Product Description

Disc 1: Captain from Castile Disc 2: Black Rose Disc 3: Blood and Sand Disc 4: Prince of Foxes Disc 5: Son of Fury

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15075 in DVD
• Brand: TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT
• Released on: 2007-05-01
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 5
• Running time: 592 minutes

Features

• The Black Rose - In the time of the crusades, a Saxon youth is forced to run away from England. He goes with his loyal retainer who brings along a British long bow. The two go all the way to China where they become involved in intrigues in the court of Kubla Kahn. Captain from Castile - Spain, 1518: young caballero Pedro De Vargas offends his sadistic neighbor De Silva, who just happens to be a

Amazon.com
This DVD boxed set shows Tyrone Power as Twentieth Century Fox (that is, Fox head honcho Darryl F. Zanuck) saw him: handsome, dashing, prone to swordplay and adventure. Zanuck's instincts were in tune with what audiences wanted to see from Ty Power, and the athletic actor was one of Hollywood's most popular stars from the late 1930s through his exit for WWII service--and he remained popular in the late 1940s, although he chafed at his limited casting opportunities. The real Tyrone Power may well have been more interesting than these movies suggest, although you wouldn't know it: he comes across as earnest, square, and unfailingly attractive.

The earliest film in the set is the 1941 Blood and Sand, a Technicolor-crazed remake of the old Rudolph Valentino silent picture. Power plays a hotshot matador caught between Linda Darnell's faithful wife and Rita Hayworth's naughty femme fatale (Anthony Quinn scores nicely in a small role as a super-cool rival matador). Director Rouben Mamoulian's operatic style meshes well with the milieu, even if the movie is paced operatically at times. Son of Fury (1942) bounds into the realm of 19th-century costume adventure, with Power out to wrest his rightful inheritance from scoundrel George Sanders, juggling high-class lady Frances Farmer and South Seas maiden Gene Tierney along the way. This crazy plot is ably directed by John Cromwell, and Alfred Newman's Polynesian love theme is well-nigh irresistible.

Captain from Castile is a lavish postwar production that reestablished Power as an adventure hero. Stunning location photography in Mexico (including a real volcano in mid-eruption, which figures evocatively in the late going) makes this one a scenic feast, even if the plot is standard potboiler stuff: Spanish nobleman Power escapes the Inquisition by signing on with Cortez (Cesar Romero) and his New World expedition. Castile was directed by Henry King, and King also made Prince of Foxes (1950), bringing a foursquare approach that emphasizes the somewhat stodgy period feel of both films. However, Prince has a secret weapon: Orson Welles plays power-hungry Cesare Borgia and steals every scene he's in. Tyrone Power already appears older than his 35 years (he would in fact die at age 44, while filming Solomon and Sheba), and he looks dazzled by Welles' prowess.

Welles is back in The Black Rose, a lively Boys' Own Adventure yarn from 1950. Here Power and Jack Hawkins leave 13th-century England for a wild trip to Mongolia and China, signing on to the service of the brutal warlord played by Welles. Director Henry Hathaway gets the most out of the extensive location shooting, and Welles makes a meal of his role. It's a fun movie that shows the appeal, and some of the limitations, of Tyrone Power in his signature style. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews

Tyrone Power Historical Epics at LAST on DVD!
While calling this a 'Swashbuckler' collection is misleading (these aren't the swordfighting, acrobatic adventures synonymous with Fairbanks, Flynn, Lancaster, or even Power, in "The Mark of Zorro"), these are vastly entertaining films, and Tyrone Power is always a joy of watch!

The oldest of the films, "Blood and Sand", is the strangest entry of the collection; while the other films are historical epics, this technicolor morality tale, told in a bullfight saga, was released in pre-WWII 1941. A remake of Rudolph Valentino's 1922 silent classic, Power is the fearless matador loved by sweet Linda Darnell, but corrupted by sophisticated vixen Rita Hayworth (being groomed for stardom at the time). The fun of this film isn't so much the drama, however, as the beauty of Power and Hayworth, and a fabulous supporting cast, including Anthony Quinn, Laird Cregar, and John Carradine; watch for future 'Superman' George Reeves in a small role!

"Son of Fury" (1942) is best-known as the film that helped launch Gene Tierney's career, and the sad swansong of Frances Farmer's attempted comeback, but it is closer in spirit to "Anthony Adverse" than swashbuckler. Supposedly illegitimate Power is abused by sadistic uncle George Sanders, and flees to the South Seas to gain the wealth to contest his status, falling for island girl Tierney. Don't miss the climactic fistfight between Power and Sanders; it's nearly as spectacular as the Wayne/Scott brawl in "The Spoilers"!

