The Black Rose

The Black Rose

Poster
Directed by Henry Hathaway
Produced by Louis D. Lighton
Written by Thomas B. Costain (novel)
Screenplay by Talbot Jennings
Based on The Black Rose (novel)
Starring Tyrone Power
Orson Welles
Cécile Aubry
Jack Hawkins
Music by Richard Addinsell
Cinematography Jack Cardiff
Edited by Manuel del Campo
Distributed by 20th Century-Fox
Release dates
 1 September 1950
Running time
 120 min.
Country United States
Language English
Box office $2,650,000 (US rentals)[1]

The Black Rose is a 1950 20th Century-Fox Technicolor film starring Tyrone Power and Orson Welles, loosely based on Thomas B. Costain's book. It was filmed partly on location in England and Morocco[2] which substitutes for the Gobi Desert of China. The film was partly conceived as a follow-up to the movie Prince of Foxes,[3] and reunited the earlier film's two stars.

Talbot Jennings' screenplay was based on a popular novel of the same name by Canadian author Thomas B. Costain, published in 1945.

It was nominated for Best Costumes-Color at the 23rd Academy Awards (Michael Whittaker). [4]

Plot

Tyrone Power and Cécile Aubry

The story concerns 13th-century Saxon nobleman Walter of Gurnie (Tyrone Power), who, after sparking an unsuccessful rebellion against the Norman conquerors of his homeland, sets out to seek his fortune in the Far East during the times of Pax Mongolica. His friend, an archer, Tristam (Jack Hawkins) goes with him, since they are both outlaws now. Walter and Tristam seek the acquaintance of Mongol warlord Bayan (Orson Welles) and agree to fight for him. The "Black Rose" of the title is the beauteous Maryam (Cécile Aubry), a half-English, half-Mongol girl who has escaped from General Bayan of the Baarin's harem and is harbored by Walter and Tristam while Walter and Tristram are in service to Bayan. Maryam loves Walter but he is too interested in his adventure to pay her any attention. Tristam doesn't like all the killing and decides to get away. He takes Maryam with him, because she wants to go to England.

Bayan sends Walter on a mission to see the Yuan Empress of China. When he arrives he is told that he must stay in China as their 'guest' for the rest of his life. Then he finds Tristam and Maryam were also captured and imprisoned. During this time, Walter realizes he loves Maryam. The three of them decide to escape. Tristam dies. The small boat Maryam,(The Black Rose), is in, while waiting for Walter, drifts away before Walter can catch her. Walter returns to his native country alone.

Walter was previously denounced by his father's second wife but King Edward (Michael Rennie) felt that Walter was misjudged and said he bore him no ill-will. Therefore, Walter is welcomed back with open arms because of all the cultural and scientific wonders (including gunpowder) he has brought back from China. Then two emissaries from Bayan show up. They have brought The Black Rose to England to join Walter there, where he is knighted by King Edward. The movie ends on a happy note.

Cast

See also

References

  1. ↑ 'The Top Box Office Hits of 1950', Variety, January 3, 1951
  2. ↑ "The Black Rose (1950)". Rotten tomatoes. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  3. ↑ "The Black Rose(1950)". Yahoo movies. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  4. ↑ "The 23rd Academy Awards (1951) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved April 3, 2014.

External links