The Black Arrow - The Complete Series (1972)

 

There's something quite pleasing about watching a low budget historical drama created in an age before CGI. Despite the low production values, or maybe precisely because of them, you get a real sense of how medieval turf wars were probably fought.  This is slow moving stuff where swords clash slowly and men drop into clumsy hand to hand combat at every twist and turn, often seemingly in slow motion, free from careful choreography or special effects. In fact, probably like it happened in the first place before history was reinvented by clever graphics.

But that's only a small part of the fun and pleasure of watching this creaking series from yesteryear. The majority of the pleasure will be found by those ready to wallow in the nostalgic bliss of seeing this series for the first time since its original airing in 1972. In truth, it's remarkable that so insignificant a series (in the grand scheme of things) should enjoy the luxury of release at all as its potential buying target audience must be extremely limited indeed. Such is the age we live in that even marginal releases like this can be economically viable. With cheap licensing and low production costs, even for very limited runs, releases like this should be warmly applauded and supported by those for whom it is intended. It certainly keeps life interesting for a jaded reviewer.



The series (which boasts early appearances by Sally James (Tiswas) and Nigel Havers (The Charmer) ) was based around the original 'Black Arrow' tales by Robert Louis Stevenso, originally entitled Black Arrow: A Tale of the Two Roses and published in 1888, following its popular serialisation in 1883.

It's actually quite a popular adaptation, including a 1911 film short starring Charles Ogle, a 1948 film starring Louis Hayward, a 1984 film starring Oliver Reed, a 1951 two-part British TV serial starring Denis Quilley, a 1968 seven-part Italian TV production entitled La freccia nera, and this - a  British TV series running from 1972-1975 starring  Robin Langford and Simon Cuff as Richard Shelton during its run. Curiously, and confusingly, there was also an animated version released in 1973 too.  



The 3 disc set boasts 20 episodes and features four stories of the enigmatic Black Arrow - a mysterious black robed, masked, man galloping around the forests of rural England, avenging the poor and fighting against outlaw gangs and rich evil barons in the midst of the War of the Rose.
 
A bit like 'Zorro' or 'The Scarlet Pimpernel', the hooded hero sends messages via his black arrows, and is determined to 'deliver one black arrow to each dark heart' of those who have wronged him, his country and his fellow men.




 
The four tales are all similar in theme, and get increasingly impressive, especially in technical terms as the series moves from grainy exterior footage (16mm) mixed with video filmed interiors. The sets inside the castles look very stagey and at times the sets wobble as a door is slammed, though the excellent casting and narrative more than compensate.

Story 1: The mysterious masked avenger resolves to track down four evil men and deliver 'one black arrow in each black heart'! Spooky!

Story 2: Black Arrow is caught in the middle of a raging conflict between Lord of the Manor Brock and an outlaw gang!

Story 3: Black Arrow rescues Peterkin, a young serving lad, from the clutches of Lord William and the two fight for justice when William accuses his niece Ann of foul witchcraft!

Story 4: Journeying in search of adventures, Black Arrow and Peterkin uncover a fiendish outlaw plot to steal a precious holy relic.


 
It's slightly disappointing that there are no extras. I love to see surviving cast and crew reminisce on archive TV series like this, though I guess that would be a big ask for such a marginal release.
 
The likely street price for the set is remarkable low, and in releasing some of these lost gems Simply Home Entertainment look set to give the wonderful Network a run for their money, with potentially lower prices for newly released sets, even if the extras are a bit scant.


 
People who remember this series with gooey eyed nostalgia will be thrilled to note that each episode carries the original 'Southern TV' logo. Now I haven't seen that for a while!

I didn't see 'Black Arrow' first time round (I was in the US) but thoroughly enjoyed it this time. Very much of its time, it evoked not only a historic period from centuries ago, but also an era of TV making that has sadly passed.
 
Anyone who remembers this series with fondness will not be disappointed. For others, tread with caution unless you are a fan of early seventies television.