Main Cast: Ann Blyth, Edmund Purdom, David Niven, George Sanders, Roger Moore
Release Year: 1955
Country: US
Run Time: 78 minutes
Plot
Director Robert Z. Leonard brought his 31-year association with MGM to a rousing close with The King's Thief. Set in England during the reign of Charles II (drolly portrayed by George Sanders), the film stars Edmund Purdom as Michael Dermott, who sets about to steal the crown jewels on behalf of his king. The current possessor of the gems is the wicked duke of Brampton, played with relish by a cast-against-type David Niven. Ann Blyth is a decorative heroine, while one of Michael Dermott's cohorts is played by a young, muscular Roger Moore. The plot of The King's Thief, purportedly based on fact, is merely an excuse for the nonstop swashbuckling of star Edmund Purdom. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
The King's Thief is a fairly standard-issue swashbuckler, enlivened more by the talents and appeal of its cast than by the originality (or even clarity) of its story or the imagination of its director. The screenplay is something of a mishmash, as if the writer were told to study a number of Errol Flynn period pictures and borrow freely from them, and especially from The Adventures of Robin Hood. The story thus feels a bit disjointed, and one constantly has the feeling of "Haven't I seen this before?" Robert Z. Leonard's direction plays up the heroics and the derring-do, as is appropriate, and his fight scenes and duels are well staged, but overall his work lacks real spark and verve. Thief is certainly colorful, with nice period costumes and some pretty photography, but its chief asset is its cast. Edmund Purdom can't match Flynn in the swashbuckling department, but who can? He's handsome and has flair and certainly handles his sword with ease. A cast-against-type David Niven is a great deal of fun as the villain of the piece, and George Sanders, though given frightfully little to do, does it frightfully well. Ann Blyth is appropriately decorative and, when given half a chance, quite a bit more. And fans of Roger Moore will be delighted to catch him in a small role, complete with long blonde hair. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Malcolm Brown - Art Director, Cedric Gibbons - Art Director, Walter Plunkett - Costume Designer, Robert Saunders - First Assistant Director, Robert Z. Leonard - Director, John McSweeney, Jr. - Editor, Miklos Rozsa - Composer (Music Score), Miklos Rozsa - Musical Direction/Supervision, William J. Tuttle - Makeup, Robert Planck - Cinematographer, Edwin H. Knopf - Producer, Richard A. Pefferle - Set Designer, Edwin B. Willis - Set Designer, Warren Newcombe - Special Effects, Christopher Knopf - Screenwriter, Robert Hardy Andrews - Short Story Author
In this period film, Lady Mary's (Blyth) father is accused of treason and, though innocent, is executed. Lady Mary travels to London to confront his accuser, the Duke of Brampton (Niven). While there, she meets Michael Dermott (Purdom), a highwayman, who is also an enemy of the Duke. Dermott is in possession of the Duke's notebook, detailing all the highest ranking and richest people in kingdom. Adventure abounds as the Duke tries to retrieve his property before it can be used against him
