Andrea here, musing today about swordsmen . . . or rather, three swordsmen in particular. As usual, this happened in a very serendipitous way: I was just checking a quick fact for my WIP. I swear, I only meant to spend a moment or two confirming the exact location of a famous Regency fencing academy. But then, I couldn’t help but get distracted (the road to perdition—or in this case, procrastination—is paved with good intentions!) History is filled with such fascinating characters—and as swashbuckling figures, few can match the Angelo family—Domenico Angelo Malevolti Tremamondo, his son Henry Angelo, and his grandson Henry Angelo the Younger. So let's thrust and parry down the research rabbit hole! (above is Henry the Elder)
It seems Domenico, a dashing Italian fencing master who was considered the finest swordsman in all of Europe, fell in love with the famous actress Margaret Woffington while training in Paris and followed her back to London. I havne' discovered when happened to the that relationship, but Dominco must have found London to his liking for he established Angelo’s School of Arms in Soho during the early 1750s to teach British gentlemen the art of the sword. (He adopted Angelo as his surname to fit in to his adopted country, and from then on, the family was always known as Angelo—that's Domenico at right.)
Domenico believed fencing was great exercise, and was instrumental in developing health and grace.In fact, he's credited with making fencing a sport as well as instrument of war. It’s fascinating to note he also accepted women students! Some of them were said to be actresses from nearby Covent Garden who accompanied their gentlemen friends to the Academy and became captivated by the sport. (It seems his son Henry also accepted women. Henry was good friends with Thomas Rowlandson, the famous artist and cartoonist, and I found a Rowlandson drawing showing Henry crossing swords with a Madame Cain!—see above.)
Domenico’s treatise, L’Ecole des Armes, is considered a classic instruction manual to this day, and he went to become fencing master to the Royal family. After handing over his academy to his son, he taught fencing Eton (and in fact, three generation of Angelo men taught Eton boys how to wield a blade.)
Those of you who read Regencies will no doubt be familiar with Angelo’s Academy, which was on Bond Street, next door to Gentleman Jackson’s boxing establishment (yes, that was the fact I was checking! It did have several different locations over the years, but the Bond Street one is the most famous) Domenico’s son Henry was head of the Academy during the early years of the Regency. (Lord Byron was a regular .)
Henry was instrumental in creating many of the manuals used to train the British Army in swordsmanship. Like is father’s book, Henry’s Ten Lessons of Highland Broadsword, published in 1798, was considered a bible of basic moves. And it turns out there’s a very fun story behind how Henry became such a valued consultant to the British military.
According to Jonathan MacKenzie Gordon, instructor at the Virginia Academy of Fencing and a practitioner of historical swordsmanship, one of Henry’s friends, Colonel Charles Herries, founder of the Light Horse Volunteers of London and Westminster, was unhappy with the skill and fitness of his recruits, and asked Henry to come up with a series of training exercises. Now, at the time, Henry also had another friend, James Perry, owner of the Morning Chronicle, who was serving time in Newgate for libel against the House of Lords. The two of them engaged in frequent bouts of “single stick” fencing, which was apparently a popular pastime at country fairs. It involved—yes—a wooden stick and apparently the object was to strike your opponent’s head and draw blood.
They practiced on top of the prison roof, and it was through this game that Henry devised the simple lessons outlined in Ten Steps, which were eventually used as the basic drills for the British army throughout the 19th century.
In 1817, Henry’s son, Henry Angelo the Younger took over the Academy from his father. He also worked with the military, serving as superintendent of sword exercise for both the army and the Royal Navy. His 1817 manual, Infantry Sword Exercises, added to the family canon of training books.
So that's our little swing through the Regency world of fencing. I confess there is something rather dashing about swashbuckling swordsmen in movies and novels. Growing up, I loved The Three Musketeers and the Sword in the Stone. And then there’s Errol Flynn in Captain Blood, Cary Elwes in The Princess Bride and Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean. What about you? Do you have a favorite swordsman in books or on the silver screen?
A most enjoyable post, and thank you for enlivening it with the pictures. No doubt those sessions when women joined in were very popular. I love fencing and – many moons ago – was on my college fencing team. Then I worked in France and fenced there. When the Master allowed us a bit of free practice,other fencers [male or female] would come up and ask: ‘Shall we do an assault?’
All my heroes fence and one fights a duel with an Italian.
A most enjoyable post, and thank you for enlivening it with the pictures. No doubt those sessions when women joined in were very popular. I love fencing and – many moons ago – was on my college fencing team. Then I worked in France and fenced there. When the Master allowed us a bit of free practice,other fencers [male or female] would come up and ask: ‘Shall we do an assault?’
All my heroes fence and one fights a duel with an Italian.
A most enjoyable post, and thank you for enlivening it with the pictures. No doubt those sessions when women joined in were very popular. I love fencing and – many moons ago – was on my college fencing team. Then I worked in France and fenced there. When the Master allowed us a bit of free practice,other fencers [male or female] would come up and ask: ‘Shall we do an assault?’
All my heroes fence and one fights a duel with an Italian.
A most enjoyable post, and thank you for enlivening it with the pictures. No doubt those sessions when women joined in were very popular. I love fencing and – many moons ago – was on my college fencing team. Then I worked in France and fenced there. When the Master allowed us a bit of free practice,other fencers [male or female] would come up and ask: ‘Shall we do an assault?’
All my heroes fence and one fights a duel with an Italian.
