Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.5

The Golden Blade Blu-ray Movie Review

A must-see action-adventure epic.

The Golden Blade is an enormously entertaining action-adventure classic filled with swashbuckling fun. Starring Rock Hudson and Piper Laurie, The Golden Blade is filled-to-the-brim with exciting adventure that no genre fan will want to miss out on. Produced by Leonard Goldstein (The Desert Hawk, Steel Town) and Richard Wilson (The Lady from Shanghai, Man with the Gun), The Golden Blade is a must-see classic that deserves discovery (or re-discovery).

Harun (Rock Hudson) is determined to help bring peace to his land – a dream of his fathers. Following the passing of his beloved father, Harun seeks to make right on his dad's unfulfilled mission. Harun soon meets the drop-dead-sexy Khairuzan (Piper Laurie) and the sparks fly between the pair.

Yet the villainous Jafar (George Macready) has wicked plans – seeking to unite sultry Khairuzan with his son, Hadi (Gene Evans). Can Harun keep the heart of Khairuzan and save the land his father so dearly loved? With the help of a magic sword only he can wield, Harun seeks to be the hero of the story: kicking ass with the magic sword in hand.

Rock Hudson delivers an impressive performance in The Golden Blade that is well-worth seeing. The role seems perfect for the actor. The part showcases his natural charisma and talents quite well. Hudson is great as an action-hero lead and the role has some great comedic moments for him too. Piper Laurie steals the show, though – mesmerizing with her radiant beauty and enchanting with her undeniable charms. The Golden Blade is a perfect showcase of the talents of these two actors.

"This will look great in my home cinema!"

The production features a number of quality elements. The art direction by Bernard Herzbrun (The Fighting O'Flynn, Alexander's Ragtime Band) and Eric Orbom (All That Heaven Allows, Spartacus) is full of exciting life – a vitality that is undeniable. The sets are creative and fun. Throughout the feature-film, I was continually impressed by the sense of style displayed in every component of the production. Not only are the sets terrific, the costumes by Jay A. Morley Jr. (The Far Country, The Deadly Mantis) are perfect for the entire cast.

The music composed by Irving Gertz (Nobody's Perfect, He Rides Tall), Henry Mancini (Better Late Than Never, Victor Victoria), and Herman Stein (No Name on the Bullet, Backlash) is enormous fun that doesn't let up. The score is a vital part of any feature-film and The Golden Blade is a perfect example of how fun old-school scoring can enliven the action in a genre production. A terrific soundtrack.

The cinematography by Maury Gertsman (Song of the Sarong, Singapore) is one of the best components of the entire film. The Golden Blade is a visual feast-for-the-eyes and the great cinematographic efforts of Gertsman are impossible to ignore. The results are as golden as the blade.

Perhaps the most underrated component of an action-adventure genre yarn is the screenplay. Written by John Rich (Knights of the Queen, The Count of Monte Cristo), The Golden Blade has great dialogue, storytelling wit, and charm. The story never drags on unnecessarily and instead keeps the action flowing in perfect rhythm with the rest of the production. A strong effort by Rich.

Directed by Nathan Juran (How Green Was My Valley, The 7^th Voyage of Sinbad), The Golden Blade is well-worth seeking out for the action-adventure scenes alone. Juran had a knack for assembling fun action scenes and there are plenty of thrilling moments in The Golden Blade. The filmmaker also capably directed the performances of Hudson and Laurie. Everything comes together perfectly.

The Golden Blade Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber, The Golden Blade is presented in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.37:1 (full frame). The presentation is generally impressive and satisfying. The transfer is a enormously pleasing one (most of the time) with just a few scenes that suffer from issues with the focus. In a few brief scenes, the print has an almost "3D" like orientation that distracts just-a-little. Nonetheless, most viewers won't even notice these issues, and the scan looks as sharp as a tack. A worthy (if somewhat flawed) scan.

The Golden Blade Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio mono. The lossless audio presentation is a thrill to experience on this release. The track has impressive clarity given the age of the production and the elements. Dialogue is consistently crisp, clear, and easy to understand. The sound effects are well integrated in to the sound mix and make a strong impression for a film of its era. The action scenes certainly carry more weight than some might expect for a mono soundtrack. Then there's the score: it sounds great throughout the film. There were no significant issues to report in regards to warps, clicks, hiss, crackle, and other audio-related deficiencies.

Optional English subtitles are provided.

The Golden Blade Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary by Film Historian Phillipa Berry

The Golden Blade Theatrical Trailer (SD, 2:17)

The release also includes a selection of trailers promoting other releases available from distributor Kino Lorber: Son of Ali Baba (SD, 2:03) and Jack the Giant Killer (SD, 3:20).

The Golden Blade Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

An entertaining action-adventure classic, The Golden Blade is a must-see gem that no genre fan should go without seeing. Rock Hudson and Piper Laurie demonstrate great chemistry and the roles were perfect for the actors. The Blu-ray release from Kino Lorber features a somewhat flawed video presentation – but one that is still entirely watchable throughout. Recommended.