Crossed Swords (1977 Film)
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''The Prince and the Pauper'' is a 1977 British
action-adventure film The action film is a film genre that predominantly features chase sequences, fights, shootouts, explosions, and stunt work. The specifics of what constitutes an action film has been in scholarly debate since the 1980s. While some scholars such as ...
directed by
Richard Fleischer Richard Owen Fleischer (; December 8, 1916 – March 25, 2006) was an American film director. His career spanned more than four decades, beginning at the height of the Golden Age of Hollywood and lasting through the American New Wave. He was the ...
, based on the 1881 novel ''
The Prince and the Pauper ''The Prince and the Pauper'' is a novel by American author Mark Twain. It was first published in 1881 in Canada, before its 1882 publication in the United States. The novel represents Twain's first attempt at historical fiction. The plot conce ...
'' by
Mark Twain Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910), known by the pen name Mark Twain, was an American writer, humorist, and essayist. He was praised as the "greatest humorist the United States has produced," with William Fau ...
. It stars
Oliver Reed Robert Oliver Reed (13 February 1938 – 2 May 1999) was an English actor, known for his upper-middle class, macho image and his heavy-drinking, "hellraiser" lifestyle. His screen career spanned over 40 years, between 1955 and 1999. At the ...
,
Ernest Borgnine Ernest Borgnine ( ; born Ermes Effron Borgnino; January 24, 1917 – July 8, 2012) was an American actor whose career spanned over six decades. He was noted for his gruff but relaxed voice and gap-toothed Cheshire Cat grin. A popular perf ...
,
Raquel Welch Jo Raquel Welch (; September 5, 1940 – February 15, 2023) was an American actress. Welch first gained attention for her role in ''Fantastic Voyage'' (1966), after which she signed a long-term contract with 20th Century Fox. They lent her con ...
,
George C. Scott George Campbell Scott (October 18, 1927 – September 22, 1999) was an American actor. He had a celebrated career on both stage and screen. With a gruff demeanor and commanding presence, Scott became known for his portrayal of stern but complex ...
,
Charlton Heston Charlton Heston (born John Charles Carter; October 4, 1923 – April 5, 2008) was an American actor. He gained stardom for his leading man roles in numerous Cinema of the United States, Hollywood films including biblical epics, science-fiction f ...
, Sir
Rex Harrison Sir Reginald Carey Harrison (5 March 1908 – 2 June 1990) was an English actor. Harrison began his career on the stage at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1924. He made his West End debut in 1936 appearing in the Terence Rattigan play '' French W ...
, and
Mark Lester Mark Lester (born Mark A. Letzer; 11 July 1958) is an English former child actor who starred in a number of British and European films in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1968 he played the title role in the film ''Oliver! (film), Oliver!'', a Musical f ...
, playing the dual role of
Edward VI of England Edward VI (12 October 1537 – 6 July 1553) was King of England and King of Ireland, Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death in 1553. He was crowned on 20 February 1547 at the age of nine. The only surviving son of Henry VIII by his thi ...
and Tom Canty. The film was released in the US as ''Crossed Swords''.


Plot

In 16th-century London, a
pauper Pauperism (; ) is the condition of being a "pauper", i.e. receiving relief administered under the Irish and English Poor Laws. From this, pauperism can also be more generally the state of being supported at public expense, within or outside of ...
called Tom Canty reading to a group of children is attacked by his cruel father. John Canty threatens to beat Tom unless he steals five shillings by suppertime. Tom goes into the city square and steals a purse from a rich man, but drops it after bumping into another man. Thinking that Tom still has the purse, the victim and others chase Tom through the streets of London. Tom escapes by climbing up a wall and through a window, where he falls into a palace garden in front of King
Henry VIII Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is known for his Wives of Henry VIII, six marriages and his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. ...
, who sets the guards on him. However, Tom outruns them by going to the roof of the castle and hiding in a
chimney A chimney is an architectural ventilation structure made of masonry, clay or metal that isolates hot toxic exhaust gases or smoke produced by a boiler, stove, furnace, incinerator, or fireplace from human living areas. Chimneys are typical ...
. In the grounds, Henry VIII gives orders for the
Duke of Norfolk Duke of Norfolk is a title in the peerage of England. The premier non-royal peer, the Duke of Norfolk is additionally the premier duke and earl in the English peerage. The seat of the Duke of Norfolk is Arundel Castle in Sussex, although the t ...
to be arrested during the masked ball that evening. In his royal chamber, Edward, Prince of Wales, refuses to wear a costume to the masked ball and his attendants leave him. Tom falls down the chimney into the chamber, and Edward demands to know who he is. Tom introduces himself and explains his situation. Intrigued by Tom's resemblance to him, Edward decides they should swap appearances and clothes to attend the masked ball, adding that the Prince's Seal stays with the true Prince. Mistaking Edward for Tom, the Duke of Norfolk orders that he be escorted out of the palace. Outside, Edward is rescued by skilled swordsman Sir Miles Hendon. At the masked ball, the Duke of Norfolk is arrested, and the king and the guests laugh at Tom's dancing. Tom repeatedly insists that he is not the Prince of Wales. Meanwhile, Edward repeatedly insists that he is the Prince of Wales. Miles says he believes him, but in fact he does not. He takes the boy to John Canty, and Edward discovers what Tom's life is like. When John attempts to beat Edward, Miles intervenes, and in the resulting fight John pushes Miles off a roof into a stream. John is declared a murderer, and he flees London with Edward. At the castle, King Henry has been ill since the morning after the masked ball, and he orders that no one is to declare that Tom is not the Prince, not even Tom himself. Although some of the royal household are suspicious of the sudden change of demeanour of the "Prince" (even going as far as mentioning the possibility that he could be an imposter), they dismiss it as a mere phase. During a banquet, Henry VIII dies in his royal chamber. Tom commands that The Duke of Norfolk shall not be executed. In a forest, some unfriendly men escort John and Edward to a
cavern Caves or caverns are natural voids under the Earth's surface. Caves often form by the weathering of rock and often extend deep underground. Exogene caves are smaller openings that extend a relatively short distance underground (such as rock sh ...
where Ruffler's gang hides out. Word has reached them of Henry VIII's death. Edward is inspired by the men's hardships and vows to restore their honour. After winning a fight with one of the gang members, Edward leaves. John goes after him to beat him again, but is killed by another of Ruffler's men. Outside, Edward meets Miles, who survived his fall. Miles takes Edward to Hendon Hall. Miles is outraged to discover that his brother, Hugh Hendon, has married Miles' sweetheart, Lady Edith and taken Hendon Hall for himself. Hugh has Miles and Edward captured, but Edith helps them escape. Edward convinces Miles that he really is the rightful King and offers to restore him to his honour as a Knight. The day of the coronation arrives, and Edward and Miles race to London after waylaying a horse and cart that Hugh and Edith are in. Miles swaps clothes with Hugh and ties him up in the cart, but Hugh breaks out in London and attempts to have Miles arrested. Miles and Edward fight off the guards and Edward gets inside
Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an Anglican church in the City of Westminster, London, England. Since 1066, it has been the location of the coronations of 40 English and British m ...
before the doors are closed. Edward halts the ceremony, and he and Tom change back to their original positions, admitting to each other that they were not good at playing each other's roles. Archbishop Cranmer and other witnesses are stunned until Edward produces the Prince's Seal and takes his position as the rightful King. After the ceremony, Edward makes Tom Governor of Christ's Hospital and Tom's mother sets up shelters for the homeless. Miles' brother Hugh agrees to a divorce from Edith and enjoys a political career in America. Miles is restored to his honour as a Knight and marries Edith (although their marriage isn't the "happily ever after" kind). The Duke of Norfolk has his enemies put to death, and Princess Elizabeth later becomes Queen, keeping her promise to take "good care of England".


Cast


Production

The film was in limbo during the development. Berta Dominguez (the wife of
Alexander Salkind Alexander Salkind (; 2 June 1921 – 8 March 1997) was a French film producer, the second of three generations of successful international producers. Life and career Salkind was born in the Free City of Danzig to Russian Jewish parents, Maria ...
) and Pierre Spengler wrote a script based on the novel for the Salkinds in 1968. A key change in the adaptation was changing the ages of the prince and the pauper from nine in the novel to sixteen.
George Cukor George Dewey Cukor ( ; July 7, 1899 – January 24, 1983) was an American film director and film producer, producer. He mainly concentrated on comedies and literary adaptations. His career flourished at RKO Pictures, RKO when David O. Selzn ...
was to direct but he wanted to go back to the original novel and cast an actor to play nine-year-old boys –
Mark Lester Mark Lester (born Mark A. Letzer; 11 July 1958) is an English former child actor who starred in a number of British and European films in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1968 he played the title role in the film ''Oliver! (film), Oliver!'', a Musical f ...
. The Salkinds wanted to cast someone older, having
Leonard Whiting Leonard Whiting (born 30 June 1950) is a British semi-retired actor and singer widely known for his teenage role as Romeo in Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 film version of ''Romeo and Juliet'', a role which earned him the Golden Globe Award for N ...
in mind for the parts. The Salkinds lost enthusiasm for the project and instead went on to make '' The Light at the End of the World''. The Salkinds had a big success with ''
The Three Musketeers ''The Three Musketeers'' () is a French historical adventure novel written and published in 1844 by French author Alexandre Dumas. It is the first of the author's three d'Artagnan Romances. As with some of his other works, he wrote it in col ...
'' (1973) which re-activated their interest in ''The Prince and the Pauper''. They originally intended to follow up ''Musketeers'' with ''The Prince Malange'' starring
Oliver Reed Robert Oliver Reed (13 February 1938 – 2 May 1999) was an English actor, known for his upper-middle class, macho image and his heavy-drinking, "hellraiser" lifestyle. His screen career spanned over 40 years, between 1955 and 1999. At the ...
and
Peter O'Toole Peter Seamus O'Toole (; 2 August 1932 – 14 December 2013) was an English actor known for his leading roles on stage and screen. His numerous accolades include the Academy Honorary Award, a BAFTA Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and four Golde ...
. Then O'Toole became unavailable and filming was threatened with sets already half-built. In addition, the Salkinds needed money while developing ''Superman''. The Salkinds decided to use the old script for ''Prince and the Pauper'' and use existing sets and commitments.
Richard Fleischer Richard Owen Fleischer (; December 8, 1916 – March 25, 2006) was an American film director. His career spanned more than four decades, beginning at the height of the Golden Age of Hollywood and lasting through the American New Wave. He was the ...
was approached to direct. He agreed provided he could have a new script and a bigger budget – $7 million. The Salkinds agreed.
George MacDonald Fraser George MacDonald Fraser (2 April 1925 – 2 January 2008) was a Scottish author and screenwriter. He is best known for a series of works that featured the character Harry Paget Flashman, Flashman. Over the course of his career he wrote eleven n ...
was hired to rewrite the script. Shooting took place in England and Hungary. Filming started on 17 May 1976 at
Penshurst Place Penshurst Place is a historic building near Penshurst, Kent, south east of London, England. It is the ancestral home of the Sidney family, and was the birthplace of the great Elizabethan poets and courtiers, siblings Mary Sidney and Philip ...
, Kent. Filming took place there for two weeks before moving to Pinewood Studios. Most filming in Hungary took place in Sopron and Budapest.


Release

The film was released on 3 June 1977 in London and on 29 July 1977 in Ireland by
20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc., formerly 20th Century Fox, is an American film studio, film production and Film distributor, distribution company owned by the Walt Disney Studios (division), Walt Disney Studios, the film studios division of the ...
. It was released on 2 March 1978 in New York City, on 15 March 1978 in USA Film Festival and on 17 March 1978 in United States by
Warner Bros. Pictures Warner Bros. Pictures is an American film studio and distribution arm of the Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group division of Warner Bros., both of which are owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. It is headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex ...
.


Reception

The film generally performed poorly at the box office. However, in New York, it was the last film planned to be shown at
Radio City Music Hall Radio City Music Hall (also known as Radio City) is an entertainment venue and Theater (structure), theater at 1260 Sixth Avenue (Manhattan), Avenue of the Americas, within Rockefeller Center, in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York C ...
when it was threatened with closure in April 1978 and the film attracted large crowds who wanted to visit the cinema before it closed. The film set a house record in Easter 1978 grossing $468,173 in the week ending 29 March. In the sixth and final week, tickets were selling between $5 and $25 to benefit the Variety Club of New York.


See also

*
Cultural depictions of Henry VIII Henry VIII and his reign have frequently been depicted in art, film, literature, music, opera, plays, and television. Art * Lucas de Heere: ''The Family of Henry VIII'' *Hans Eworth: ''Henry VIII'' (c. 1545) *Hans Holbein the Younger: ''Portrai ...


References


Sources

*


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Prince Pauper 1977 1977 films 1970s historical adventure films 1970s action adventure films Films about Henry VIII British historical adventure films Prince and the Pauper 1977 Films directed by Richard Fleischer Films shot at Pinewood Studios Films set in London Films set in palaces Films with screenplays by George MacDonald Fraser 20th Century Fox films Cultural depictions of Edward VI Cultural depictions of Lady Jane Grey Films produced by Pierre Spengler 1970s English-language films 1970s British films English-language historical adventure films Cultural depictions of Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset Cultural depictions of Elizabeth I