By the Sword (film): Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively ← Previous edit Next edit →Content deleted Content addedVisual WikitextInline

Revision as of 00:51, 1 September 2014 editZyxw (talk \| contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, Pending changes reviewers, Template editors501,332 editsm fix non-working link to allmovie.com using AWB ← Previous edit		Revision as of 17:15, 14 January 2015 edit undoAspects (talk \| contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers342,044 edits Added film date templateNext edit →
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{Other uses\|By the Sword (disambiguation)}}		{{Other uses\|By the Sword (disambiguation)}}
	{{Infobox ~~Film~~		{{Infobox film
	\| name = By the Sword		\| name = By the Sword
	\| image = Bythesword.jpg		\| image = Bythesword.jpg
	\| caption = Promotional Poster		\| caption = Promotional Poster
	\| director = ]		\| director = ]
	\| producer = ],<br />]		\| producer = ]<br />]
	\| writer = John McDonald,<br />]		\| writer = John McDonald<br />]
	\| starring = ],<br />],<br />]		\| starring = ]<br />]<br />]
	\| music = ]		\| music = ]
	\| cinematography = ]		\| cinematography = ]
	\| editing = David Holden		\| editing = David Holden
	\| distributor = Hansen Entertainment		\| distributor = Hansen Entertainment
	\| released = ~~October 7,~~ 1992 ~~<small>(FR)</small><br/>May~~ 14~~, 1993 <small>(USA)</small>~~		\| released = {{Film date\|1992\|10\|07\|France\|1993\|05\|14\|U.S.}}
	\| runtime = 91 ~~mins.~~		\| runtime = 91 minutes
	\| gross = $6,220		\| gross = $6,220
	}}		}}

	'''''By the Sword''''' is a ] starring ]		'''''By the Sword''''' is a ] 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" />
	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" />

	==Plot==		==Plot==

	Roberts plays Alexander Villard, a former fencing champion who runs a highly competitive fencing school. One of his students describes him as		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		"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>

	\|url=http://www.timeout.com/film/68687.html
	\|publisher=timeout.com
	\|title=By the Sword
	\|accessdate=2007-04-25
	}}</ref>
	Abraham plays Max Suba, an ex-convict who introduces himself as a fencing instructor.		Abraham plays Max Suba, an ex-convict who introduces himself as a fencing instructor.
	Villard initially gives him a job as a janitor. With time, Suba recovers his lost form and shows that he can fence.		Villard initially gives him a job as a janitor. With time, Suba recovers his lost form and shows that he can fence.
	Villard has Suba spar with an ambitious student to demonstrate a point.		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		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.
	\|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.

	While Villard takes a ruthless approach, encouraging a student to injure an opponent to win, Suba takes a subtler approach, encouraging students to turn their own weaknesses into strengths. Following this advice, one of Suba's beginning level students scores against Villard's prize fencer during an in-school competition. Flashbacks further develop the conflict by revealing how Suba had killed Villard's father in a fencing duel. The film climaxes in a dramatic duel between Villard and Suba.		While Villard takes a ruthless approach, encouraging a student to injure an opponent to win, Suba takes a subtler approach, encouraging students to turn their own weaknesses into strengths. Following this advice, one of Suba's beginning level students scores against Villard's prize fencer during an in-school competition. Flashbacks further develop the conflict by revealing how Suba had killed Villard's father in a fencing duel. The film climaxes in a dramatic duel between Villard and Suba.

	==Cast and crew==		==Cast and crew==
			The film's featured stars are Abraham and Roberts as Suba and Villard respectively. Abraham had won an ] for his work in '']'' in 1984, and Roberts had been nominated for ] in 1985. The film also credits ] as Erin Clavelli and ] as Jim Trebor, both students at the fencing school. Mia Sara is best known for her role as Ferris Bueller's girlfriend in '']''.
	The film's featured stars are Abraham and Roberts as Suba and Villard respectively.
	Abraham had won an ] for his
	work in '']'' in 1984, and Roberts had been nominated for
	]
	in 1985. The film also credits ] as Erin Clavelli and
	] as Jim Trebor, both students at the fencing
	school. Mia Sara is best known for her role as Ferris Bueller's
	girlfriend in '']''.

			] plays Rachel, Suba's romantic interest. ], who has appeared in '']'' and '']'', plays fencing instructor Danny Gallagher. 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.)
	] plays Rachel, Suba's romantic interest. ],
	who has appeared in '']'' and '']'',
	plays fencing instructor Danny Gallagher. 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.)

			] 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 ].
	] 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 ].

	Jeremy Kagan was a prolific television director. For his work		Jeremy Kagan was a prolific television director. For his work with the ] episode ''Leave of Absence'', he won an ] for ] in 1996.
	with the ] episode ''Leave of Absence'', he won an
	] for ] in 1996.

	==Release==		==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=http://www.variety.com/profiles/Film/main/127737/By+the+Sword.html?dataSet=1 \| title=By the Sword (1993) \| work=] \| accessdate=2009-01-26 }} {{Dead link\|date=September 2010\|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref> It was released in France under the title "Par l'épée" on October 7, 1992.<ref>{{cite web		''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=http://www.variety.com/profiles/Film/main/127737/By+the+Sword.html?dataSet=1 \| title=By the Sword (1993) \| work=] \| accessdate=2009-01-26 }} {{Dead link\|date=September 2010\|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</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}}</ref>

	\|url=http://www.cinemotions.com/modules/Films/fiche/23002/Par-l-epee.html
	\|publisher=cinemotions.com
	\|title=Par l'épée
	\|accessdate=2007-04-25
	}}</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"/> According to ], in its September run the film was shown in nine theaters and grossed $6,220.<ref name="bom">{{cite web \| url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=bythesword.htm \| title=By the Sword (1993) \| publisher=boxofficemojo.com \| accessdate=2009-01-26}}</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"/> According to ], in its September run the film was shown in nine theaters and grossed $6,220.<ref name="bom">{{cite web \| url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=bythesword.htm \| title=By the Sword (1993) \| publisher=boxofficemojo.com \| accessdate=2009-01-26}}</ref>

Line 91:		Line 50:

	==Reception==		==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" /> 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>
	The film has received nearly opposite reviews. ] says "the movie

	adds some supporting characters in order to show us things about fencing
			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" />
	that we didn't know",<ref name="ebert" /> but another reviewer finds the

	minor characters "unnecessary" and "thinly drawn", so "the film suffers
			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>
	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" />

			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" />
	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" />
	One review says: "Right down to the painful fencing-to-disco-music routine,
	this is embarrassingly fab."<ref name="timeout" />

	==References==		==References==

Revision as of 17:15, 14 January 2015

For other uses, see By the Sword (disambiguation). 1992 film

By the Sword
Promotional Poster
Directed by	Jeremy Paul Kagan
Written by	John McDonald James Donadio
Produced by	Marlon Staggs Peter E. Strauss
Starring	F. Murray Abraham Eric Roberts Mia Sara
Cinematography	Arthur Albert
Edited by	David Holden
Music by	Bill Conti
Distributed by	Hansen Entertainment
Release dates	October 7, 1992 (1992-10-07) (France) May 14, 1993 (1993-05-14) (U.S.)
Running time	91 minutes
Box office	$6,220

By the Sword is a 1991 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

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".

Abraham plays Max Suba, an ex-convict who introduces himself as a fencing instructor. Villard initially gives him a job as a janitor. With time, Suba recovers his lost form and shows that he can fence. 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.

While Villard takes a ruthless approach, encouraging a student to injure an opponent to win, Suba takes a subtler approach, encouraging students to turn their own weaknesses into strengths. Following this advice, one of Suba's beginning level students scores against Villard's prize fencer during an in-school competition. Flashbacks further develop the conflict by revealing how Suba had killed Villard's father in a fencing duel. The film climaxes in a dramatic duel between Villard and Suba.

Cast and crew

The film's featured stars are Abraham and Roberts as Suba and Villard respectively. Abraham had won an Oscar for his work in Amadeus in 1984, and Roberts had been nominated for Best Supporting Actor in 1985. The film also credits Mia Sara as Erin Clavelli and Christopher Rydell as Jim Trebor, both students at the fencing school. Mia Sara is best known for her role as Ferris Bueller's girlfriend in Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

Elaine Kagan plays Rachel, Suba's romantic interest. Brett Cullen, who has appeared in Lost and The West Wing, plays fencing instructor Danny Gallagher. 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.)

Bill Conti composed the score. Conti had won an 1983 Oscar for the score to The Right Stuff, and is famous for the themes for the movie Rocky and For Your Eyes Only. The score was performed and recorded by classical Guitarist Angel Romero.

Jeremy Kagan was a prolific television director. For his work with the Chicago Hope episode Leave of Absence, he won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series in 1996.

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

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

The film has received nearly opposite reviews. 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."

The most consistent point noted in review is poor screenplay and directing. 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

^ Jonathan Rosenbaum. "By the Sword". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2007-04-25.
^ Vincent Canby (October 22, 1993). "Review/Film; Fencing as Metaphor for Honor and the Lack Thereof". New York Times.
^ "By the Sword". timeout.com. Retrieved 2007-04-25.
^ Roger Ebert (May 14, 1993). "By The Sword". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2007-04-25.
^ "By the Sword (1993)". Variety. Retrieved 2009-01-26.
"Par l'épée". cinemotions.com. Retrieved 2007-04-25.
"By the Sword (1993)". boxofficemojo.com. Retrieved 2009-01-26.
^ "By the Sword". thespinningimage.co.uk. Retrieved 2007-04-25.
"By The Sword". Channel4.com. Retrieved 2007-04-25.

External links

v t e Films directed by Jeremy Kagan
Katherine (1975) Heroes (1977) Scott Joplin (1977) The Big Fix (1978) The Chosen (1981) The Sting II (1983) The Journey of Natty Gann (1985) Conspiracy: The Trial of the Chicago 8 (1987) Big Man on Campus (1989) Descending Angel (1990) By the Sword (1991) Roswell (1994) The Hired Heart (1997) Bobbie's Girl (2002) Shot (2017)

Template:Bill Conti

Categories: