Though Alan Ladd is associated mostly with Film Noir and Westerns he found the time for a few swashbucklers during his career.
THE BLACK KNIGHT (1954) – During the time of Camelot, King Arthur and Guenevere, a blacksmith and swordsmith named John (Alan Ladd) is in love with Lady Linet (Patricia Medina). John has no chance of winning her as a mere blacksmith, so he forges a special sword for himself and is covertly taught fencing, riding and jousting by a sympathetic knight named Sir Ontzlake (Andre Morell).
Meanwhile, treacherous Knight of the Round Table Sir Palamides (PETER CUSHING) has allied himself with Pagan Cornish ruler King Mark (PATRICK TROUGHTON, so two Doctor Who stars) against King Arthur. Sir Palamides is plotting to help the armies of King Mark overthrow Arthur and Guenevere, then outlaw Christianity.
John the Blacksmith accidentally stumbles upon part of the villains’ schemes and tries to warn King Arthur but isn’t believed against the word of King Mark and a Knight of the Round Table. Sir Ontzlake helps the now fugitive John adopt a false identity called the Black Knight. Using that nom de guerre, Alan Ladd repeatedly foils the villainy of King Mark and Sir Palamides.
The Black Knight also saves Lady Linet from becoming a Pagan sacrifice by Mark’s sinister allies at Stonehenge. In the end the invading troops are defeated and John kills King Mark and Sir Palamides in battle. Lady Linet, who knew the Black Knight was John all along vouches for him to King Arthur, who knights him for real so that he and Linet can get married. Continue reading
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