JUBriscoe

'Black Arrow' is based on the classic Robert Louis Stevenson adventure tale. Stephen Chase plays the title character, a good-doing and heroic swashbuckler who tries to avenge his father's murder during the War of the Roses, a series of wars for control of the throne of England fought between supporters of two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet: the House of Lancaster (associated with a red rose), and the House of York (whose symbol was a white rose), a conflict that lasted through many sporadic episodes between 1455 and 1487, and slightly before and after this period between the two houses.

Though Stephan Chase as Black Arrow carries the bulk of the action, top billing is bestowed upon the film's villains, Oliver Reed (as Sir Daniel Brackley) and Fernando Rey (as the Earl of Warwick).

The Stevenson original was previously adapted for the screen in 1948, with Louis Hayward in the lead. 'Black Arrow' made its TV debut on January 6, 1985. Character-actor Donald Pleasence cast as Oates; Oliver Reed starring as Sir Daniel Brackley and Fernando Rey starring as the Earl of Warwick, to name but a few in a great cast.

You will find no spoilers in this review. For more details of the story line, please refer to the Plot Summary and Synopsis.

I found this film to be a rare, interesting, and very entertaining glimpse into 15th century medieval English life in general, and the conflict of the War of the Roses specifically.

Produced for cable TV by The Disney Channel, it was not a big budget production, but it more than effectively suffices in its story in the swashbuckler and adventure genre, offering several well-done, historically-accurate action scenes including an action-packed finale.

Definitely worth seeing; great acting and replete with action, drama, and historically accurate costumes and weaponry of that era.

Roger Ebert gave this film three out of four stars and wrote, "Only movie lovers who have marinated their imaginations in the great B movies from RKO and Republic will recognize 'The Hot Spot' as a superior work in an old tradition." ... I couldn't agree more.

My review won't contain the redundant synopsis... This movie was well directed, exceptionally well cast, included a superb blues soundtrack, and featured a rare nouveau noir story line that film purists will surely appreciate and enjoy.

This is one of those rare gems that deserves a place in your personal library... You can watch it once every six months and enjoy it as much as the last time you saw it... 10/10 stars

Gernert/Garroni/Hippolye Productions/Axis Films made a name for themselves and an overnight star of actress and then newcomer Shannon Whirry with this steamy tale based loosely on a well known true story.

Whirry portrays the character Joanne Cole, a woman on the verge...of wild sex, of 'generous' lovers, and of wanton violence that could end it all. Her husband (Maxwell Caulfield) is an overworked cop close to the edge. When he continues to ignore his wife's intimate needs, Joanne turns to others to fulfill her desires. When she is caught by David in a compromising situation, she realizes the way to get his attention is to let him watch. What he sees awakens his 'Animal Instincts'.

This film features a collage of familiar actors: David Carradine, very effective in his role as the sinister under-world type William Lamberti; Jan-Michael Vincent, as the corrupt city councilman Fletcher Ross; and ex-gymnast Mitch Gaylord in a small but effective role as David's cop partner, just to name a few.

A sensual brew of violence and passion is mixed with some of the boldest couplings ever to be granted an R Rating (also available in an UNRATED version, the one that is the subject of my review).

This film also features a very effective original music score by studio artists LIXX Array, whose synthesizer renditions are some of the best compliments to the already excellent direction (Gregory Hippolyte) and provocative cinematography in recent memory.

If a 'racy' movie occasionally is your 'oyster', treat yourself to this gem that redefined the term 'Erotic Thriller' in 1992, and set the standard by which all others of that genre are now judged.

Excellent!