The end of WWII brought a new 'consciousness' to historical epics, and Power's films would be among the best, marred only by some poorly-cast leading ladies. "Captain from Castile" (1947) offered the one exception, sultry Jean Peters; while the concept was similar to "Son of Fury" (hero goes overseas...Mexico, this time...seeking fortune and fame to clear name), the film benefits from breathtaking Technicolor Mexican locations (watch for the active volcanoes!), a first-rate cast, including Cesar Romero (fabulous as Cortez), and Alfred Newman's unforgettable score. "Prince of Foxes" (1949), first of two Power teamings with Orson Welles, is one of Hollywood's first 'intellectual' epics; In 16th certury Italy, a pretender (Power), gains the confidence of legendary Cesare Borgia (Welles), who uses Power's wiles to win cities in his plan to conquer and unite Italy. Unfortunately, conscience (in the form of miscast Wanda Hendrix), would get in the way! "The Black Rose" (1950), set in 13th century Britain, completes the collection; again, Power goes to foreign lands (this time, China) to win a fortune, and save his Saxon family's estate and honor, accompanied by loyal Jack Hawkins (who nearly steals the film). He enters the service of exotic General Bayan (Welles), and wins the heart of captive Cecile Aubry (easily the worst of Power's leading ladies), bringing China's wonders back to the West. Produced in England, on a smaller budget, the film lacks the 'sweep' of the other titles, and Power (at 36) is getting a bit old to be playing youths, but it is still entertaining!

For Tyrone Power's many fans (including me), finally seeing these titles on DVD is a cause to celebrate, and one hopes that more of his film work will soon be available!

Wonderful set befitting a wonderful star

With this 5-DVD set, 20th Century Fox is finally doing justice to its great star and huge box office winner for many years, Tyrone Power. Included: Blood and Sand, Son of Fury, The Black Rose, The Prince of Foxes, and The Captain from Castile.

Fox has really gone all the way with this one, with the inclusion of postcard-sized lobby cards and four exquisite features, including excellent commentary, isolated scores of Captain from Castile and Prince of Foxes that are INCREDIBLE, and many other elements. I do not feel that Fox took the cheap way out at all. Through Warner Brothers in the past has had more output than Fox, Warners recently has not given the attention to their DVD sets as Fox has on this Power set. I have been critical of Fox in the past for their DVD production, but I think they're trying to make up for it now. It's a beautifully compiled set.

Three of the films are in color: Blood and Sand, The Black Rose, and The Captain from Castile. The color in Blood and Sand is excellent; in fact, there is a commentary by Richard Crudo, Pres. of American Society of Cinematographers who speaks about this film. The split-screen technique shows the beauty of the restoration.

Son of Fury is in black and white - there is some light flickering contrast but I think the picture looks great, using a dual-layering process.

The first two reels of Captain From Castile has some color problems but after that it's fine - and the score is a treasure. Make sure to listen to the isolated score by Randy Newman that is offered. It's also an excellent film, with great performances.

Actually I don't entirely agree with the negative review of the Prince of Foxes quality - it's not perfect but the black and white is fine, and I thoroughly loved watching the film. Again, the score is sensational.

My least favorite film in the set is The Black Rose, which as one reviewer suggests, was added because The Black Swan and Zorro had already seen release. However, the color is probably the best of the set.

I hope Fox will continue with another Power series and include Lloyds of London, I'll Never Forget You, Suez, and other of this fine actor's films.

A long time coming, but worth it
Finally Tyrone Power has his own box set collection, and we fans hope it is the first of many.

Unfortunately, Power's best swashbuckling/adventure films, The Mark of Zorro and The Black Swan, have already been released. Nevertheless, this set has three absolute gems - Blood and Sand, Captain from Castile, and Son of Fury, all top-notch films. The latter film introduced the gorgeous Gene Tierney to audiences.

I'm not crazy about the outside cover artwork (from Captain from Castile), which doesn't resemble Power, but the artwork on the remaining individual DVD covers is stunning, and there is some wonderful film restoration done. I'll never get over not seeing Prince of Foxes in color. If there was ever a movie that deserves to be colorized (in a good way, like The Mark of Zorro was - I am NOT referring to the old colorization that Ted Turner did) - it's Prince of Foxes, with its authentic Italian surroundings and interiors. I hope Fox will eventually do that.

Power gives wonderful performances in all of the films. I admit my least favorite movie here is The Black Rose, in no small measure because of Cecile Aubrey, but the movie is pretty to look at. For brilliant direction, performances and cinematography, the Oscar-winning Blood and Sand is fantastic and is my favorite film in the set. It also has my favorite performance of Power's - in, not surprisingly, the best role - of the five films.

The other thing this set has is fantastic FEATURES - all of them are great, and one of them is a Power family reunion of sorts, with Linda Christian, her two children, and Tyrone Power Jr. This is a real treasure. There is also "The Leading Ladies" which features some of his living costars - Patricia Neal, Jayne Meadows, Terry Moore, Colleen Gray. A third feature is a Movietone about his fabulous wedding to Linda Christian, where 10,000 people mobbed the outside of the church (as opposed to the 1,000 when Tom Cruise married in the same place in Italy). The last feature is "Behind the Scenes" with some wonderful still photographs, clips, and interviews with Oscar nominee James Cromwell, whose father directed the film, and comments from a film historian.

Ty fans will love this. It is SO GREAT to have Captain from Castile, Son of Fury, Blood and Sand, Prince of Foxes, and The Black Rose out on DVD. Here's hoping Power gets the second collection he deserves.