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{{Short description|1991 film by Jeremy Kagan}}
{{otheruses2|By the Sword}}
{{Other uses|By the Sword (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox Film
{{Infobox film
| name = By the Sword | name = By the Sword
| image = | image = Bythesword.jpg
| image_size = | caption = Promotional Poster
| caption =
| director = ] | director = ]
| producer = ],<br />] | producer = ]<br />]
| writer = ],<br />] | writer = John McDonald<br />]
| starring = ],<br />] | starring = {{Plain list |
* ]
* ]
* ]
* Chris Rydell}}
| music = ] | music = ]
| cinematography = ] | cinematography = ]
| editing = ] | editing = David Holden
| distributor = | distributor = Hansen Entertainment
| released = | released = {{Film date|1991|10|4|Canada|1992|10|7|France|1993|5|14|Chicago}}
| runtime = 91 mins. | runtime = 91 minutes
| country = | country = United States<br />France
| language = | language = English
| budget = | budget =
| gross = | gross = $6,220
| website =
| amg_id = 1:131795
| imdb_id = 0101524
}} }}
'''By the Sword''' is a 1991 film starring ] and ] '''''By the Sword''''' is a 1991 ] ] starring ] and ] as world-class fencers. Directed by ],
this is the first ] about ].<ref name="rosenbaum">{{cite web |url=http://onfilm.chicagoreader.com/movies/capsules/1526_BY_THE_SWORD.html |author=Jonathan Rosenbaum |publisher=Chicago Reader |title=By the Sword |accessdate=2007-04-25}}</ref> Although some reviews of its 1993 U.S. theatrical release noted favorably the lead acting and action sequences, the screenplay was considered "terrible".<ref name="canby" />
as world-class fencers. Directed by ], this is the first
] about ].<ref name="rosenbaum">{{cite web
|url=http://onfilm.chicagoreader.com/movies/capsules/1526_BY_THE_SWORD.html
|author=Jonathan Rosenbaum
|publisher=Chicago Reader
|title=By the Sword
|accessdate=2007-04-25
}}</ref> Although some reviews of its 1993 U.S. theatrical release noted favorably
the lead acting and action sequences, the screenplay was considered "terrible".<ref name="canby" /> The film was rated R by the ].
==Plot==
{{spoiler}}
Roberts plays Alexander Villard, a former fencing champion who runs a
highly competitive fencing school. One of his students describes him as
"a freak who thinks he's living in the fourteenth century".<ref name="timeout">{{cite web
|url=http://www.timeout.com/film/68687.html
|publisher=timeout.com
|title=By the Sword
|accessdate=2007-04-25
}}</ref>
Abraham plays Max Suba, who introduces himself as a fencing instructor.
Villard initially gives him a job as a janitor, but Suba demonstrates
that he can fence, and can teach. Villard is "arrogant but not unkind",
and eventually gives Suba his chance.<ref name="ebert">{{cite web
|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19930514/REVIEWS/305140301/1023
|author=Roger Ebert
|title=By The Sword
|date=May 14, 1993
|accessdate=2007-04-25
}}</ref> Suba is assigned the beginning students.
As Suba's teaching style manifests itself, it conflicts with
the Maestro's unforgiving approach. The inevitable clash of egos,
and a shared past slowly revealed through flashbacks,
results in a dramatic duel between the two fencers.
{{endspoiler}}


==Cast and crew== == Plot ==
Alexander Villard (Eric Roberts) is a former fencing champion who runs a highly competitive fencing school. One of his students describes him as "a freak who thinks he's living in the fourteenth century".<ref name="timeout">{{cite web |url=https://www.timeout.com/film/68687.html |publisher=timeout.com |title=By the Sword |accessdate=2007-04-25 }}</ref>
In addition to F. Murray Abraham as Max Suba, and Eric Roberts as
Alexander Villard, the film credits ] as Erin Clavelli and
] as Jim Trebor, both students at the fencing
school. Abraham had won an ]
for his work in '']'' in 1984, and Roberts had been nominated for
]
in 1985. Mia Sara is best known for her role as Ferris Bueller's girlfriend in
'']''.


Max Suba (F. Murray Abraham) is an ex-convict who introduces himself as a fencing instructor. Villard initially gives him a job as a janitor. Over time Suba recovers his lost form. Villard has Suba spar with an ambitious student to demonstrate a point. Villard is "arrogant but not unkind",<ref name="ebert">{{cite news |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19930514/REVIEWS/305140301/1023 |author=Roger Ebert |title=By The Sword |date=May 14, 1993 |accessdate=2007-04-25 |work=Chicago Sun-Times}}</ref> and eventually gives Suba a chance to teach, assigning him the beginning students.
] plays Rachel, Suba's romantic interest. ],
who has appeared in '']'' and '']'',
plays fencing student Danny Gallagher. Other students are
played by ] and ]. In her second film
appearance, Eve Kagan plays Villard's daughter. (Her first
appearance had been in 1989, in a film also directed by Kagan.)


Villard takes a ruthless approach to the art, encouraging a student to injure an opponent to win; by contrast Suba's attitude is subtler, encouraging students to turn their own weaknesses into strengths. Following this advice, one of Suba's beginning level students scores against Villard's prize pupil during an in-school competition. Flashbacks further develop the conflict; Suba killed Villard's father in a fencing duel.
] composed the score. Conti had won an 1983
] for the score
to '']'', and is famous for the themes for the
movie '']'' and '']''. The score was
performed and recorded by classical Guitarist ].


The film climaxes in a dramatic duel between Villard and Suba: they fight up and down the Academy until Villard is finally defeated. In that defeat Villard learns humility: to be a master does not mean defeating every opponent or be the best. In the end they both acknowledge each other's skills and call each other '']''.
Jeremy Kagan was a prolific television director. For his work
with the ] episode ''Leave of Absence'', he won an
] for ] in 1996.


==Release== == Cast ==
* ] as Suba
Although made in the U.S., the film was released in France
* ] as Villard
under the title "Par l'épée" in October, 1992.<ref>{{cite web
* ] as Erin Clavelli
|url=http://www.cinemotions.com/modules/Films/fiche/23002/Par-l-epee.html
* ] as Jim Trebor.
|publisher=cinemotions.com
* ] as Rachel, Suba's romantic interest.
|title=Par l'épée
* ] as Danny Gallagher.
|accessdate=2007-04-25
}}</ref>
It was shown in U.S. theaters in May 1993, and found its way
to ] in 1994 as a ] home video.
==Reception==
The film has received nearly opposite reviews. ] says "the movie
adds some supporting characters in order to show us things about fencing
that we didn't know",<ref name="ebert" /> yet another reviewer finds the
minor characters "unnecessary" and "thinly drawn", so "the film suffers
whenever the plot focuses on them".<ref name="thespinning">{{cite web
|url=http://www.thespinningimage.co.uk/cultfilms/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=1010&aff=13
|publisher=thespinningimage.co.uk
|title=By the Sword
|accessdate=2007-04-25
}}</ref>
Although ] critic ] says the
film "suffers from overdone, mannerist performances by the two
leads",<ref name="rosenbaum" /> another reviewer says "the key to
this film resides in the performances by Eric Roberts and
F. Murray Abraham".<ref name="thespinning" /> The film
develops Suba's character in particular, revealing a
past that "he seems unable to completely let go of."<ref name="thespinning" />
Ebert says of the lead actors: "they create characters much
more interesting and dimensional than this thin screenplay
really requires."<ref name="ebert" />


Other students are played by ] and ]. In her second film appearance, Eve Kagan plays Gallagher's daughter. (Her first appearance had been in 1989, in a film also directed by Kagan.)
The most consistent point noted in review is poor screenplay
and directing. ] critic ] calls
the screenplay "nonsense", saying bluntly: "the screenplay
is terrible, full of unfinished subplots and lines that appear
to announce its essential aimlessness."<ref name="canby">{{cite news
|author=Vincent Canby
|publisher=New York Times
|title=Review/Film; Fencing as Metaphor for Honor and the Lack Thereof
|date=October 22, 1993}}</ref> Regarding one of the more
important subplots, a critic wrote: "Sadly, Kagan a routine
television and film director adds nothing to the intriguing
notion of a man who's spent half his life in prison returning
to the scene of his crime."<ref name="channel4">{{cite web
|url=http://www.channel4.com/film/reviews/film.jsp?id=101688
|publisher=Channel4.com
|title=By The Sword
|accessdate=2007-04-25}}</ref>
Although one critic calls the many flashbacks "a further
directorial flourish", they are still at best an "interesting idea
that isn't really successfully pulled off."<ref name="thespinning" />
While the action sequences are "well handled",<ref name="rosenbaum" />
Canby says "the drama is fraught with anticlimax."<ref name="canby" />
Overall, the plot is full of "sports clichés",<ref name="thespinning" />
could "as well have been about croquet",<ref name="canby" />
and is "a little too neat and obvious to really carry the
material."<ref name="ebert" /> As one review puts it:
"Right down to the painful fencing-to-disco-music routine,
this is embarrassingly fab."<ref name="timeout" />


==References== == Soundtrack ==
] composed the score. The score was performed and recorded by classical Guitarist ].
<references />