A most enjoyable post, and thank you for enlivening it with the pictures. No doubt those sessions when women joined in were very popular. I love fencing and – many moons ago – was on my college fencing team. Then I worked in France and fenced there. When the Master allowed us a bit of free practice,other fencers [male or female] would come up and ask: ‘Shall we do an assault?’
All my heroes fence and one fights a duel with an Italian.
Cary Elwes! The Princes Bride! His autobiography, AS YOU WISH, tells how hard he had to work to become that good–and ditto Mandy Patinkin, his oponent. *G* Fencing is lovely to watch.
Cary Elwes! The Princes Bride! His autobiography, AS YOU WISH, tells how hard he had to work to become that good–and ditto Mandy Patinkin, his oponent. *G* Fencing is lovely to watch.
Cary Elwes! The Princes Bride! His autobiography, AS YOU WISH, tells how hard he had to work to become that good–and ditto Mandy Patinkin, his oponent. *G* Fencing is lovely to watch.
Cary Elwes! The Princes Bride! His autobiography, AS YOU WISH, tells how hard he had to work to become that good–and ditto Mandy Patinkin, his oponent. *G* Fencing is lovely to watch.
Cary Elwes! The Princes Bride! His autobiography, AS YOU WISH, tells how hard he had to work to become that good–and ditto Mandy Patinkin, his oponent. *G* Fencing is lovely to watch.
Oh, how fun that you’re a fencer! I did a little of it in collage and wish I had stuck with it. Domenico was right—it’s wonderfully athletic, and teaches graces and balance and agility.
Love that your heroes fence—you should add a heroine who know how to wield a blade!
Oh, how fun that you’re a fencer! I did a little of it in collage and wish I had stuck with it. Domenico was right—it’s wonderfully athletic, and teaches graces and balance and agility.
Love that your heroes fence—you should add a heroine who know how to wield a blade!
Oh, how fun that you’re a fencer! I did a little of it in collage and wish I had stuck with it. Domenico was right—it’s wonderfully athletic, and teaches graces and balance and agility.
Love that your heroes fence—you should add a heroine who know how to wield a blade!
Oh, how fun that you’re a fencer! I did a little of it in collage and wish I had stuck with it. Domenico was right—it’s wonderfully athletic, and teaches graces and balance and agility.
Love that your heroes fence—you should add a heroine who know how to wield a blade!
Oh, how fun that you’re a fencer! I did a little of it in collage and wish I had stuck with it. Domenico was right—it’s wonderfully athletic, and teaches graces and balance and agility.
Love that your heroes fence—you should add a heroine who know how to wield a blade!
I loved the Elewes’s bio! Reading about the movie was such great fun. And those two as dashing swordsmen are, to my mind, iconic!
I loved the Elewes’s bio! Reading about the movie was such great fun. And those two as dashing swordsmen are, to my mind, iconic!
I loved the Elewes’s bio! Reading about the movie was such great fun. And those two as dashing swordsmen are, to my mind, iconic!
I loved the Elewes’s bio! Reading about the movie was such great fun. And those two as dashing swordsmen are, to my mind, iconic!
I loved the Elewes’s bio! Reading about the movie was such great fun. And those two as dashing swordsmen are, to my mind, iconic!
I too grew up on swashbucklers, and a dashing swordsman still makes my heart go pit-a-pat. My favorite movie duel is the one between Ronald Coleman and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. in The Prisoner of Zenda, one of the most romantic movies of all time.
It seems to me that I read somewhere that Basil Rathbone actually was an accomplished swordsman, which must have been frustrating for him since he was almost always playing the villain and had to lose!
I too grew up on swashbucklers, and a dashing swordsman still makes my heart go pit-a-pat. My favorite movie duel is the one between Ronald Coleman and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. in The Prisoner of Zenda, one of the most romantic movies of all time.
It seems to me that I read somewhere that Basil Rathbone actually was an accomplished swordsman, which must have been frustrating for him since he was almost always playing the villain and had to lose!
I too grew up on swashbucklers, and a dashing swordsman still makes my heart go pit-a-pat. My favorite movie duel is the one between Ronald Coleman and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. in The Prisoner of Zenda, one of the most romantic movies of all time.
It seems to me that I read somewhere that Basil Rathbone actually was an accomplished swordsman, which must have been frustrating for him since he was almost always playing the villain and had to lose!
I too grew up on swashbucklers, and a dashing swordsman still makes my heart go pit-a-pat. My favorite movie duel is the one between Ronald Coleman and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. in The Prisoner of Zenda, one of the most romantic movies of all time.
It seems to me that I read somewhere that Basil Rathbone actually was an accomplished swordsman, which must have been frustrating for him since he was almost always playing the villain and had to lose!
I too grew up on swashbucklers, and a dashing swordsman still makes my heart go pit-a-pat. My favorite movie duel is the one between Ronald Coleman and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. in The Prisoner of Zenda, one of the most romantic movies of all time.
It seems to me that I read somewhere that Basil Rathbone actually was an accomplished swordsman, which must have been frustrating for him since he was almost always playing the villain and had to lose!
Oh, yes—I forgot about that one—it’s a great swashbuckling scene, Lillian. I didn’t realize Rathbone was a skilled fencer. Another fun bit of history to know!
Oh, yes—I forgot about that one—it’s a great swashbuckling scene, Lillian. I didn’t realize Rathbone was a skilled fencer. Another fun bit of history to know!
Oh, yes—I forgot about that one—it’s a great swashbuckling scene, Lillian. I didn’t realize Rathbone was a skilled fencer. Another fun bit of history to know!
Oh, yes—I forgot about that one—it’s a great swashbuckling scene, Lillian. I didn’t realize Rathbone was a skilled fencer. Another fun bit of history to know!
Oh, yes—I forgot about that one—it’s a great swashbuckling scene, Lillian. I didn’t realize Rathbone was a skilled fencer. Another fun bit of history to know!
Gene Kelly had a fencing sequence in THE THREE MUSKETEERS. It was like a choreographed dance – simply beautiful. I can’t remember if I saw it before or after SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN. Needless to say, Gene Kelly was my first crush. I still love seeing him any chance I get.
Gene Kelly had a fencing sequence in THE THREE MUSKETEERS. It was like a choreographed dance – simply beautiful. I can’t remember if I saw it before or after SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN. Needless to say, Gene Kelly was my first crush. I still love seeing him any chance I get.
Gene Kelly had a fencing sequence in THE THREE MUSKETEERS. It was like a choreographed dance – simply beautiful. I can’t remember if I saw it before or after SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN. Needless to say, Gene Kelly was my first crush. I still love seeing him any chance I get.
Gene Kelly had a fencing sequence in THE THREE MUSKETEERS. It was like a choreographed dance – simply beautiful. I can’t remember if I saw it before or after SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN. Needless to say, Gene Kelly was my first crush. I still love seeing him any chance I get.
Gene Kelly had a fencing sequence in THE THREE MUSKETEERS. It was like a choreographed dance – simply beautiful. I can’t remember if I saw it before or after SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN. Needless to say, Gene Kelly was my first crush. I still love seeing him any chance I get.
Thanks, Mary. I’ve never seen that clip, but MUST look for it. Gene Kelly is SO athletic and graceful—he must be absolutely fabulous as a swordsman! (Fluttery sigh.)
Thanks, Mary. I’ve never seen that clip, but MUST look for it. Gene Kelly is SO athletic and graceful—he must be absolutely fabulous as a swordsman! (Fluttery sigh.)
Thanks, Mary. I’ve never seen that clip, but MUST look for it. Gene Kelly is SO athletic and graceful—he must be absolutely fabulous as a swordsman! (Fluttery sigh.)
Thanks, Mary. I’ve never seen that clip, but MUST look for it. Gene Kelly is SO athletic and graceful—he must be absolutely fabulous as a swordsman! (Fluttery sigh.)
Thanks, Mary. I’ve never seen that clip, but MUST look for it. Gene Kelly is SO athletic and graceful—he must be absolutely fabulous as a swordsman! (Fluttery sigh.)
Thank you for a fascinating post, Andrea. I had read of Angelo’s but had no idea it was based on a true place and people. I learned something today and it’s not even nine o’clock!
Thank you for a fascinating post, Andrea. I had read of Angelo’s but had no idea it was based on a true place and people. I learned something today and it’s not even nine o’clock!
Thank you for a fascinating post, Andrea. I had read of Angelo’s but had no idea it was based on a true place and people. I learned something today and it’s not even nine o’clock!
Thank you for a fascinating post, Andrea. I had read of Angelo’s but had no idea it was based on a true place and people. I learned something today and it’s not even nine o’clock!
Thank you for a fascinating post, Andrea. I had read of Angelo’s but had no idea it was based on a true place and people. I learned something today and it’s not even nine o’clock!
So glad you enjoyed it! History is even stranger than fiction! Or rather, it only enhances fiction!
So glad you enjoyed it! History is even stranger than fiction! Or rather, it only enhances fiction!
So glad you enjoyed it! History is even stranger than fiction! Or rather, it only enhances fiction!
So glad you enjoyed it! History is even stranger than fiction! Or rather, it only enhances fiction!
So glad you enjoyed it! History is even stranger than fiction! Or rather, it only enhances fiction!
I can outdo Lilian Marek in my choice of swordsman. Doglas Fairbanks Jr. is better eye candy than his father, but he doesn’t hold up to the skills shown by Douglas Fairbanks Sr. in “The Mark of Zorro” (or whatever name that first silent version was called.)
And, NO, I’m not THAT old. I took and “adult education course” in 1949 or thereabouts. It was the history of film and did eaventually reach the talkies, but most of the course was the silents. I came away from those films with a healthy respect for the camera work and the acting in those early films. (if you’ve ever seen the great falls of the Passaic, you will appreciate Miss Gish (Lillian?) more than you do alread.
I can outdo Lilian Marek in my choice of swordsman. Doglas Fairbanks Jr. is better eye candy than his father, but he doesn’t hold up to the skills shown by Douglas Fairbanks Sr. in “The Mark of Zorro” (or whatever name that first silent version was called.)
And, NO, I’m not THAT old. I took and “adult education course” in 1949 or thereabouts. It was the history of film and did eaventually reach the talkies, but most of the course was the silents. I came away from those films with a healthy respect for the camera work and the acting in those early films. (if you’ve ever seen the great falls of the Passaic, you will appreciate Miss Gish (Lillian?) more than you do alread.
I can outdo Lilian Marek in my choice of swordsman. Doglas Fairbanks Jr. is better eye candy than his father, but he doesn’t hold up to the skills shown by Douglas Fairbanks Sr. in “The Mark of Zorro” (or whatever name that first silent version was called.)
And, NO, I’m not THAT old. I took and “adult education course” in 1949 or thereabouts. It was the history of film and did eaventually reach the talkies, but most of the course was the silents. I came away from those films with a healthy respect for the camera work and the acting in those early films. (if you’ve ever seen the great falls of the Passaic, you will appreciate Miss Gish (Lillian?) more than you do alread.
I can outdo Lilian Marek in my choice of swordsman. Doglas Fairbanks Jr. is better eye candy than his father, but he doesn’t hold up to the skills shown by Douglas Fairbanks Sr. in “The Mark of Zorro” (or whatever name that first silent version was called.)
And, NO, I’m not THAT old. I took and “adult education course” in 1949 or thereabouts. It was the history of film and did eaventually reach the talkies, but most of the course was the silents. I came away from those films with a healthy respect for the camera work and the acting in those early films. (if you’ve ever seen the great falls of the Passaic, you will appreciate Miss Gish (Lillian?) more than you do alread.
I can outdo Lilian Marek in my choice of swordsman. Doglas Fairbanks Jr. is better eye candy than his father, but he doesn’t hold up to the skills shown by Douglas Fairbanks Sr. in “The Mark of Zorro” (or whatever name that first silent version was called.)
And, NO, I’m not THAT old. I took and “adult education course” in 1949 or thereabouts. It was the history of film and did eaventually reach the talkies, but most of the course was the silents. I came away from those films with a healthy respect for the camera work and the acting in those early films. (if you’ve ever seen the great falls of the Passaic, you will appreciate Miss Gish (Lillian?) more than you do alread.
Oh, Sue, I’m not THAT old either, but I now remember that Fairbanks Sr. film! I saw it a while back as part of a documentary, I think, on silent films and you’re right—he was fabulous!
Really interesting comment about the acting. Yes, to communicate without words required a real skill.
Oh, Sue, I’m not THAT old either, but I now remember that Fairbanks Sr. film! I saw it a while back as part of a documentary, I think, on silent films and you’re right—he was fabulous!
Really interesting comment about the acting. Yes, to communicate without words required a real skill.
Oh, Sue, I’m not THAT old either, but I now remember that Fairbanks Sr. film! I saw it a while back as part of a documentary, I think, on silent films and you’re right—he was fabulous!
Really interesting comment about the acting. Yes, to communicate without words required a real skill.
Oh, Sue, I’m not THAT old either, but I now remember that Fairbanks Sr. film! I saw it a while back as part of a documentary, I think, on silent films and you’re right—he was fabulous!
Really interesting comment about the acting. Yes, to communicate without words required a real skill.
Oh, Sue, I’m not THAT old either, but I now remember that Fairbanks Sr. film! I saw it a while back as part of a documentary, I think, on silent films and you’re right—he was fabulous!
Really interesting comment about the acting. Yes, to communicate without words required a real skill.
I love swashbucklers & sword fights as well. Love the Ellen Kushner Tremontaine books. Also Dave Duncan writes some wonderful books about men & their swords. Love all the movies mentioned in the blog & comments.
I love swashbucklers & sword fights as well. Love the Ellen Kushner Tremontaine books. Also Dave Duncan writes some wonderful books about men & their swords. Love all the movies mentioned in the blog & comments.
I love swashbucklers & sword fights as well. Love the Ellen Kushner Tremontaine books. Also Dave Duncan writes some wonderful books about men & their swords. Love all the movies mentioned in the blog & comments.
I love swashbucklers & sword fights as well. Love the Ellen Kushner Tremontaine books. Also Dave Duncan writes some wonderful books about men & their swords. Love all the movies mentioned in the blog & comments.
I love swashbucklers & sword fights as well. Love the Ellen Kushner Tremontaine books. Also Dave Duncan writes some wonderful books about men & their swords. Love all the movies mentioned in the blog & comments.
Glad you enjoyed the post, Jeanne. And thanks for the heads-up on those new-to-me authors!
Glad you enjoyed the post, Jeanne. And thanks for the heads-up on those new-to-me authors!
Glad you enjoyed the post, Jeanne. And thanks for the heads-up on those new-to-me authors!
Glad you enjoyed the post, Jeanne. And thanks for the heads-up on those new-to-me authors!
Glad you enjoyed the post, Jeanne. And thanks for the heads-up on those new-to-me authors!
Stewart Granger was good. But, the best sword fight for me the film Robin Hood – Erroll Flynn and Basil Rathbone. Rathbone was said to be a very talented fencer.
This was a fun post. If I were in better shape I would start practicing all the positions in the diagram.
Stewart Granger was good. But, the best sword fight for me the film Robin Hood – Erroll Flynn and Basil Rathbone. Rathbone was said to be a very talented fencer.
This was a fun post. If I were in better shape I would start practicing all the positions in the diagram.
Stewart Granger was good. But, the best sword fight for me the film Robin Hood – Erroll Flynn and Basil Rathbone. Rathbone was said to be a very talented fencer.
This was a fun post. If I were in better shape I would start practicing all the positions in the diagram.
Stewart Granger was good. But, the best sword fight for me the film Robin Hood – Erroll Flynn and Basil Rathbone. Rathbone was said to be a very talented fencer.
This was a fun post. If I were in better shape I would start practicing all the positions in the diagram.
Stewart Granger was good. But, the best sword fight for me the film Robin Hood – Erroll Flynn and Basil Rathbone. Rathbone was said to be a very talented fencer.
This was a fun post. If I were in better shape I would start practicing all the positions in the diagram.
This was a great post! I love the movie The Princess Bride.
This was a great post! I love the movie The Princess Bride.
This was a great post! I love the movie The Princess Bride.
This was a great post! I love the movie The Princess Bride.
This was a great post! I love the movie The Princess Bride.
Thanks so much for fact checking and going down the rabbit hole for us! I also didn’t realize Angelo’s was a real “thing”.
Even more interesting is how many books they wrote to help train the military.
Thank you so much for sharing all the extra information with us.
Thanks so much for fact checking and going down the rabbit hole for us! I also didn’t realize Angelo’s was a real “thing”.
Even more interesting is how many books they wrote to help train the military.
Thank you so much for sharing all the extra information with us.
Thanks so much for fact checking and going down the rabbit hole for us! I also didn’t realize Angelo’s was a real “thing”.
Even more interesting is how many books they wrote to help train the military.
Thank you so much for sharing all the extra information with us.
Thanks so much for fact checking and going down the rabbit hole for us! I also didn’t realize Angelo’s was a real “thing”.
Even more interesting is how many books they wrote to help train the military.
Thank you so much for sharing all the extra information with us.
Thanks so much for fact checking and going down the rabbit hole for us! I also didn’t realize Angelo’s was a real “thing”.
Even more interesting is how many books they wrote to help train the military.
Thank you so much for sharing all the extra information with us.
I’m a huge fan of the pairing between Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone, they sparred in Captain Blood and Robin Hood. The Robin Hood fight sequence starts on a staircase, and Flynn as Robin Hood is at a disadvantage because he’s coming up, while Basil is coming down, and of course medieval spiral staircases are always clockwise, which gives the advantage to the defender coming down, assuming they’re right handed. Spoiler: Robin Hood wins anyway! The Captain Blood swordfight I think has even better choreography. Of course the brilliant Michael Curtiz directed both movies.
OK, I could go on, but think I’ve nerded out long enough!
I’m a huge fan of the pairing between Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone, they sparred in Captain Blood and Robin Hood. The Robin Hood fight sequence starts on a staircase, and Flynn as Robin Hood is at a disadvantage because he’s coming up, while Basil is coming down, and of course medieval spiral staircases are always clockwise, which gives the advantage to the defender coming down, assuming they’re right handed. Spoiler: Robin Hood wins anyway! The Captain Blood swordfight I think has even better choreography. Of course the brilliant Michael Curtiz directed both movies.
OK, I could go on, but think I’ve nerded out long enough!
I’m a huge fan of the pairing between Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone, they sparred in Captain Blood and Robin Hood. The Robin Hood fight sequence starts on a staircase, and Flynn as Robin Hood is at a disadvantage because he’s coming up, while Basil is coming down, and of course medieval spiral staircases are always clockwise, which gives the advantage to the defender coming down, assuming they’re right handed. Spoiler: Robin Hood wins anyway! The Captain Blood swordfight I think has even better choreography. Of course the brilliant Michael Curtiz directed both movies.
OK, I could go on, but think I’ve nerded out long enough!
I’m a huge fan of the pairing between Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone, they sparred in Captain Blood and Robin Hood. The Robin Hood fight sequence starts on a staircase, and Flynn as Robin Hood is at a disadvantage because he’s coming up, while Basil is coming down, and of course medieval spiral staircases are always clockwise, which gives the advantage to the defender coming down, assuming they’re right handed. Spoiler: Robin Hood wins anyway! The Captain Blood swordfight I think has even better choreography. Of course the brilliant Michael Curtiz directed both movies.
OK, I could go on, but think I’ve nerded out long enough!
I’m a huge fan of the pairing between Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone, they sparred in Captain Blood and Robin Hood. The Robin Hood fight sequence starts on a staircase, and Flynn as Robin Hood is at a disadvantage because he’s coming up, while Basil is coming down, and of course medieval spiral staircases are always clockwise, which gives the advantage to the defender coming down, assuming they’re right handed. Spoiler: Robin Hood wins anyway! The Captain Blood swordfight I think has even better choreography. Of course the brilliant Michael Curtiz directed both movies.
OK, I could go on, but think I’ve nerded out long enough!
Fabulous post! I looked into the Angelos for one of my books but this gave even more information than I tracked down. I love the old swashbucklers. Of late I enjoyed THE MUSKETEER. I love learning from all your posts. Suzanne Quill.
Fabulous post! I looked into the Angelos for one of my books but this gave even more information than I tracked down. I love the old swashbucklers. Of late I enjoyed THE MUSKETEER. I love learning from all your posts. Suzanne Quill.
Fabulous post! I looked into the Angelos for one of my books but this gave even more information than I tracked down. I love the old swashbucklers. Of late I enjoyed THE MUSKETEER. I love learning from all your posts. Suzanne Quill.
Fabulous post! I looked into the Angelos for one of my books but this gave even more information than I tracked down. I love the old swashbucklers. Of late I enjoyed THE MUSKETEER. I love learning from all your posts. Suzanne Quill.
Fabulous post! I looked into the Angelos for one of my books but this gave even more information than I tracked down. I love the old swashbucklers. Of late I enjoyed THE MUSKETEER. I love learning from all your posts. Suzanne Quill.
This was a fabulously fun post, Andrea. Thank you!
I wanted to say one of the movies I remembered most growing up was The Scarlet Pimpernel, but when I went to look for the duel scene I could only find clips of the 1982 version. Now that one is totally hot. Whew, Anthony Andrews. But what I was looking for was the Leslie Howard movie clip. Well, when looking for that I found a Danny Kaye sword duel in The Court Jester. Loved Danny Kaye! I watched all those old movies with my mom while a kid, but remained a fan ever since. So I also enjoyed the movies mentioned in the other replies.
The scene from a book that came immediately to mind was in the book Haunting Mr. Darcy, by Karalynne Mackrory. In this delightful tale, a comatose Elizabeth Bennet goes to Mr. Darcy’s house in London where he has already been tortured by his memories of her. So when she appears to him he believes she is a figment of his imagination and that he has finally stepped over the edge into madness. After trying to ignore her he gives up and decides to enjoy his madness assuming he’s heading for bedlam. His ignoring her takes her to places she shouldn’t be exposed to; i.e., Gentleman Jackson’s. His acceptance has him doing things for her entertainment, like teaching her to fence. Which just happens to be observed by his sister, only seeing her brother, finally sending her worrying over him to seek help from Colonel Fitzwilliam. It’s a great story, I haven’t spoiled it, I love it. I hope others will read it.
This was a fabulously fun post, Andrea. Thank you!
I wanted to say one of the movies I remembered most growing up was The Scarlet Pimpernel, but when I went to look for the duel scene I could only find clips of the 1982 version. Now that one is totally hot. Whew, Anthony Andrews. But what I was looking for was the Leslie Howard movie clip. Well, when looking for that I found a Danny Kaye sword duel in The Court Jester. Loved Danny Kaye! I watched all those old movies with my mom while a kid, but remained a fan ever since. So I also enjoyed the movies mentioned in the other replies.
The scene from a book that came immediately to mind was in the book Haunting Mr. Darcy, by Karalynne Mackrory. In this delightful tale, a comatose Elizabeth Bennet goes to Mr. Darcy’s house in London where he has already been tortured by his memories of her. So when she appears to him he believes she is a figment of his imagination and that he has finally stepped over the edge into madness. After trying to ignore her he gives up and decides to enjoy his madness assuming he’s heading for bedlam. His ignoring her takes her to places she shouldn’t be exposed to; i.e., Gentleman Jackson’s. His acceptance has him doing things for her entertainment, like teaching her to fence. Which just happens to be observed by his sister, only seeing her brother, finally sending her worrying over him to seek help from Colonel Fitzwilliam. It’s a great story, I haven’t spoiled it, I love it. I hope others will read it.
This was a fabulously fun post, Andrea. Thank you!
I wanted to say one of the movies I remembered most growing up was The Scarlet Pimpernel, but when I went to look for the duel scene I could only find clips of the 1982 version. Now that one is totally hot. Whew, Anthony Andrews. But what I was looking for was the Leslie Howard movie clip. Well, when looking for that I found a Danny Kaye sword duel in The Court Jester. Loved Danny Kaye! I watched all those old movies with my mom while a kid, but remained a fan ever since. So I also enjoyed the movies mentioned in the other replies.
The scene from a book that came immediately to mind was in the book Haunting Mr. Darcy, by Karalynne Mackrory. In this delightful tale, a comatose Elizabeth Bennet goes to Mr. Darcy’s house in London where he has already been tortured by his memories of her. So when she appears to him he believes she is a figment of his imagination and that he has finally stepped over the edge into madness. After trying to ignore her he gives up and decides to enjoy his madness assuming he’s heading for bedlam. His ignoring her takes her to places she shouldn’t be exposed to; i.e., Gentleman Jackson’s. His acceptance has him doing things for her entertainment, like teaching her to fence. Which just happens to be observed by his sister, only seeing her brother, finally sending her worrying over him to seek help from Colonel Fitzwilliam. It’s a great story, I haven’t spoiled it, I love it. I hope others will read it.
This was a fabulously fun post, Andrea. Thank you!
I wanted to say one of the movies I remembered most growing up was The Scarlet Pimpernel, but when I went to look for the duel scene I could only find clips of the 1982 version. Now that one is totally hot. Whew, Anthony Andrews. But what I was looking for was the Leslie Howard movie clip. Well, when looking for that I found a Danny Kaye sword duel in The Court Jester. Loved Danny Kaye! I watched all those old movies with my mom while a kid, but remained a fan ever since. So I also enjoyed the movies mentioned in the other replies.
The scene from a book that came immediately to mind was in the book Haunting Mr. Darcy, by Karalynne Mackrory. In this delightful tale, a comatose Elizabeth Bennet goes to Mr. Darcy’s house in London where he has already been tortured by his memories of her. So when she appears to him he believes she is a figment of his imagination and that he has finally stepped over the edge into madness. After trying to ignore her he gives up and decides to enjoy his madness assuming he’s heading for bedlam. His ignoring her takes her to places she shouldn’t be exposed to; i.e., Gentleman Jackson’s. His acceptance has him doing things for her entertainment, like teaching her to fence. Which just happens to be observed by his sister, only seeing her brother, finally sending her worrying over him to seek help from Colonel Fitzwilliam. It’s a great story, I haven’t spoiled it, I love it. I hope others will read it.
This was a fabulously fun post, Andrea. Thank you!
I wanted to say one of the movies I remembered most growing up was The Scarlet Pimpernel, but when I went to look for the duel scene I could only find clips of the 1982 version. Now that one is totally hot. Whew, Anthony Andrews. But what I was looking for was the Leslie Howard movie clip. Well, when looking for that I found a Danny Kaye sword duel in The Court Jester. Loved Danny Kaye! I watched all those old movies with my mom while a kid, but remained a fan ever since. So I also enjoyed the movies mentioned in the other replies.
The scene from a book that came immediately to mind was in the book Haunting Mr. Darcy, by Karalynne Mackrory. In this delightful tale, a comatose Elizabeth Bennet goes to Mr. Darcy’s house in London where he has already been tortured by his memories of her. So when she appears to him he believes she is a figment of his imagination and that he has finally stepped over the edge into madness. After trying to ignore her he gives up and decides to enjoy his madness assuming he’s heading for bedlam. His ignoring her takes her to places she shouldn’t be exposed to; i.e., Gentleman Jackson’s. His acceptance has him doing things for her entertainment, like teaching her to fence. Which just happens to be observed by his sister, only seeing her brother, finally sending her worrying over him to seek help from Colonel Fitzwilliam. It’s a great story, I haven’t spoiled it, I love it. I hope others will read it.
Ha, ha, ha, Annette! It’s a VERY long series. I think I would surrender after the 10th move!
Ha, ha, ha, Annette! It’s a VERY long series. I think I would surrender after the 10th move!
Ha, ha, ha, Annette! It’s a VERY long series. I think I would surrender after the 10th move!
Ha, ha, ha, Annette! It’s a VERY long series. I think I would surrender after the 10th move!
Ha, ha, ha, Annette! It’s a VERY long series. I think I would surrender after the 10th move!
Thanks, Maryellen. The Princess Bride is one of my alltime favorites!
Thanks, Maryellen. The Princess Bride is one of my alltime favorites!
Thanks, Maryellen. The Princess Bride is one of my alltime favorites!
Thanks, Maryellen. The Princess Bride is one of my alltime favorites!
Thanks, Maryellen. The Princess Bride is one of my alltime favorites!
So glad you enjoyed the post, Vicki. I knew that “Angelo” was real, but didn’t realize faamily’s fencing traditions, or that they were so involved in training the British military!
So glad you enjoyed the post, Vicki. I knew that “Angelo” was real, but didn’t realize faamily’s fencing traditions, or that they were so involved in training the British military!
So glad you enjoyed the post, Vicki. I knew that “Angelo” was real, but didn’t realize faamily’s fencing traditions, or that they were so involved in training the British military!
So glad you enjoyed the post, Vicki. I knew that “Angelo” was real, but didn’t realize faamily’s fencing traditions, or that they were so involved in training the British military!
So glad you enjoyed the post, Vicki. I knew that “Angelo” was real, but didn’t realize faamily’s fencing traditions, or that they were so involved in training the British military!
Oh, nerd way! I hadn’t thought about the spiral staircase and how it would favor one of the swordsmen, but of course that makes perfect sense! (Isn’t it fun being a nerd!)
Oh, nerd way! I hadn’t thought about the spiral staircase and how it would favor one of the swordsmen, but of course that makes perfect sense! (Isn’t it fun being a nerd!)
Oh, nerd way! I hadn’t thought about the spiral staircase and how it would favor one of the swordsmen, but of course that makes perfect sense! (Isn’t it fun being a nerd!)
Oh, nerd way! I hadn’t thought about the spiral staircase and how it would favor one of the swordsmen, but of course that makes perfect sense! (Isn’t it fun being a nerd!)
Oh, nerd way! I hadn’t thought about the spiral staircase and how it would favor one of the swordsmen, but of course that makes perfect sense! (Isn’t it fun being a nerd!)
So glad you enjoyed it, Suzanne!
So glad you enjoyed it, Suzanne!
So glad you enjoyed it, Suzanne!
So glad you enjoyed it, Suzanne!
So glad you enjoyed it, Suzanne!
Thanks—so glad you enjoyed the post, Michelle. I love the Leslie Howard version of The Scarlet Pimpernel, but haven’t checked out Anthony Andrews. Will do so!
And thanks for the book recommendation. Sounds really wonderful!
Thanks—so glad you enjoyed the post, Michelle. I love the Leslie Howard version of The Scarlet Pimpernel, but haven’t checked out Anthony Andrews. Will do so!
And thanks for the book recommendation. Sounds really wonderful!
Thanks—so glad you enjoyed the post, Michelle. I love the Leslie Howard version of The Scarlet Pimpernel, but haven’t checked out Anthony Andrews. Will do so!
And thanks for the book recommendation. Sounds really wonderful!
Thanks—so glad you enjoyed the post, Michelle. I love the Leslie Howard version of The Scarlet Pimpernel, but haven’t checked out Anthony Andrews. Will do so!
And thanks for the book recommendation. Sounds really wonderful!
Thanks—so glad you enjoyed the post, Michelle. I love the Leslie Howard version of The Scarlet Pimpernel, but haven’t checked out Anthony Andrews. Will do so!
And thanks for the book recommendation. Sounds really wonderful!
Oh, I thought for sure all the Wenches would know about medieval castle design! They made them that way so the defender, coming down the stairs has his left side against the wall, and his right is free to maneuver. While the attacker has more difficulty drawing his sword and moving around because the wall is on his right.
Oh, I thought for sure all the Wenches would know about medieval castle design! They made them that way so the defender, coming down the stairs has his left side against the wall, and his right is free to maneuver. While the attacker has more difficulty drawing his sword and moving around because the wall is on his right.
Oh, I thought for sure all the Wenches would know about medieval castle design! They made them that way so the defender, coming down the stairs has his left side against the wall, and his right is free to maneuver. While the attacker has more difficulty drawing his sword and moving around because the wall is on his right.
Oh, I thought for sure all the Wenches would know about medieval castle design! They made them that way so the defender, coming down the stairs has his left side against the wall, and his right is free to maneuver. While the attacker has more difficulty drawing his sword and moving around because the wall is on his right.
Oh, I thought for sure all the Wenches would know about medieval castle design! They made them that way so the defender, coming down the stairs has his left side against the wall, and his right is free to maneuver. While the attacker has more difficulty drawing his sword and moving around because the wall is on his right.
Interesting post which has sent me off on rabbit hole searches for my own amusement. My favorite movie with swords is the 1977 The Duellists.
So very intense and yet so beautiful. To fight with swords takes skill and training. So many cultures have their own sword traditions —- the Arabs, Samuri, Calvaries from many countries. Beautiful sport to watch during the Olypmics.
Interesting post which has sent me off on rabbit hole searches for my own amusement. My favorite movie with swords is the 1977 The Duellists.
So very intense and yet so beautiful. To fight with swords takes skill and training. So many cultures have their own sword traditions —- the Arabs, Samuri, Calvaries from many countries. Beautiful sport to watch during the Olypmics.
Interesting post which has sent me off on rabbit hole searches for my own amusement. My favorite movie with swords is the 1977 The Duellists.
So very intense and yet so beautiful. To fight with swords takes skill and training. So many cultures have their own sword traditions —- the Arabs, Samuri, Calvaries from many countries. Beautiful sport to watch during the Olypmics.
Interesting post which has sent me off on rabbit hole searches for my own amusement. My favorite movie with swords is the 1977 The Duellists.
So very intense and yet so beautiful. To fight with swords takes skill and training. So many cultures have their own sword traditions —- the Arabs, Samuri, Calvaries from many countries. Beautiful sport to watch during the Olypmics.
Interesting post which has sent me off on rabbit hole searches for my own amusement. My favorite movie with swords is the 1977 The Duellists.
So very intense and yet so beautiful. To fight with swords takes skill and training. So many cultures have their own sword traditions —- the Arabs, Samuri, Calvaries from many countries. Beautiful sport to watch during the Olypmics.
And the pictures and illustrations you shared, fantastic!
And the pictures and illustrations you shared, fantastic!
And the pictures and illustrations you shared, fantastic!
And the pictures and illustrations you shared, fantastic!
And the pictures and illustrations you shared, fantastic!
Glad you enjoyed them. Having an art background, I have fun researching images!
Glad you enjoyed them. Having an art background, I have fun researching images!
Glad you enjoyed them. Having an art background, I have fun researching images!
Glad you enjoyed them. Having an art background, I have fun researching images!
Glad you enjoyed them. Having an art background, I have fun researching images!
Happy to have sent others down sliding down rabbit holes! I’ve never seen The Duellists, but must watch it.
You’re right—so many cultures have rich traditions and rituals with swords.And yes, the Olympics is wonderful to watch. The speed and grace is really beautiful.
Happy to have sent others down sliding down rabbit holes! I’ve never seen The Duellists, but must watch it.
You’re right—so many cultures have rich traditions and rituals with swords.And yes, the Olympics is wonderful to watch. The speed and grace is really beautiful.
Happy to have sent others down sliding down rabbit holes! I’ve never seen The Duellists, but must watch it.
You’re right—so many cultures have rich traditions and rituals with swords.And yes, the Olympics is wonderful to watch. The speed and grace is really beautiful.
Happy to have sent others down sliding down rabbit holes! I’ve never seen The Duellists, but must watch it.
You’re right—so many cultures have rich traditions and rituals with swords.And yes, the Olympics is wonderful to watch. The speed and grace is really beautiful.
Happy to have sent others down sliding down rabbit holes! I’ve never seen The Duellists, but must watch it.
You’re right—so many cultures have rich traditions and rituals with swords.And yes, the Olympics is wonderful to watch. The speed and grace is really beautiful.
That’s also why the Brits drive on the left: Jousting was done that way so right-handers could knock their opponents off their horses.
That’s also why the Brits drive on the left: Jousting was done that way so right-handers could knock their opponents off their horses.
That’s also why the Brits drive on the left: Jousting was done that way so right-handers could knock their opponents off their horses.
That’s also why the Brits drive on the left: Jousting was done that way so right-handers could knock their opponents off their horses.
That’s also why the Brits drive on the left: Jousting was done that way so right-handers could knock their opponents off their horses.
I don’t write medievals, ha, ha, ha!
Seriously, I love how I learn from our Wench readers! Thanks so much—another fy un nugget of information to rattle around in my brainbox.
I don’t write medievals, ha, ha, ha!
Seriously, I love how I learn from our Wench readers! Thanks so much—another fy un nugget of information to rattle around in my brainbox.
I don’t write medievals, ha, ha, ha!
Seriously, I love how I learn from our Wench readers! Thanks so much—another fy un nugget of information to rattle around in my brainbox.
I don’t write medievals, ha, ha, ha!
Seriously, I love how I learn from our Wench readers! Thanks so much—another fy un nugget of information to rattle around in my brainbox.
I don’t write medievals, ha, ha, ha!
Seriously, I love how I learn from our Wench readers! Thanks so much—another fy un nugget of information to rattle around in my brainbox.
I didn’t realize that either! Thanks!
I didn’t realize that either! Thanks!
I didn’t realize that either! Thanks!
I didn’t realize that either! Thanks!
I didn’t realize that either! Thanks!