Lassannn
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Rathbone was the captain of the British Army's fencing team before becoming an actor.
He's still the best Sherlock Holmes, too, I think.
He suffered two slices on his forehead that needed stitches during the filming of this scene.
One from Power, also an excellent fencer, and one from his stunt double, Albert Cavens.
Rathbone did not need a stunt double. He could outfence Albert Cavens and even his father, Fred, who staged the scene.
Whenever Power's back is to the camera, you are looking at Albert Cavens.
LtheGreatest
Basil Rathbone! Old Hollywood actors were incredibly talented.
Greaticalia164
that stab at the end seems like such an asshole move to do
FuckinTreebeard
Guy in the background barely holding his shit together
pitstarter
also this one which is pretty gritty - https://youtu.be/ljExTEPNFnM
HelloMyNamesInigoMontoya
I could take both these guys with my left hand!
SillyZombie
This scene prompted Inigo and Wesley to do their scene with no/minimal stunt doubles
BilldeTurlock
No wonder they're angry! They got no fly on their pants!
emberthegoat
Some fantastic skill on display here. Thank you for the background too!
PermenantlyBannedClubMember
you sure that's not Inigo Montoya?
Yellowchopsticks
Zorro, right?
HibiscuitsTea
2 years earlier he was in The Adventures of Robin Hood with Errol Flynn. Apparently their fencing styles were different lol
TangoEchoOscar
really enjoyed this!
scoobriibroo
'I've got my tight pants! I've got my tight pants on!'
mediamagnet
some sauce if you want to hear it with the clang of the swords https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB8tiSMCwRE
thingamajiggy
Those are some sharp moves.
nosoupforoldmen
So they used sharpened swords while filming?!
TheifofZ
Alot of the older movies that had swordfights had actors that were formally trained in the art, rather than stage swordfighting.
codemister99
Are we still saying, "Fuck you @Lassannn!"?
fukumomo
love him or hate him, he does push good content [mostly]
Curadh
Still not seeing how these premises lead you to your conclusion. Would you mind clarifying?
ForestLibrarian
I loved this scene. One of the greats in the golden age of cinema. Rathbone vs Flynn in Robin Hood is another. The use of shadows is great.
italkcrazytalk
I used to stay up late at night to watch the old black and white Zorro series on the Disney channel in the early 2000s, the best.
msommer
A Z that stands for Zorro!
BigDamnHeroOfCanton
I did too. Watching it recently... That's... A lot of racism.
ThisIsSteel
I remember doing this when I spent the weekend over my grandparent's place. Fun memories.
italkcrazytalk
The wonderful world of Disney is what i think it was. Kind of like Nick at night.
weshallseeeee
Me too
RufusTheAardvark
This is the film the Wayne family saw the night they were attacked.
Tekhead
Exactly. THIS is what was in Bruce Wayne's mind the day he was scarred for life.
Burgurple
Well... Either this or Bambi... Or an Opera
Tekhead
Superman once accidentally got this on DVD for Batman as a christmas gift without knowing.
RufusTheAardvark
Martha!
winsol
Were they okay?
RufusTheAardvark
Nah, man. They're pretty fuckin' far from okay.
winsol
Today i learned that Thomas Wayne looks like Marsellus Wallace.
RandomMagus
The issue with trying to have more fights like this is that most actors aren't skilled fighters. Not everyone is Jackie Chan doing stunts
SchrodingersDictator
But Viggo Mortensen did. Freaking epic swordsman by the end of LOTR.
RandomMagus
Okay but he's also a huge badass that deflected a knife thrown at his face. He had to be pretty good already
valkuma
I certainly wish more movies would use shots like this where we can watch what's happening.
Ridicrule
I agree, it's BS, it's cheating.
valkuma
Its also just trendy cinematography. Even in the new star wars they did that shit where its just tight shots of peoples face's.
mynameisntfuckinwarren
"I know something you do not know." - "Oh really? And what is that?" - "I am not left-handed."
orangatuan
My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed this post. Prepare to die.
mynameisntfuckinwarren
STOP! SAYING! THAT!
Lassannn
There it is. I just wanted to draw this comment out of hiding. My work here is done.
darearkin
Since I got you here- any other movies where he shows off his swordsmanship?
Lassannn
Captain Blood, the Court Jester, and Robin Hood.
Britishchick17
Damn Lassannn movie game on point!
darearkin
Hold the phone. Rathbone was in Blood? I don't remember him. O.o
TheStudyOfExistence
As someone who fences, these are very realistic.
Tekhead
Because these are actual fencers who were later taught how to act. Which is how Hollywood should do it. Recruit action stars from athletes.
visgurian
Sabre?Foil?Epee? Modern sport or HEMA?
TheStudyOfExistence
Epee, what's HEMA?
visgurian
Historical European Martial Arts. They use the centuries-old manuals to practice longsword, sword and buckler, rapier, dagger, and many 1/3?
visgurian
other weapons. Really neat stuff going on there. Special focus on hitting without getting hit, with special rules like the "afterblow". 2/3
TheStudyOfExistence
Neat!
visgurian
I highly recommend it! http://www.hemaalliance.com/club-finders/ Youtubers who talk about it: Schola Gladiatoria, Skallagrim. 3/3
lesteros
And it doesnt change the fact that they were dancing as much as they are nowadays. Unless you actually tried to fight anyone with 1/2
lesteros
2/2 any of these dont say that it worse/better nowadays. We are always welcoming new people in HEMA
jedianakinsolo
I recently got a chance to do an hour class in both german longsword and rapier, and really wasn't impressed watching. I don't know 1)
jedianakinsolo
2) how much of it is because of the perception movies have created though. It seemed like whoever lunged for the legs won.
lesteros
Whats you said basically: thats why movies will never start doing 'proper' fencing, its impressive only for ones who know the craft 1/2
lesteros
Its not impressive at all at first, then its hella fun when you get better, but I noticed that if skill level of both opponents is 2/3
lesteros
similar they'll still mostly look like kids whacking each other with sticks - both are fast so they'll just hit and run 90% of the time 3/3
Lobuttomize
If he could outfence them why did his forehead get sliced
Radix865
There's a reason why they wear that headgear in actual matches and training...
WalterMatthau
Because he was facing inferior fencers. He was skilled enough not to hurt anyone.
BenderRodriguezz
http://imgur.com/8lT22yX
BubblesSayingDecent
He had to appear to be losing at points.
Tekhead
Because the worse fencers missed their targets.
amars1111
Even the best in the world are going to occasionally lose/make mistakes.
Tekhead
Even Bruce Lee took a few punches to the face now and then.
amars1111
Precisely.
UsChickens
I'm taking it you don't fence.
DinoKebab
I have you know I have a great fence in my garden.
jedianakinsolo
Do you?
UsChickens
Yes. Do you?
jedianakinsolo
No, I've looked into it, but it looks pretty boring, IMO. I got the chance to do a demo class each for German Longsword and the Rapier
niet3sche
You've foiled him! (I used to fence. Italian foil. Was grand for extra movement options I got.)
jedianakinsolo
2) But as interesting as the techniques were, all of it seemed to go out the window in the actual duel. Even by the teachers. The rapiers
jedianakinsolo
3) specifically just were how often you could tap his hand or leg and it looked like a bunch of wild swinging, similar to what I did in the
jedianakinsolo
4) backyard with sticks, growing up with my brothers. I just wasn't impressed, so if you actually fence, I wanted to hear your opinion.
UsChickens
My opinion is that you've turned up to one demo class and assumed you know what's going on just by looking. You are super, SUPER wrong.