My main reasons for seeing 'The Black Rose' were my love for classic film, my high appreciation for historical adventures and romances and a more than capable cast that included the likes of Tyrone Power, Orson Welles, Finlay Currie and Jack Hawkins. Although viewers seem to be divided when it comes to critical opinion, 'The Black Rose' did sound like it could be enjoyable if done right when taking the above into account.
'The Black Rose' though turned out to be one strange film and not an easy one to rate. Not an awful film and just about made watchable by some assets done well, but it is a rose that never really blossoms, a romance that never properly ignites and an adventure that never properly blazes. So generally was left a bit cold by 'The Black Rose' as much as it pains me to say it, being someone who wanted to like it considering that it was hardly one of those doomed from the start sort of films.
It is the production values that particularly make 'The Black Rose' watchable. It is a gorgeous film to look at, particularly noteworthy is being lavishly photographed with colour that is both vibrant and atmospheric. The production design is handsomely evocative and the costumes likewise, found it interesting finding out that two wardrobe men had to help Welles into his fur coat because it was so heavy. Richard Adinsell's music score rouses, sweeps and haunts, complementing more than competently.
Power is too old for his role but throws himself into it gamely and is hardly charisma void, he is also earnest without being overly so. The best performance overall came from Hawkins, an immensely likeable presence as the most interesting character and the one with the most humanity. He and Power work really well together. Couldn't help though being entertained by Welles, it is a bizarre role and played with a lot of ham yet Welles really looks as though he was enjoying himself while not being too out of kilter and it was a lot of fun to watch and livened things up quite a bit. Currie and Michael Rennie give good supporting performances.
However, most of the dialogue ranges from very bad to painful in a script that is far too heavy on the talk and was in serious need of a tightning up. It also fails to bring any depth or development to a vast majority of the characters, excepting Hawkins. Cecile Aubry gives for me one of the blandest and most increasingly irritating love interest performances seen by me in quite some time and her complete lack of chemistry with Power makes the romantic element fall flat.
Not that the rest of the storytelling is much better. Aside from a very rushed and incomplete-feeling ending, the pace never comes to life. With too little action/adventure elements, and what there is is as unexciting as can be, the film does feel very dull and structurally it is pretty uninvolving as well. Henry Hathaway's direction is not incompetent but is rather undistinguished and uninspired.
In summary, a strange film that didn't really work for me. 5/10
'The Black Rose' though turned out to be one strange film and not an easy one to rate. Not an awful film and just about made watchable by some assets done well, but it is a rose that never really blossoms, a romance that never properly ignites and an adventure that never properly blazes. So generally was left a bit cold by 'The Black Rose' as much as it pains me to say it, being someone who wanted to like it considering that it was hardly one of those doomed from the start sort of films.
It is the production values that particularly make 'The Black Rose' watchable. It is a gorgeous film to look at, particularly noteworthy is being lavishly photographed with colour that is both vibrant and atmospheric. The production design is handsomely evocative and the costumes likewise, found it interesting finding out that two wardrobe men had to help Welles into his fur coat because it was so heavy. Richard Adinsell's music score rouses, sweeps and haunts, complementing more than competently.
Power is too old for his role but throws himself into it gamely and is hardly charisma void, he is also earnest without being overly so. The best performance overall came from Hawkins, an immensely likeable presence as the most interesting character and the one with the most humanity. He and Power work really well together. Couldn't help though being entertained by Welles, it is a bizarre role and played with a lot of ham yet Welles really looks as though he was enjoying himself while not being too out of kilter and it was a lot of fun to watch and livened things up quite a bit. Currie and Michael Rennie give good supporting performances.
However, most of the dialogue ranges from very bad to painful in a script that is far too heavy on the talk and was in serious need of a tightning up. It also fails to bring any depth or development to a vast majority of the characters, excepting Hawkins. Cecile Aubry gives for me one of the blandest and most increasingly irritating love interest performances seen by me in quite some time and her complete lack of chemistry with Power makes the romantic element fall flat.
Not that the rest of the storytelling is much better. Aside from a very rushed and incomplete-feeling ending, the pace never comes to life. With too little action/adventure elements, and what there is is as unexciting as can be, the film does feel very dull and structurally it is pretty uninvolving as well. Henry Hathaway's direction is not incompetent but is rather undistinguished and uninspired.
In summary, a strange film that didn't really work for me. 5/10