==External links== == Release ==
''By the Sword'' was shown at the ] in October 1991. It subsequently appeared at the ] in Santa Monica in late October of the same year, and at the ] in January 1992.<ref name="var">{{cite news | url=https://www.variety.com/profiles/Film/main/127737/By+the+Sword.html?dataSet=1 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090408091516/http://www.variety.com/profiles/Film/main/127737/By%2Bthe%2BSword.html?dataSet=1 | url-status=dead | archive-date=2009-04-08 | title=By the Sword (1993) | work=] | accessdate=2009-01-26 }}</ref> It was released in France under the title "Par l'épée" on October 7, 1992.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cinemotions.com/modules/Films/fiche/23002/Par-l-epee.html |publisher=cinemotions.com |title=Par l'épée |accessdate=2007-04-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930015107/http://www.cinemotions.com/modules/Films/fiche/23002/Par-l-epee.html |archive-date=2007-09-30 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*

*
In the US, the film opened in Chicago on May 14, 1993; in Los Angeles on September 24, 1993; and in New York City on October 22, 1993.<ref name="var" /> The film's cinematic poster was created by ], who was known for his work on the posters for '']'' and '']'', among others.
*

The film was released on VHS in 1994 as a ] home video.

== Reception ==
=== Box office ===
According to ], in its September run the film was shown in nine theaters and grossed $6,220.<ref name="bom">{{cite web | url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=bythesword.htm | title=By the Sword (1993) | publisher=boxofficemojo.com | accessdate=2009-01-26}}</ref>

=== Critical ===
The film has received mixed reviews, with the most consistent point noted in review is poor screenplay and directing. ] says "the movie adds some supporting characters in order to show us things about fencing that we didn't know",<ref name="ebert" /> but another reviewer finds the minor characters "unnecessary" and "thinly drawn", so "the film suffers whenever the plot focuses on them".<ref name="thespinning">{{cite web |url=http://www.thespinningimage.co.uk/cultfilms/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=1010&aff=13 |publisher=thespinningimage.co.uk |title=By the Sword |accessdate=2007-04-25}}</ref> Although '']'' critic ] says the film "suffers from overdone, mannerist performances by the two leads",<ref name="rosenbaum" /> another reviewer says "the key to this film resides in the performances by Eric Roberts and F. Murray Abraham".<ref name="thespinning" /> The film develops Suba's character in particular, revealing a past that "he seems unable to completely let go of."<ref name="thespinning" /> Ebert says of the lead actors: "they create characters much more interesting and dimensional than this thin screenplay really requires."<ref name="ebert" />

'']'' critic ] calls the screenplay "nonsense", saying bluntly: "the screenplay is terrible, full of unfinished subplots and lines that appear to announce its essential aimlessness."<ref name="canby">{{cite news |author=Vincent Canby |work=The New York Times|title=Review/Film; Fencing as Metaphor for Honor and the Lack Thereof |date=October 22, 1993}}</ref> Regarding one of the more important subplots, a critic wrote: "Sadly, Kagan a routine television and film director adds nothing to the intriguing notion of a man who's spent half his life in prison returning to the scene of his crime."<ref name="channel4">{{cite web |url=http://www.channel4.com/film/reviews/film.jsp?id=101688 |publisher=Channel4.com |title=By The Sword |accessdate=2007-04-25}}</ref>

Although one critic calls the many flashbacks "a further directorial flourish", they are still at best an "interesting idea that isn't really successfully pulled off."<ref name="thespinning" /> While the action sequences are "well handled",<ref name="rosenbaum" /> Canby says "the drama is fraught with anticlimax."<ref name="canby" /> Overall, the plot is full of "sports clichés",<ref name="thespinning" /> could "as well have been about croquet",<ref name="canby" /> and is "a little too neat and obvious to really carry the material."<ref name="ebert" /> One review says: "Right down to the painful fencing-to-disco-music routine, this is embarrassingly fab."<ref name="timeout" />

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|0101524}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|by_the_sword}}
*
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120093820/http://reel.com/movie.asp?MID=6776 |date=2016-01-20 }}

{{Jeremy Kagan}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:By the Sword}} {{DEFAULTSORT:By the Sword}}
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Latest revision as of 18:44, 21 December 2024

1991 film by Jeremy Kagan For other uses, see By the Sword (disambiguation).
By the Sword
Promotional Poster
Directed byJeremy Paul Kagan
Written byJohn McDonald
James Donadio
Produced byMarlon Staggs
Peter E. Strauss
Starring
CinematographyArthur Albert
Edited byDavid Holden
Music byBill Conti
Distributed byHansen Entertainment
Release dates
  • October 4, 1991 (1991-10-04) (Canada)
  • October 7, 1992 (1992-10-07) (France)
  • May 14, 1993 (1993-05-14) (Chicago)
Running time91 minutes
CountriesUnited States
France
LanguageEnglish
Box office$6,220

By the Sword is a 1991 sports action film starring F. Murray Abraham and Eric Roberts as world-class fencers. Directed by Jeremy Paul Kagan, this is the first feature film about fencing. Although some reviews of its 1993 U.S. theatrical release noted favorably the lead acting and action sequences, the screenplay was considered "terrible".

