Hawk the Slayer
Encyclopedia
Hawk the Slayer is a sword and sorcery
movie directed by Terry Marcel
and starring John Terry
and Jack Palance
. The protagonist
is Hawk, a hero in the Dark Age, where the Evil ruled the world.
Before long, Voltan appears at the convent. He kidnaps the Abbess, demanding as her ransom all the gold of the convent and the local Abbey. Voltan again injures Ranulf but decides not to kill him. Ranulf rides off to the Abbey to talk with the High Abbot, who sends Ranulf to look for one who can help, namely, Hawk. Hawk discovers Ranulf with the help of a local blind sorceress, a woman whose life he saves when she is accused of witchcraft. Ranulf is the prisoner by this time of two brigands, but Hawk rescues him with the help of his sword.
After a long and dangerous journey, Ranulf and Hawk decide to help the nuns get their Abbess back. Hawk locates his old friends: Gort, a serious giant, who wields a mighty mallet; Crow, an elf of few words and a deadly bow; and Baldin, a wisecracking dwarf, with a whip. Together, the party arrive at the convent, protecting the nuns and working out how to get sufficient gold to lure Voltan into a trap. They rob the needed gold from a slave trader, Sped, by using their combined powers. Knowing Voltan of old, Hawk doubts the promise of Voltan to free the Abbess.
Hawk recalls how Voltan killed Eliane, his wife, by shooting her in the back. Hawk and his friends, suspecting Voltan's treason, decide to rescue the Abbess, but they fail. Later, Hawk kills Drogo, Voltan's son, who had earlier tried to kill Hawk and the nuns. When Voltan realizes that Hawk has killed Drogo, his rage boils, and he engages with the heroes in a final battle at the convent. He is helped by a well-meaning but rogue nun to capture the heroes; she dies for her pains at his hands. With the help of the sorceress, the heroes overcome their captivity, though the dwarf is mortally wounded and dies trying to distract Voltan from torturing Hawk with a hot iron.
In the fighting that ensues, the evil Voltan gets his just reward at the hands of Hawk, and the Abbess is restored. An "underworld influence" informs the audience that Voltan will be restored to life to carry out further evil. Meanwhile, Hawk and the giant, following the sorceress's advice, go south and engage new evildoers, continuing the battle of good against evil.
beats and Ennio Morricone
inspired western music. The soundtrack was composed by Harry Robertson who also provided scores for some Hammer Horror films.
There has only been reader comments posted since.
Both Twitchfilm.net
and Jingafilms.com reported, at the time, that the director would be Terry Marcel and the producer Andrew Growcock, reporting that Tom Hardy
is to play Hawk. As of October 2010, no trace found on IMDB.
However, as of May 2011 the following site has appeared promoting the project and seeking funds from fans and members of the public: http://www.hawkthehunter.com/.
Sword and sorcery
Sword and sorcery is a sub-genre of fantasy and historical fantasy, generally characterized by sword-wielding heroes engaged in exciting and violent conflicts. An element of romance is often present, as is an element of magic and the supernatural...
movie directed by Terry Marcel
Terry Marcel
Terry Marcel is a British film director, perhaps best known for the cult film Hawk the Slayer which he co-created with producer Harry Robertson....
and starring John Terry
John Terry (actor)
John Terry is an American film, television, and stage actor.-Early life:Terry was born in Florida, where he attended Vero Beach High School. He was also educated at the prestigious Loomis Chaffee prep school in Windsor, Connecticut, and began a career building original custom log homes in North...
and Jack Palance
Jack Palance
Jack Palance , was an American actor. During half a century of film and television appearances, Palance was nominated for three Academy Awards, all as Best Actor in a Supporting Role, winning in 1991 for his role in City Slickers.-Early life:Palance, one of five children, was born Volodymyr...
. The protagonist
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
is Hawk, a hero in the Dark Age, where the Evil ruled the world.
Plot summary
In this movie , the wicked Voltan kills his own father because his father refused to turn over the magic of the "last elven mindstone." However, before the old man dies, he bequeaths to his other son, Hawk, a great sword with a pommel shaped like a human hand. The sword's hilt comes to life, grasping the mindstone. The sword has now been imbued with magical powers which include responding to Hawk's mind. Hawk then vows to avenge his father and to kill Voltan. Voltan's evil touches the whole countryside, and in time, there comes to a solitary convent one Ranulf, a man who has survived the attack of Voltan, an evildoer described as "the devil's agent." Ranulf reports to the nuns of Voltan's attack on his people, who have been "hacked to pieces", even the women and children. Ranulf's injured arm is saved, but his hand is beyond saving. He is nursed back to health.Before long, Voltan appears at the convent. He kidnaps the Abbess, demanding as her ransom all the gold of the convent and the local Abbey. Voltan again injures Ranulf but decides not to kill him. Ranulf rides off to the Abbey to talk with the High Abbot, who sends Ranulf to look for one who can help, namely, Hawk. Hawk discovers Ranulf with the help of a local blind sorceress, a woman whose life he saves when she is accused of witchcraft. Ranulf is the prisoner by this time of two brigands, but Hawk rescues him with the help of his sword.
After a long and dangerous journey, Ranulf and Hawk decide to help the nuns get their Abbess back. Hawk locates his old friends: Gort, a serious giant, who wields a mighty mallet; Crow, an elf of few words and a deadly bow; and Baldin, a wisecracking dwarf, with a whip. Together, the party arrive at the convent, protecting the nuns and working out how to get sufficient gold to lure Voltan into a trap. They rob the needed gold from a slave trader, Sped, by using their combined powers. Knowing Voltan of old, Hawk doubts the promise of Voltan to free the Abbess.
Hawk recalls how Voltan killed Eliane, his wife, by shooting her in the back. Hawk and his friends, suspecting Voltan's treason, decide to rescue the Abbess, but they fail. Later, Hawk kills Drogo, Voltan's son, who had earlier tried to kill Hawk and the nuns. When Voltan realizes that Hawk has killed Drogo, his rage boils, and he engages with the heroes in a final battle at the convent. He is helped by a well-meaning but rogue nun to capture the heroes; she dies for her pains at his hands. With the help of the sorceress, the heroes overcome their captivity, though the dwarf is mortally wounded and dies trying to distract Voltan from torturing Hawk with a hot iron.
In the fighting that ensues, the evil Voltan gets his just reward at the hands of Hawk, and the Abbess is restored. An "underworld influence" informs the audience that Voltan will be restored to life to carry out further evil. Meanwhile, Hawk and the giant, following the sorceress's advice, go south and engage new evildoers, continuing the battle of good against evil.
Soundtrack
The most striking thing about this movie is the soundtrack which alone has gained cult status amongst B movie fans. It is unusual for melding a traditional orchestral arrangement with synthetic discoDisco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
beats and Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone, Grand Officer OMRI, , is an Italian composer and conductor, who wrote music to more than 500 motion pictures and television series, in a career lasting over 50 years. His scores have been included in over 20 award-winning films as well as several symphonic and choral pieces...
inspired western music. The soundtrack was composed by Harry Robertson who also provided scores for some Hammer Horror films.
Cast
- John TerryJohn Terry (actor)John Terry is an American film, television, and stage actor.-Early life:Terry was born in Florida, where he attended Vero Beach High School. He was also educated at the prestigious Loomis Chaffee prep school in Windsor, Connecticut, and began a career building original custom log homes in North...
as Hawk - Jack PalanceJack PalanceJack Palance , was an American actor. During half a century of film and television appearances, Palance was nominated for three Academy Awards, all as Best Actor in a Supporting Role, winning in 1991 for his role in City Slickers.-Early life:Palance, one of five children, was born Volodymyr...
as Voltan - Bernard BresslawBernard BresslawBernard Bresslaw was an English actor. He is best remembered for his comedy work, especially as a member of the Carry On team.-Biography:...
as Gort - Ray Charleson as Crow
- Peter O'Farrell as Baldin
- W. Morgan SheppardW. Morgan SheppardWilliam Morgan Sheppard , sometimes credited as Morgan Sheppard or W. Morgan Sheppard, is a British actor.Sheppard was born in London to an Anglo-Irish family but was educated in Ireland. He graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art 1956-58 before spending 12 years as Associate Artist with...
(billed as Morgan Sheppard) (as Ranulf) - Patricia QuinnPatricia QuinnPatricia Quinn, Lady Stephens is a Northern Irish actress best known for her role as Magenta in the film The Rocky Horror Picture Show . Hers were the red lips that appeared in the film's opening song "Science Fiction/Double Feature"...
(as Sorceress) - Cheryl CampbellCheryl CampbellCheryl Campbell is an English actor of stage, film and television.-Early years:Cheryl Campbell was educated at Francis Bacon Grammar School, St Albans; London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art...
(as Sister Monica) - Annette CrosbieAnnette CrosbieAnnette Crosbie, OBE is a Scottish character actor.-Life and career:Crosbie was born in Gorebridge, Midlothian, Scotland, to Presbyterian parents who disapproved of her becoming an actor. Nevertheless, she joined the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School while still in her teens...
(as Abbess) - Catriona MacCollCatriona MacCollCatriona MacColl is an English actress who has worked extensively in both film and television across Europe.-Acting career:In 1979, MacColl made her debut in the title role of "Lady Oscar" directed by Jacques Demy in Japan...
(as Eliane) - Shane BriantShane BriantShane Briant is an actor and novelist. Briant studied Law at Trinity College Dublin but became a professional actor playing the name role in Hamlet at the Eblana theatre...
(as Drogo) - Harry AndrewsHarry AndrewsHarry Fleetwood Andrews, CBE was an English film actor known for his frequent portrayals of tough military officers. His performance as Sergeant Major Wilson in The Hill alongside Sean Connery earned Andrews the 1965 National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor and a nomination for the...
(as High Abbot) - Christopher Benjamin (as Fitzwalter)
- Roy KinnearRoy KinnearRoy Mitchell Kinnear was an English character actor. He is best remembered for playing Veruca Salt's father, Mr. Salt, in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.-Early life:...
(as Innkeeper) - Patrick MageePatrick Magee (actor)Patrick Magee was a Northern Irish actor best known for his collaborations with Samuel Beckett and Harold Pinter, as well as his appearances in horror films and in Stanley Kubrick's films A Clockwork Orange and Barry Lyndon.-Early life:He was born Patrick McGee in Armagh, County Armagh, Northern...
(as Priest)
2009 sequel
In January 2009, a single page unattributed blog appeared with the following text:- "Terry Marcel, writer and director of legendary cult sword and sorcery movie 'Hawk the Slayer' is returning in 2009 to continue the adventures of Hawk, with a follow up entitled Hawk the Hunter. This official blog, endorsed by Terry will document the full journey of the movie's production with behind the scenes information, photos and interviews. For Hawk fans worldwide who've waited for years and who never thought it would happen, we can tell you it really is happening... Hawk is back!"
There has only been reader comments posted since.
Both Twitchfilm.net
Twitch Film
Twitch Film, also known simply as Twitch, is an English language Canadian website featuring news and reviews of mainly international, independent and cult films. The website was founded in 2004 by Todd Brown, a cinephile with personal interests in arthouse and grindhouse cinema...
and Jingafilms.com reported, at the time, that the director would be Terry Marcel and the producer Andrew Growcock, reporting that Tom Hardy
Tom Hardy
Edward Thomas "Tom" Hardy is an English actor. He is best known for playing the title character in the 2008 British film Bronson, the character of Eames in Inception, and the villain Praetor Shinzon in Star Trek Nemesis...
is to play Hawk. As of October 2010, no trace found on IMDB.
However, as of May 2011 the following site has appeared promoting the project and seeking funds from fans and members of the public: http://www.hawkthehunter.com/.
External links
- Hawk the Slayer' view movie
- Hawk the Hunter blog site
- Twitchfilm.net report on Hawk the Hunter, the sequel
- www.dvdcommentaries.co.uk Alternative DVD commentary for Hawk The Slayer is available here.