The Sword of Villon explained

Series:	Screen Directors Playhouse
Season:	1
Episode:	22
Airdate:	^[1]
Production:	Hal Roach Studios
Guests:	Errol Flynn Hillary Brooke Pamela Duncan

"The Sword of Villon" is a 1956 American TV episode of the Screen Directors Playhouse series. Errol Flynn played Francois Villon.^{[2] [3]}

Plot

Francois Villon learns of a plot to assassinate the king, and gathers his followers to stop the plot and save the king's life.

Cast

• Errol Flynn as Francois Villon
• Hillary Brooke as Countess
• Pamela Duncan as Velvet
• Murvyn Vye as Bagot
• Lois Collier as Lady Elaine
• Mark Dana as Count
• Richard Avonde as 1st. Bully
• Sol Gorss as 2nd. Bully
• Nesdon Booth as Tavernkeeper

Production

The show was a collaboration between the Screen Directors Guild, the Hal Roach Studios and the J Walter Thompson advertising agency. In January 1956 the Screen Directors Playhouse announced they had signed Errol Flynn to play Francois Villon and it would be directed by Don Weis.^[4]

Flynn made it just prior to his own show The Errol Flynn Theatre.^[5]

Reception

Filmink magazine later wrote the episode was "more of interest as a curiosity piece than anything else but it’s not awful by any means and Errol seems engaged. The concept was actually strong enough to support a feature film."^[6]

External links

• Sword of Villon at IMDb
• Sword of Villon at BFI

Notes and References

1. Other 21 -- No Title Chicago Daily Tribune 4 Apr 1956: a8.
2. A Debut on Wimpole St.The Washington Post and Times-Herald 1 Apr 1956: J3.
3. Article 14 -- No TitleLos Angeles Times 4 Apr 1956: B8.
4. TV Survey of Love Offered to N.B.C. For a SpectacularSpecial to The New York Times. New York Times 3 Feb 1956: 47.
5. News: Flynn to Do TV Film; Blond 'Queen' Becomes Idol of Location Site. Ames. Walter. Los Angeles Times . 4 February 1956. A5.
6. Stephen. Vagg. Filmink. The Films of Errol Flynn: Part 6 – The Final Adventures . December 15, 2019.