Plot

Alexander Villard (Eric Roberts) is a former fencing champion who runs a highly competitive fencing school. One of his students describes him as "a freak who thinks he's living in the fourteenth century".

Max Suba (F. Murray Abraham) is an ex-convict who introduces himself as a fencing instructor. Villard initially gives him a job as a janitor. Over time Suba recovers his lost form. Villard has Suba spar with an ambitious student to demonstrate a point. Villard is "arrogant but not unkind", and eventually gives Suba a chance to teach, assigning him the beginning students.

Villard takes a ruthless approach to the art, encouraging a student to injure an opponent to win; by contrast Suba's attitude is subtler, encouraging students to turn their own weaknesses into strengths. Following this advice, one of Suba's beginning level students scores against Villard's prize pupil during an in-school competition. Flashbacks further develop the conflict; Suba killed Villard's father in a fencing duel.

The film climaxes in a dramatic duel between Villard and Suba: they fight up and down the Academy until Villard is finally defeated. In that defeat Villard learns humility: to be a master does not mean defeating every opponent or be the best. In the end they both acknowledge each other's skills and call each other Maestro.

Cast

Other students are played by Doug Wert and Stephen Polk. In her second film appearance, Eve Kagan plays Gallagher's daughter. (Her first appearance had been in 1989, in a film also directed by Kagan.)

Soundtrack

Bill Conti composed the score. The score was performed and recorded by classical Guitarist Angel Romero.

Release

By the Sword was shown at the Vancouver International Film Festival in October 1991. It subsequently appeared at the American Film Market in Santa Monica in late October of the same year, and at the Palm Springs International Film Festival in January 1992. It was released in France under the title "Par l'épée" on October 7, 1992.

In the US, the film opened in Chicago on May 14, 1993; in Los Angeles on September 24, 1993; and in New York City on October 22, 1993. The film's cinematic poster was created by John Alvin, who was known for his work on the posters for Blazing Saddles and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, among others.

The film was released on VHS in 1994 as a Columbia TriStar home video.

Reception

Box office

According to Box Office Mojo, in its September run the film was shown in nine theaters and grossed $6,220.

Critical

The film has received mixed reviews, with the most consistent point noted in review is poor screenplay and directing. Roger Ebert says "the movie adds some supporting characters in order to show us things about fencing that we didn't know", but another reviewer finds the minor characters "unnecessary" and "thinly drawn", so "the film suffers whenever the plot focuses on them". Although Chicago Reader critic Jonathan Rosenbaum says the film "suffers from overdone, mannerist performances by the two leads", another reviewer says "the key to this film resides in the performances by Eric Roberts and F. Murray Abraham". The film develops Suba's character in particular, revealing a past that "he seems unable to completely let go of." Ebert says of the lead actors: "they create characters much more interesting and dimensional than this thin screenplay really requires."

New York Times critic Vincent Canby calls the screenplay "nonsense", saying bluntly: "the screenplay is terrible, full of unfinished subplots and lines that appear to announce its essential aimlessness." Regarding one of the more important subplots, a critic wrote: "Sadly, Kagan a routine television and film director adds nothing to the intriguing notion of a man who's spent half his life in prison returning to the scene of his crime."

Although one critic calls the many flashbacks "a further directorial flourish", they are still at best an "interesting idea that isn't really successfully pulled off." While the action sequences are "well handled", Canby says "the drama is fraught with anticlimax." Overall, the plot is full of "sports clichés", could "as well have been about croquet", and is "a little too neat and obvious to really carry the material." One review says: "Right down to the painful fencing-to-disco-music routine, this is embarrassingly fab."

References

  1. ^ Jonathan Rosenbaum. "By the Sword". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2007-04-25.
  2. ^ Vincent Canby (October 22, 1993). "Review/Film; Fencing as Metaphor for Honor and the Lack Thereof". The New York Times.
  3. ^ "By the Sword". timeout.com. Retrieved 2007-04-25.
  4. ^ Roger Ebert (May 14, 1993). "By The Sword". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2007-04-25.
  5. ^ "By the Sword (1993)". Variety. Archived from the original on 2009-04-08. Retrieved 2009-01-26.
  6. "Par l'épée". cinemotions.com. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-04-25.
  7. "By the Sword (1993)". boxofficemojo.com. Retrieved 2009-01-26.
  8. ^ "By the Sword". thespinningimage.co.uk. Retrieved 2007-04-25.
  9. "By The Sword". Channel4.com. Retrieved 2007-04-25.

External links

Films directed by Jeremy Kagan
Categories: