| Queen of Swords | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Action/Adventure/Western |
| Created by | David Abramowitz Linda Lukens[1][2] |
| Starring | See Cast and characters below |
| Theme music composer | Steve Plunkett, and Philip Proffer |
| Opening theme | "Behind the Mask" sung by José Feliciano |
| Composer(s) | Philip Stanger John Herberman |
| Country of origin | Canada/Spain/UK co-production |
| Language(s) | English and Spanish |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 22 (List of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | David Abramowitz Jay Firestone Adam Haight |
| Producer(s) | Ken Gord Tony Thatcher |
| Location(s) | Texas Hollywood, Almeria, Spain |
| Cinematography | Alwyn Kumst |
| Running time | 45 min. |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Global (Canada) Syndicated (USA) |
| Picture format | Film Super 16 mm 16:9 Color Often broadcast 4:3 pan and scan |
| Audio format | Dolby stereo |
| Original run | October 7, 2000 – June 6, 2001 |
Queen of Swords is an action–adventure television series produced at the same time as the TV series Xena: Warrior Princess[3] and after the Zorro film The Mask of Zorro (1998). It was set in California during the early 19th century and ran for one season, from 2000 to 2001.
The series premiered October 7, 2000. After filming had been completed on 22 episodes and the first eight episodes were broadcast, the series was canceled.[4]
Contents |
In 1817, a young Spanish aristocrat, Tessa Alvarado (Tessie Santiago), returns to Spanish California after the death of her father and finds her home in ruins, her father's manservant reduced to stealing. The town where she was born is run by a militaristic governor who abuses his power, resulting in the miscarriage of justice and the poor living conditions of his subjects. Upset about the state of her birth place and the murder of her father, Tessa's path is revealed to her in a mysterious dream where her father comes to her and talks of his murder, his hidden gold, and of his "Avenging Angel". She will take up arms to protect the people from the town's governor and to avenge her father's death. Tessa will do this in disguise behind a mask, becoming that "Avenging Angel", The Queen of Swords.
As the Queen of Swords, Tessa becomes a vision of hope for the people who live in her long oppressed town. She is helped by her longtime friend and servant, Marta (Paulina Gálvez), a gypsy employed to look after her when she was sent, at the age of 7, by her father to stay with her uncle, aunt, and three cousins in Madrid. Marta has great knowledge of the tarot. The Queen of Swords name comes from one of Marta's tarot cards.
Tessa's biggest enemy in the town is Colonel Luis Montoya (Valentine Pelka), the corrupt and tyrannical governor. Montoya is ruthless and cares little for human life other than his own. He believes in executions without fair trials, enslaves the poor people of the town, and blackmails the powerful Dons.
Montoya is aided by his right hand man, Captain Marcus Grisham (Anthony Lemke). Grisham, an American deserter who escaped execution for killing his commanding officer during the War of 1812. His own self interests test his loyalty to Montoya on a number of occasions and the mission of ridding Montoya of the troublesome Queen of Swords, which his soldiers have a hard time accomplishing due in part to the inaccurate single shot weapons. Grisham is helped by Vera (Elsa Pataky), the unfaithful trophy wife of Don Hidalgo (Tacho González), working as a spy for him.
Don Gaspar Hidalgo along with Tessa's late father one of the richest and influential among the Dons
The Queen occasionally crosses paths with Dr. Robert Helm (Peter Wingfield), an English doctor employed by Montoya to tend his soldiers and local citizenry who believes in saving lives rather than taking them after his experiences as an officer in the Napoleonic Wars. He has little patience for Tessa, believing her to be a spoiled member of the nobility, and less for the Queen of Swords, despising her because of her use of violence. Helm's relationship with The Queen intensifies throughout the series as events throw them together in life threatening situations.
Never depicted as physically stronger than her opponents, winning by being more skilled or using the element of surprise and when the odds are too great running away to fight another day.
As in the theme song "Behind the Mask" all the characters have secrets to hide, which are explored over the 22 episodes.
Guest stars include Bo Derek, David Carradine, Sung-Hi Lee, Elizabeth Gracen.
Filmed May 3, 2000 to December 12, 2000 in Almeria, Spain.[5]
| № | PC | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original airdate | Trailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 101 | "Destiny" | Jon Cassar | James Thorpe | October 7, 2000 | [4] |
| Tessa Alvarado returns to Spanish California on the death of her father to find her home in ruins and the area under the control of a tyrant, Colonel Montoya. From a dream about her dead father and his 'Avenging Angel', Tessa becomes the Queen of Swords. Stars Jose Sancho | ||||||
| 2 | 102 | "Death to the Queen" | Jon Cassar | Jocelyne Barque Simmons | October 14, 2000 | [5] |
| Colonel Montoya plots to kill The Queen when she attempts to find missing peasants he is using in a gold mine. Dr Helm arrives in Santa Helena and makes an impression on Tessa and meets the captured Queen of Swords. | ||||||
| 3 | 105 | "Fever" | Paolo Barzman | Scott Kraft | October 21, 2000 | [6] |
| Fever sweeps Santa Helena. Marta and Colonel Montoya fall victim and Captain Grisham takes the opportunity to let Montoya die when he acquires Dr Helm's medicine. Dr Helm realises The Queen is not as bad as she is painted. | ||||||
| 4 | 104 | "Vengeance" | Brian Grant | James Thorpe | October 28, 2000 | [7] |
| A Don is killed by an assassin and his son, Tessa's childhood friend Ramon, seeks vengeance, but the Queen soon realises Dr Helm was the real target for the assassin's vengeance and Colonel Montoya is prepared to sacrifice the Doctor to kill the Queen. The Queen's first kill, to save Ramon, unbeknown to Dr Helm. Dr Helm flirts with The Queen. Stars James Innes-Smith, Freddy Douglas, and Edward Hughes | ||||||
| 5 | 107 | "The Witness" | Peter Ellis | Steve Roberts | November 4, 2000 | [8] |
| Tessa witnesses a shooting of a peasant girl. The son of a retired sea captain Mary Rose, now a rancher, is arrested. Mary Rose is determined that Tessa will not testify, but equally determined is the girl's brothers that she does. Vera holds the key. Tessa kills for the first time. Stars Bo Derek, Neil Newbon. | ||||||
| 6 | 106 | "Duel with a Stranger" | Richard Martin | Elizabeth Keyishian | November 11, 2000 | [9] |
| Colonel Montoya employs a professional swordsman to kill The Queen after seeing him humiliate Captain Grisham in a test of his prowess. The swordsman from Madrid is Antonio, Tessa's old sweetheart. Stars Cristián de la Fuente | ||||||
| 7 | 108 | "Running Wild" | Richard Martin | Elizabeth Keyishian | November 18, 2000 | [10] |
| Three young bandits go on a robbing spree and in the process kill Tessa's godfather. Tessa determined on revenge hatches a plan with Colonel Montoya to capture the robbers. Stars Daisy Fuentes, Freddy Douglas, and Dan Fredenburgh. | ||||||
| 8 | 103 | "Honor Thy Father" | Brian Grant | Durnford King | November 25, 2000 | [11] |
| Churi, a native Indian, follows Montoya's soldiers who have stolen a valuable death mask from his father's grave to Santa Helena. Raul, who was present at the death of Tessa's father, also returns to extract money from Tessa, for information, which she is only too willing to pay no matter who gets in the way. Tessa's hopes go awry when Raul attempts to rape her. The Queen kills, to Dr Helm's horror. Stars Gael García Bernal | ||||||
| 9 | 110 | "Counterfeit Queen" | Peter Ellis | Gillian Horvath | January 13, 2001 | |
| A woman posing as The Queen is captured, after robbing the Santa Monica – Monterey stage, by Colonel Montoya and Captain Grisham and they realise the situation can be turned to their advantage by discrediting The Queen of Swords. Stars Elizabeth Gracen | ||||||
| 10 | 112 | "The Serpent" | Jorge Montesi | Steve Roberts | January 20, 2001 | [12] |
| The Queen wounds El Serpiente, a notorious bandit, and he needs Dr Helm's attention leading to a conflict of loyalties with The Queen as their relationship intensifies. Dr Helm breaks his oath. Stars David Carradine | ||||||
| 11 | 115 | "The Pact" | Carlos Gil | Elizabeth Keyishian | January 27, 2001 | [13] |
| Captain Grisham learns from Vera of a pact between Tessa's late father Don Alvarado and Don's Miguel and Hidalgo to bury the gold of Don Horatio, killed by Colonel Montoya in a duel. Grisham sees a chance to get rich but reckons without Montoya and The Queen. To spite Montoya, Grisham does not take an opportunity to shoot The Queen. | ||||||
| 12 | 116 | "The Emissary" | Peter Ellis | Clint Lien | February 3, 2001 | [14] |
| Ambassador Ramirez arrives in Santa Helena with a plan to kill The Queen and take her head back to Spain in a jar. With him is English journalist Edward Wellesley, attached to the Spanish Court, to record the events as they unfold and maybe meet The Queen whose exploits have become famous with the ordinary people of Spain. Colonel Montoya feels threatened by the ambassador's presence and the attention he gives to Captain Grisham. Stars Ed Stoppard Michael Culkin | ||||||
| 13 | 117 | "Kidnapped" | George Mendeluk | Elizabeth Baxter | February 10, 2001 | |
| Barnardo, a man from Vera's past, kidnaps her for ransom. Don Hidalgo has to borrow the money from Colonel Montoya and Captain Grisham delivers it, but Barnardo wants the gold and Vera and only the intervention of The Queen thwarts his plan. Shocking revelations about Vera's past threaten her marriage to Don Gaspar. Stars Stephen Billington | ||||||
| 14 | 114 | "The Uncle" | Jorge Montesi | Durnford King | February 17, 2001 | |
| Tessa's Uncle, Don Alejandro, arrives from Spain to find his brother's murderers and take Tessa, from the barbaric colonies, home to find her a suitable husband. Ready to pay a large reward, he becomes a target for local bandits and for Colonel Montoya and Captain Grisham, for whom the truth would condemn. Stars Grant Russell | ||||||
| 15 | 119 | "Runaways" | George Mendeluk | Toby Roberts | February 24, 2001 | |
| Two slaves, Agatha and Jeffrey, assisted by Camilla, the wife of a sadistic English sea captain, escape to shore. Camilla goes on to Santa Helena to seek help from Colonel Montoya. Montoya gets involved seeking to turn the situation to his advantage in obtaining a cannon. Dr Helm discovers the captain's wife was his bride to be. Camilla has no intention of going back to her husband but rekindles her love with Dr Helm. The Queen has to step in to save first Dr Helm and then Camilla so they can be reunited. Stars Simon MacCorkindale Amanda Batty Yasmin Bannerman | ||||||
| 16 | 109 | "The Hanged Man" | Paolo Barzman | Steve Roberts | April 21, 2001 | [15] |
| Krane, a ruthless old comrade of Grisham's, takes control of Santa Helena when Montoya is away plans to rob the Don's. Grisham is helpless and only The Queen and the Don's wives can help but they don't trust The Queen. Marta tries solve the situation by killing Krane. Stars Anthony De Longis Emile Abossolo M'Bo | ||||||
| 17 | 111 | "The Return" | Paolo Barzman | Scott Kraft | April 28, 2001 | [16] |
| When Marta's love from Spain arrives in Santa Helena and is arrested for murder, Montoya wants to use him to kill Don Hidalgo and Marta's loyalties to Tessa are tested. The Queen has to step in to save him and watch as he and Marta go on the run. Stars Oliver Haden | ||||||
| 18 | 113 | "The Pretender" | Peter Ellis | James Thorpe | May 5, 2001 | [17] |
| When a newly arrived Spanish lawyer is murdered it has deadly consequences for Tessa's friend when his own parents accuse him of the murder. Stars Cyrielle Clair Jorge Montesi Alex Hassell. | ||||||
| 19 | 120 | "Take's a Thief" | Paolo Barzman | Elizabeth Keyishian | May 12, 2001 | |
| Two con-men offer their services to capture The Queen for the reward but on meeting The Queen change their minds. Montoya imprisons one until the other carries out the job. Stars Ralf Möller Darren Tighe | ||||||
| 20 | 118 | "The Dragon" | Terry Ingram | Durnford King | May 19, 2001 | [18] |
| Master Kiyomasa and his disciple Kami from a cult of Japanese warrior priests are ambushed by Armando and his gang. The Master is killed and the son of Armando is fatally wounded. Both Kami and Armando want revenge and Colonel Montoya seeing that Kami is skilled in martial arts and more than a match for The Queen convinces her that The Queen is the leader of Armando's gang despite Dr Helm, Marta, and Tessa's protestations. Stars Sung-Hi Lee Burt Kwouk Darrell D'Silva | ||||||
| 21 | 121 | "End of Days" | Brian Grant (London), Norma Bailey (Texas Hollywood) |
Scott Kraft | May 26, 2001 | [19] |
| Grisham and The Queen, trapped in the same mine destroyed in episode two, are slowly suffocating, giving them time to remember past encounters and with Grisham's ardour far from diminished, despite their predicament, the chance to finally unmask The Queen. | ||||||
| 22 | 122 | "Betrayed" | Norma Bailey | James Thorpe | June 2, 2001 | |
| Vera lies in a coma and Grisham blames The Queen. Don Hidalgo demands The Queen's death and Montoya readily imposes martial law and to conceal the truth orders Grisham to kill Vera sorely testing his love for her. | ||||||
The Queen of Swords was portrayed by newcomer Tessie Santiago, who provided the voice, close-up face of the character, and character interaction. Anthony De Longis trained Tessie Santiago for two months in pre-production in California in the use of the rapier and dagger in the Spanish mysterious circle (Destreza) style,[13] and use of the whip. He purposely created complicated and extended phrases of rapier and dagger choreography and taught them to Tessie Santiago as he recognized in episodic television that time is always restricted. There was a month off between training and cameras rolling in Spain with only a few days of prep before Tessie Santiago climbed to the top of a cliff to shoot her first scene in "Death to the Queen". This was a two-on-one fight scene in 40 mph winds and with a little adjustment and fine-tuning to location and situation, Tessie Santiago was able to confidently perform all of her own swordplay in this opening sequence.[14]
Three other women helped portray the Queen of Swords. A double stands in for the "star" actor for long shots. This happened in a few instances in Queen of Swords such as in the shot of the Queen lying on the beach face down in the episode "Death to the Queen" or the shot in the same episode of the Queen's gloved hands being loosened from their bindings. The main character in Queen of Swords required great skill in horseback riding, swordsmanship, the bullwhip, and knife fighting.[15]
Natalia Guijarro Brasseur was originally hired to perform the role of the Queen in scenes requiring specific physical skills. Some of the American producers of the series included the producers of Highlander: The Series as well as the swordmaster Anthony De Longis during initial rehearsals for the series in Spain, before filming began, De Longis and producer Ken Gord recognized that Natalia Brasseur was not as talented with the sword as they needed. So, in Los Angeles, executive producer David Abramowitz got in touch with the fencing instructor/actress/swordmaster who had tested and helped producers cast the role of the Queen of Swords, Roberta Brown. Brown was flown to Spain, where she appeared in the first five episodes as sword double for the Queen. She also appeared as Marta in carriage-chase scenes and Mary Rose's sword double in the seventh episode.[16] In the meantime, Brasseur doubled for the Queen in stunt horse scenes and some falls. When the producers found that they needed to use their limited American visas for other guest stars and crew members, De Longis and Brown were dismissed from the series before the first hiatus in filming. The producers brought in French fencer Gaëlle Cohen as a replacement.
Other performers who portrayed the Queen during the series included Mary Gallien (who later became Dr. Mary De Longis) and Mary Jose. In the episode "The Hanged Man", male stuntman Curro doubled for the Queen to perform one of the most dangerous stunt in a Western involving a moving wagon and horses, when dressed as the Queen, Curro jumped from the wagon onto the horses then passed under the horses and wagon, grabbed a trailing rope and was dragged along the ground from where he hauled himself back on to the rear of the wagon. This was performed in the style of Yakima Canutt, who first performed the stunt in the films Stagecoach and Riders of the Dawn.[17]
Regarding the need for so many performers for one character, swordmaster Anthony De Longis, wrote on his website, "You don't learn sword skills over night, especially when you're busy performing all the other action for a new episode every week."[18]
The need for four women to perform the role of the Queen is exemplified in the Queen's run up the hill away from the soldiers in "Death to the Queen". Mary Gallien started the run up the hill, Roberta Brown performed the medium shot duel with swords on the hill, Tessie Santiago performed the spoken parts and was in the close-up, and Natalia Brasseur fell off the cliff as the Queen of Swords.
| Awarding Body | Award | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALMA Awards | Outstanding lead actress in a syndicated drama series for Queen of Swords (2001) | Tessie Santiago | nomination[19] |
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In August 2000, writer Linda S. Lukens sought a preliminary injunction to block the premiere of Queen of Swords unless she were given a "created by" credit, saying she had submitted a script of that name and a similar series treatment to ABC two decades earlier, and that both she and the show's executive producer, David Abramowitz, were both represented by the Broder/Kurland Agency, which was also named in the suit. In October 2000, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ordered a halt to further broadcasts of the show unless Lukens received that credit.[1][2]
On January 24, 2001, Sony Pictures Entertainment filed a lawsuit in United States District Court, Central District of California, Western Division, against Fireworks Entertainment Group, the producers of Queen of Swords. Sony alleged copyright infringement and other claims, saying the series "copied protectable elements from [the] 'Zorro' character and 'Zorro' related works". On April 5, 2001, U.S. District Judge Collins, denied Sony's motion for a preliminary injunction, noting, among other points, "that since the copyrights in [Johnson McCulley's 1919 short story] The Curse of Capistrano and [the 1920 movie] The Mark of Zorro lapsed in 1995 or before, the character Zorro has been in the public domain." As to specific elements of The Mask of Zorro, the judge found that any similarities between the film and the TV series' secondary characters and plot elements were insufficient to warrant an injunction.[22]