Tyrone Power Collection (1948)

Power-ful films

Back in the days of the studio system, every major studio had its bank of contract players. With Warner Brothers, you'd see James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart, but also supporting actors like Alan Hale. There was also Errol Flynn, and to some extent, I believe that Tyrone Power was 20th Century Fox's answer to Warners's resident swashbuckler. Certainly, the Tyrone Power Collection features Powers in many of his swashbuckliest roles.

Chronologically, the first of the five movies is Blood and Sand, with Power as a famous bullfighter. Fame and fortune come with a price, as Power is distracted from his marriage to his childhood sweetheart by the love-`em-and-lose-`em rich girl played by Rita Hayworth. There are plenty of other Fox regulars in this film, including Linda Darnell as the loyal wife, John Carradine as Power's best friend and Laird Cregar as a bullfighting critic. It's a nice-looking film (in fact, a commentary track by a cinematographer explains the film technique in great detail), but just okay storywise.

Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake has Power as the illegitimate son of a wealthy lord. Actually, he may not really be illegitimate, but proof is hard to find, and his uncle (played by George Sanders) will do all he can to keep hold of the title. This forces Power into servitude in an era where by class alone, he has no rights. He gets an opportunity to flee to the South Seas, where he hooks up with Gene Tierney.

In Captain from Castile, Power is once again a fugitive, this time from the Spanish Inquisition. He winds up in Cuba, where he joins Cortes (played by Cesar Romero) in an expedition to Mexico. Power's noble birth and fighting talent makes him rise in the ranks, but there are many adversaries to deal with. This is the other disc in the set with film commentary, this time by a trio of film historians. For fans of USC sports, a bit of trivia: the tune Conquest used by the Trojans was developed for this movie.

Prince of Foxes has Power serving a different conqueror, Cesar Borgia played by Orson Welles. Power is sent to do advance intelligence work in a town slated for invasion, but instead he decides to help the townspeople instead (in part, no doubt, because of the beautiful wife of the town's aged ruler).

The final movie, The Black Rose is another period piece, with Power as a nobleman in the time of Edward I of England. Disgusted with the oppression of Saxons, Power heads to the Orient, where he hooks up with Welles again, this time as a general working with Kubla Khan to invade China. Will Power find wealth? Will he rescue the beautiful girl of English descent, sold into slavery when her crusader father died?

Power is a decent enough actor and all these movies are reasonably entertaining, but none are real classics. In part, this is because of Power, who compared with his contemporary, Flynn, doesn't have the same charm or presence; I think Power actually works better in other, darker roles, such as in Nightmare Alley. As a set, this is pretty nice for Power fans: besides the movies, there are lots of extras, including the commentary tracks, trailers, still galleries, documentaries, a little booklet and lots of lobby cards. This may not be a set of the greatest movies ever, but it is a set worth watching. July 13, 2008

Older Films are the BEST!

Since when did ladies not love a swash-buckling hero in tights, fighting across the screen, sword in one hand, beautiful damsel in the other arm? Well all of these Tyrone Power's movies live up to this standard of excellence. There are no droopy-drawered wastrels in the stories, just great villianous louts, out to take the treasure from our hero and his lady-fair. Begone! Ye Knaves! Right will win over treachery and all will turn out sunny! What? YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME? Well all I have to say to that is-----WATCH THESE GREAT CLASSICS AND SEE FOR YOURSELF!!
My thanks for your attention. Pat Adams June 2, 2008

Great gift!!

This was a mother's day gift, for my mother. She's been an admirer of Tyrone Power since his first movies. It was a wonderful gift for her and she did enjoy it. Me myself enjoyed the movies which I heard her talk about, but never seen before. She is already waiting for another gift of the same kind.
It's wonderful that nowadays you can find this old movies with such good quality. June 2, 2008

Power to the viewers

A very entertaining collection of films done by Tyrone Power. Three of them are in color, and two in black and white. Acting in all films by Tyrone Power is very good. Captain from Castile is a classic, with excellent casting, beautiful scenery, and memorable music. Pity Power's leading ladies in two of the films leave much to be desired. However, what's not to like about Linda Darnell, Rita Hayworth, Gene Tierney and a young and sensual Jean Peters. The two films in black and white--Son of Fury, and especially The Prince of Foxes--would have been spectacular in color. Overall, an excellent buy for anyone interested in building a collection of Tyrone Power's memorable films. May 5, 2008

Top of the line set

Every one of these films is a hit. With co-stars like Orson Wells, Jean Peters, Lee J. Cobb, Rita Hayworth, George Sanders, Linda Darnell, Jack Hawkins and Everett Sloan all of these movies are great. Rita Hayworth, Jean Peters, and Linda Darnell never looked better. Orson Wells as the Great Khan or Caesare Borgia both out to control their part of the world. Everett Sloan playing one of his best roles as an assassin who double crosses Caesare to save his friend, Tyrone. And Jack Hawkins in the Black Rose and Lee J. Cobb in Captain from Castille who travel across continents with Tyrone to seek their fortune. In Blood and Sand, Rita Hayworth as the man consuming woman who sucks Tyrone in and Linda Darnell as the angel of a wife who is unable to save him from himself. And of course the consumate bad man, George Sanders, being bested in the end by Tryone to regain his inheritance in the Son of Fury. My favorite is the Prince of Foxes with Tyrone and Wells at the height of their careers. But, they all are great! March 20, 2008

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