anderson.[6]
Television followed the films.
British television production in the genre was prolific, headlined byThe Adventures of Robin Hood, which produced 143 episodes by 1959 and became an outstanding success both in the United Kingdom and the United States. Other popular series includedThe Buccaneers (1956–1957),The Adventures of Sir Lancelot (1956–1957),Sword of Freedom (1958),The Adventures of William Tell (1958),The Adventures of the Scarlet Pimpernel (ITV, 1956),ITC'sThe Count of Monte Cristo (ITV, 1956), andGeorge King'sThe Gay Cavalier (ITV, 1957),Quentin Durward (Studio Canal, 1971),Robin of Sherwood (ITV, 1984–1986), andSharpe (ITV, since 1993).
American television produced two series ofZorro (1957 and1990). Following the filmThe Mask of Zorro (1998), a television series about a female swashbuckler,Queen of Swords, aired in 2000.[8]
The Spanish television seriesÁguila Roja (Red Eagle), aired from 2009 to 2016, is an example of the swashbuckler genre.[9]
Italian and German televisions produced several series ofSandokan.
Films with swashbuckler elements that can be considered precursors to the cinematic genre:[citation needed]
Swashbucklers
