- For the comic book character, see Red Sonja. Red Sonja, the She-Devil with a Sword, is a Fictional character, a Low fantasy Sword and sorcery heroine created by Roy Thomas
| Red Sonja | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Richard Fleischer |
| Produced by | Christian Ferry |
| Written by | Clive Exton George MacDonald Fraser (based on the character by Robert E. Howard) |
| Starring | Brigitte Nielsen Arnold Schwarzenegger Sandahl Bergman Paul L. Smith Ernie Reyes, Jr. Ronald Lacey Pat Roach |
| Music by | Ennio Morricone |
| Cinematography | Giuseppe Rotunno |
| Distributed by | - USA - MGM/UA Entertainment Company - non-USA - Dino De Laurentiis Company |
| Release date(s) | 3 July 1985 |
| Running time | 89 min |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $15 million |
| Allmovie profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Red Sonja is a 1985 sword and sorcery/action film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger with Brigitte Nielsen as the title character. Richard O Fleischer ( December 8, 1916 – March 25, 2006) was an American Film director. Clive Exton ( 11 April 1930 - 16 August 2007) was a British Television and Film Scriptwriter, sometime George MacDonald Fraser, OBE (2 April 1925 &ndash 2 January 2008 was a British Author of both Historical novels and Non-fiction books Robert Ervin Howard ( January 22 1906 &ndash June 11 1936) was an American pulp writer of Fantasy, Brigitte Nielsen (born 15 July 1963 is a Danish actress who became known for appearing in the 1985 films Red Sonja and Rocky IV Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger ( German ˌaɐnɔlt aloʏs ˈʃvaɐtsənɛɡɐ born July 30 1947 is an Austrian American Bodybuilder, Actor Sandahl Bergman (born November 14, 1951) is an American Dancer, Stuntwoman, and Actress who is known for her performances Paul L Smith (born February 5, 1939) is an American character actor Ernest E Reyes Jr (born January 15, 1972) is an American Actor and Martial arts performer Ronald Lacey ( 28 September 1935 – 15 May 1991) was an English actor Francis Patrick "Pat" Roach ( May 19, 1937 — July 17, 2004) was an English Actor and wrestler from Ennio Morricone OMRI (born November 10, 1928) is an acclaimed Italian Academy Award -winning composer Giuseppe Rotunno, ASC AIC (born March 19, 1923 in Rome) is an Italian Cinematographer. This article is about the film studio Previously it was affiliated with a cinema chain bearing its name now owned by Regal Entertainment Group. Agostino De Laurentiis, usually credited as Dino De Laurentiis (born August 8 1919) is an Academy Award -winning Italian Events 324 - Battle of Adrianople Constantine I defeats Licinius, who flees to Byzantium. Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Events 3 December - Roger Moore steps down from the role of James Bond after twelve years and seven films Sword and sorcery ( S&S) is a fantasy subgenre generally characterized by swashbuckling heroes engaged in exciting and violent conflicts Action movies are a Film genre where action sequences such as fights, Shootouts Stunts Car chases or explosions either take precedence Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger ( German ˌaɐnɔlt aloʏs ˈʃvaɐtsənɛɡɐ born July 30 1947 is an Austrian American Bodybuilder, Actor Brigitte Nielsen (born 15 July 1963 is a Danish actress who became known for appearing in the 1985 films Red Sonja and Rocky IV It was shot in Italy, on location in Celano and Abruzzi, near Rome, and at the Stabilimenti Cinematagrafici Pontini studios. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Celano is a town in the Province of L'Aquila, Italy, 120 km east of Rome by rail Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2
Contents |
Cast
- Brigitte Nielsen as Red Sonja
- Arnold Schwarzenegger as Lord Kalidor
- Sandahl Bergman as Queen Gedren of Berkubane
- Paul L. Smith as Falkon
- Ernie Reyes, Jr. as Prince Tarn
- Ronald Lacey as Ikol
- Pat Roach as Lord Brytag
- Terry Richards as Djart
- Janet Agren as Varna, Red Sonja's sister
- Donna Osterbuhr as Kendra (High Priestess)
- Lara Naszinsky as Queen Gedren's handmaid
- Hans Meyer as Red Sonja's father
- Francesca Romana Coluzzi as Red Sonja's mother
- Stefano Maria Mioni as Barlok (Red Sonja's brother)
- Tutte Lemkow as Wizard
- Kiyoshi Yamasaki as Kyobo
- Tad Horino as Chinese Swordmaster
Plot
The movie begins with Red Sonja (Brigitte Nielsen)'s brother and their parents being slaughtered by the evil Queen Gedren (Sandahl Bergman)’s army. Brigitte Nielsen (born 15 July 1963 is a Danish actress who became known for appearing in the 1985 films Red Sonja and Rocky IV Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger ( German ˌaɐnɔlt aloʏs ˈʃvaɐtsənɛɡɐ born July 30 1947 is an Austrian American Bodybuilder, Actor Sandahl Bergman (born November 14, 1951) is an American Dancer, Stuntwoman, and Actress who is known for her performances Paul L Smith (born February 5, 1939) is an American character actor Ernest E Reyes Jr (born January 15, 1972) is an American Actor and Martial arts performer Ronald Lacey ( 28 September 1935 – 15 May 1991) was an English actor Francis Patrick "Pat" Roach ( May 19, 1937 — July 17, 2004) was an English Actor and wrestler from Janet Agren (born 6 April 1949 is a Swedish actress of mostly Italian Exploitation films Her modeling career Tutte Lemkow ( 28 August 1918 &ndash 10 November 1991) was a Norwegian actor and dancer player of many mostly villainous parts in Tadashi Horino ( August 14, 1921 – October 3, 2002) had long career in Film and Television. Brigitte Nielsen (born 15 July 1963 is a Danish actress who became known for appearing in the 1985 films Red Sonja and Rocky IV Sandahl Bergman (born November 14, 1951) is an American Dancer, Stuntwoman, and Actress who is known for her performances Sonja survives being violently raped by Gedren's troops, and even gives Gedren a kind of a souvenir: a brutal scar on the evil queen's face. Later that night, Sonja is visited by a spirit. . . who grants her the strength to seek her revenge.
The story then jumps to a large temple full of white-robed priestesses. They are getting ready to destroy a large, glowing green orb called the Talisman. An amulet ( the Elder|Pliny]] meaning "an object that protects a person from trouble" a close cousin of the talisman (from Arabic This dangerous artifact's destructive power increases from exposure to light; they intend to destroy it before it gets out of control. However, Gedren – now wearing a gold mask to cover her scar – and her aide-de-camp Ikol (Ronald Lacey) attack with their army. An aide-de-camp ( French for camp assistant) is a personal assistant secretary or Adjutant to a person of high rank usually a senior military officer Ronald Lacey ( 28 September 1935 – 15 May 1991) was an English actor The warrior-priestesses resist, but are ultimately subdued by Gedren's forces.
Gedren gets her hands on the Talisman, but not before discovering that only women can touch it and survive. Gedren orders the remaining priestesses to be imprisoned in the vault which held the Talisman. Yet one of those priestesses, Varna, manages to escape. She doesn't get far, however, before she's mortally wounded by an arrow in the back. As luck would have it, she literally falls into the arms of the mighty Lord Kalidor (Arnold Schwarzenegger). Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger ( German ˌaɐnɔlt aloʏs ˈʃvaɐtsənɛɡɐ born July 30 1947 is an Austrian American Bodybuilder, Actor She begs him to help find her sister, Red Sonja.
Meanwhile, Sonja has been training with a Chinese swordmaster (Tad Horino). Tadashi Horino ( August 14, 1921 – October 3, 2002) had long career in Film and Television. Kalidor comes charging in and informs Sonja about her sister. Sonja arrives just in time for Varna to tell her about what happened at the temple. Sonja's sister urges her to find the Talisman and destroy it, or else the world will be shattered with storms and earthquakes. Varna then dies and is cremated on a funeral pyre by Sonja. . . who then starts on her journey to Berkubane, Gedren's Kingdom of Eternal Night.
Just then, Sonja notices a storm off in the distance; someone must be using the Talisman. Kalidor offers to help her, but Sonja tells him that she does not need the help of a man. She rides to the now-ruined kingdom of Hablock. There she joins up with young Prince Tarn (Ernie Reyes, Jr.), a cocky and overconfident of himself brat; and his loyal and robust servant, Falkon (Paul L. Smith). Ernest E Reyes Jr (born January 15, 1972) is an American Actor and Martial arts performer Paul L Smith (born February 5, 1939) is an American character actor They confirm that Gedren just departed, having wiped out Hablock and its army with the Talisman because Tarn (being Tarn) refused to surrender. Tarn announces that he is raising a new army to crush Gedren underfoot and invites Sonja to join, since "We'll probably need a cook". Being Sonja, she declines and goes her own way. . . with Kalidor surreptitiously following her.
Soon she encounters the rogue Lord Brytag (Pat Roach), self-appointed ruler of the mountain passes, who takes an unhealthy interest in Sonja. Francis Patrick "Pat" Roach ( May 19, 1937 — July 17, 2004) was an English Actor and wrestler from . . VERY unhealthy for Brytag himself, because Sonja challenges him to a swordfight instead, and slays him. Brytag's thuggish troops promptly surround Sonja; just as they move in for the kill, Kalidor suddenly attacks their rear. Sonja escapes, leaving her rescuer behind to deal with Brytag's remaining soldiers.
Sonja comes across Tarn and Falkon in the mountains. Having sent his servant out hunting, the boy is being tortured by bandits. Falkon rejoins Sonja to help her kill the brigands and free the prince. The threesome travel onward toward Berkubane.
At Castle Berkubane, Gedren places the Talisman in a room full of candles to increase its strength. Ikol warns her against this, because too much light will give the Talisman more power than can be controlled, but Gedren won't take him seriously. Back in the castle's main hall, Ikol discovers that Sonja and her party are approaching. The queen's Wizard shows her Sonja, Tarn and Falkon in some kind of magic screen. Gedren recognizes Sonja and orders that she be brought back to the fortress unharmed. She and Ikol use the Talisman to conjure up a storm, forcing Sonja’s band to take shelter in a watery cavern.
Gedren and her Wizard also unleash an "Icthyan Killing Machine" in the cavern. When Sonja and her group try to cross the pond, the monster attacks them. Sonja struggles with the monster, but is unable to find any way to kill it. Kalidor again dramatically appears, leaps into the water and wrestles with the beast while Sonja digs out the eyes. They flee with Tarn and Falkon, leaving the metal monstrosity to thrash blindly about the pond.
Sonja now accepts the company of Kalidor, but also gives him a warning: she will never be with any man unless he can defeat her in a swordfight. That night, Kalidor challenges her and they spar, but neither of them is able to defeat the other; eventually, they call it a draw. Kalidor at least wins her heart.
The Talisman's power is growing too dangerous to control, but still Gedren rejects Ikol's counsel to put it in a darker place. Kalidor, Sonja and Falkon infiltrate Castle Berkubane. To protect young Tarn, they trick him into volunteering to stay behind in order to prevent Gedren from escaping.
Sonja has a final confrontation with Gedren, while Kalidor and Falkon deal with her evil guards in the Castle's kitchen/dining hall. Ikol tries to escape with gold looted from Hablock, but is intercepted by Prince Tarn. . . who engages him in combat, finally crushing the evil lieutenant between the Castle's stone gates.
Back in Gedren's Chamber of Lights, the Talisman breaks the floor open into a hellish pit of fire. Sonja disarms Gedren and plunges her into this fiery chasm, then casts the Talisman in after her. Immediately, the Talisman seeks revenge for its destruction by collapsing Castle Berkubane. Our heroes barely manage to escape; Kalidor, at one point, has to hold a couple of pillars on his shoulders. . . while the others pass underneath. Finally, Castle Berkubane is consumed by a volcano.
At the end, Sonja and Kalidor kiss, while Prince Tarn and Falkon look on and then depart.
Production background
In Conan the Barbarian, Sandahl Bergman played Valeria, a thief and the love of Conan’s life. Conan the Barbarian is a 1982 film by director John Milius and is recognized as the acting Breakthrough of bodybuilder Sandahl Bergman (born November 14, 1951) is an American Dancer, Stuntwoman, and Actress who is known for her performances Bergman was offered the role of Red Sonja, but turned it down, choosing instead to play the villainous Queen Gedren. It took Dino De Laurentiis almost a year to find an actress "Amazonian" enough to play the title character; in fact, he was still looking eight weeks before the production was due to start, when he saw Brigitte Nielsen on the cover of a fashion magazine. Agostino De Laurentiis, usually credited as Dino De Laurentiis (born August 8 1919) is an Academy Award -winning Italian The 21-year-old native of Helsingør, Denmark, who was in Milan on a modeling job, soon found herself on a plane heading for Rome and a successful screen test. Elsinore redirects here For other places and things named Elsinore see Elsinore (disambiguation. The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe
Schwarzenegger had great success in the two Conan movies, but his next film, James Cameron’s The Terminator, was a real breakthrough. James Francis Cameron (born August 16, 1954) is an Academy Award -winning Canadian - American director The Terminator is a 1984 science fiction / Action film directed and co-written by James Cameron. When De Laurentiis approached Schwarzenegger and asked him to appear in an extended cameo and take second billing in Red Sonja, the actor agreed out of a feeling of obligation. He worked on the movie for only three weeks, and was very unhappy with De Laurentiis when he discovered he had been given top billing for what was essentially a supporting role.
Ennio Morricone, who wrote the music for Red Sonja, is one of the most celebrated of film composers. Ennio Morricone OMRI (born November 10, 1928) is an acclaimed Italian Academy Award -winning composer He has written scores for more than 400 movies, including Sergio Leone's The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Terrence Malick’s Days of Heaven, and Roland Joffé’s The Mission. Sergio Leone ( January 3, 1929 &ndash April 30, 1989) was an Italian Film director. The Good the Bad and the Ugly ( Il Buono il Brutto il Cattivo) is a 1966 Italian epic Spaghetti western film directed Terrence "Terry" Malick (born November 30, 1943, Ottawa, Illinois) is an Academy Award nominated American Days of Heaven is a 1978 film written and directed by Terrence Malick and starring Richard Gere, Brooke Adams, Sam Shepard Roland Joffé (born November 17, 1945 in London) is a Film director who began his career in
Reception
Red Sonja flopped at the box office, grossing only $6,948,633 in theaters, far below its budget of $15 million.
Film critic/historian Leonard Maltin called it "Spectacularly silly. Leonard Maltin (born December 18, 1950) is an American Film critic and Film Historian. . . Most of the fun is in deciding who gives the worse performance, Brigitte Nielsen or Sandahl Bergman. Brigitte Nielsen (born 15 July 1963 is a Danish actress who became known for appearing in the 1985 films Red Sonja and Rocky IV Sandahl Bergman (born November 14, 1951) is an American Dancer, Stuntwoman, and Actress who is known for her performances "
Schwarzenegger himself even said "It's the worst film I have ever made. " And he joked "Now, when my kids get out of line, they're sent to their room and forced to watch Red Sonja ten times. I never have too much trouble with them. "
Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a score of 17% "rotten" as some critics have called it "Hilariously awful" and "Unwatchably bad sword-and-sorcery nonsense".
The Encyclopedia of Fantasy gave it a scathing entry. The Encyclopedia of Fantasy is a 1997 Reference work on Fantasy, edited by John Clute and John Grant. The main criticism was that it was a "B-movie" with bad characterization, bad acting and an entirely cliché display of swords and sorcery. UserScottandrewhutchins: http//enwikipediaorg/w/indexphp?title=Characterization&diff=next&oldid=157919139 --> Characterization is a process of conveying Acting is the work of an Actor or Actress, which is a person in Theatre, Television, Film, or any other Storytelling A cliché (from French, klɪ'ʃe or cliche is a phrase expression or idea that has been overused to the point of losing its intended force Sword and sorcery ( S&S) is a fantasy subgenre generally characterized by swashbuckling heroes engaged in exciting and violent conflicts In particular, the Encyclopedia accuses the movie of being homophobic and for purposely portraying homosexuality as a negative, evil trait. BenPhelpsJPG|thumb|right|Westboro Baptist Church picket signs with Ben Phelps grandson of Fred Phelps Homosexuality refers to sexual behavior with or attraction to people of the same sex or to a Homosexual orientation. Evil, in many cultures is used to describe acts or thoughts which are contrary to some particular religion Gedren is portrayed as a lesbian whose rivalry with Sonja is based partly on the fact that Sonja once rejected her sexual advances. A lesbian is a Woman who is romantically or sexually attracted only to other women
Positive Reception
A dedicated cult following has grown up around the 'Red Sonja' film.
At the time acclaimed film critic Pauline Kael was to say, "Though it has all the trappings of a B-movie (hammy acting, cheap production values), it also sports a quasi-sexual tone, coming over like something of a pre-history 'Barbarella'. Pauline Kael (June 19 1919 &ndash September 3 2001 was an American Film critic who wrote for The New Yorker magazine from 1968 to 1991 Fleischer creates a vivid atmosphere, using the romantic light of Italy to great effect. . . . one comes out of the cinema feeling that, they probably shouldn't have become as wrapped up in this tosh as they did".
Awards
- 1986 Razzie Award for worst new star (Brigitte Nielsen)
Particulars
Taglines
- A woman and a warrior that became a legend. Brigitte Nielsen (born 15 July 1963 is a Danish actress who became known for appearing in the 1985 films Red Sonja and Rocky IV
Trivia
- Red Sonja shares many plot elements with Ator l'invincibile 2, also more popularly known as Cave Dwellers due to its lampooning on Mystery Science Theater 3000. Ator l'invincibile 2 (released in English-speaking countries as Ator the Invincible, The Blade Master, Ator the Blade Ator l'invincibile 2 (released in English-speaking countries as Ator the Invincible, The Blade Master, Ator the Blade Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American Cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced For instance, in Ator 2, a scientist/wizard guards the Geometric Nucleus (a similar item to the Talisman) when his castle is attacked by the villain. A messenger attempts to warn Ator, who is training with a Chinese sword master, Thong, but is shot by an arrow on the way before falling into Ator's arms. Similarities abound throughout the two films. The director of the Ator series of films, Joe d'Amato, created the Ator character as an almost direct copy of Conan the Barbarian, and used the Ator movies to cash in on release timing of the Conan movies; the similarities of the second Ator movie and Red Sonja are no doubt related. Joe D'Amato, (birth name Aristide Massaccesi) ( December 15, 1936 in Rome - January 23, 1999 in Rome)
- Sound samples from the movie were later used in the 1987 computer game Barbarian by Palace Software
- Comic book writer and artist Wendy Pini, who frequently performed as Red Sonja at conventions and other venues, was considered for the role. A personal computer Game (also known as a computer game or simply PC game) is a Video game played on a Personal computer, rather Barbarian The Ultimate Warrior and its sequel Barbarian II Dungeons of Drax are Computer games The Barbarian name was used Palace Software was a British Video game publisher during the 1980s based in London England. Wendy Pini née Fletcher, (born June 4 1951, San Francisco California) and Richard Pini (born July 19
- Spelled backwards, Ikol's name reads "Loki. " Loki was the evil and jealous Norse God of mischief and trickery. In Cryptography, LOKI89 and LOKI91 are Block ciphers designed as possible replacements for the Data Encryption Standard (DES
- The film's original theatrical trailer is set to the main title music from the movie Clash of the Titans. Clash of the Titans is a 1981 Fantasy and Mythology movie based on the myth of Perseus.
Faults
- Miscellany: When Kalidor lifts Prince Tarn into the air with one arm, the wire attached to Tarn's back is visible. ANThology is the first Major label album by Alien Ant Farm released on March 6, 2001 in the USA and March 19
- Continuity: When the surviving girl approaches to the rope over the canyon, there are two meshes. In Fiction, continuity (also called time-scheme) is consistency of the characteristics of persons plot, objects places and events seen by the reader or She clutches one mesh and slides down the rope. When her pursuers get to the rope, there are three or four meshes.
See also
External links
References
Conan the Barbarian is a 1982 film by director John Milius and is recognized as the acting Breakthrough of bodybuilder Conan the Destroyer is a 1984 film directed by action/fantasy veteran Richard Fleischer ( 20000 Leagues Under the Sea, The Vikings Kull the Conqueror is a 1997 fantasy Action film about the Robert EDapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic