If I were to say the name "Albert Pyun", chances are pretty good you'd draw a blank. "Cyborg"? Uhh, isn't that a Van Damme film or something? Yeah. "Radioactive Dreams"? Cult movie from the 80s maybe? Sci-fi? Yup. Same guy as this Conan ripoff? Yup. And over 40 other films in less than 30 years. Man's been prolific - if not particularly good.

Well, he started off on the right foot, even if this low-budget affair is cheesy, goofy, and most definitely made to cash in on the Schwarzenegger film's success; or presumptive success might be a better way to put it, as it was actually released a few weeks before John Milius' bigger-budgeted, better-marketed film. In fact (and this blew my mind) it had almost exactly the same box office gross, at least in the USA, as the film that made Arnie a star - $40 million or so, a substantial amount for a low-budget indie in those days.

Why the film hasn't stayed in the public consciousness and why the promised sequel (mentioned in the end credits crawl) had to wait until this year, remains a mystery to me after re-watching the film last week. The plot is pretty basic and really rather inconsequential: evil Cromwell takes over the peaceful kingdom of Ehdan with the help of monstrous undead sorcerer Xusia, killing the king and his family but missing young Talon, he of the three-bladed sword, who will eventually grow into strapping he-man Lee Horsley and come back for revenge, along the way saving gorgeous Princess Alana (Kathleen Beller) and her brother Micah, who believes himself to be the rightful heir in the absence of Talon. There's lots of fairly mediocre and unconvincing swordplay, plenty of shots of the half-naked Horsley for the ladies and the scantily-clad Beller and other nubile vixens for the guys, rather dreamy overlit photography that helps camouflage the overall cheapness of the sets and costumes, and a musical score that's rousing if rather shameless in its ripping off of 40s swashbuckler stuff and even for a moment "Gone With the Wind".

But what makes the film work is the sense of humor it has about itself, and Horsley's charisma. How can anybody take the triple-sword (which fires two of its blades like crossbow bolts) seriously, or do anything but laugh when Talon is crucified on a big wooden X at a wedding celebration but pulls the spikes out of his hands (mostly in slow-mo of course) and then goes on to start chopping up the bad guys as if nothing happened? The film has an energy and verve that for me more than makes up for some really ludicrous lapses in plotting near the end, and I for one wish that a sequel starring Horsley had been made. This is Pyun's highest-rated film on the IMDb and judging from what else I've seen and the descriptions and comments on a few others, probably deserves to be. Too bad - it's far from a great film, but it's sad that the director has become such a joke ever since.

Albert Pyun's minor budgeted sword and sorcery foray is just as amusing now, as I remembered it to be and one of the better (if not one of the best) attempts of the over-flooded sub-genre that skyrocketed in the 80s. Never does it cop out on the ingredients that make this type of b-films fun. The wonderful camp level is high, as blood and flesh (topless mainly) run freely. Pace stays zippy, and while the pulpy story has cut and dry outline, it still has personality and a complex array of schemes to keep it excitingly brash, and not just relying on set-pieces. Don't go looking for a mythical medieval journey filled with a variety of beasties, and obstacles on this one though. It's the standard boy seeks revenge when grown up on the man who killed his family, and took over his father's thrown. The hacked-up script is colourfully tacky, but has an agreeable sarcastic edge and unpretentious novelties streaming off it. Sure there are some untied plot details, but never does it fault the entertainment. Yes its entertainment, that's better not to delve too hard in to. Pyun (in his directorial debut) confidently does a workable job constructing an epic scale treatment, by using his budget wisely. Enthusiastic set-designs, and prop work look respectable and are well-integrated. We get bravado sword fights, busting with adrenaline and guts. It's pure mayhem during certain stages, but commendably executed. Then there's the potent make-up FX that holds a vivid imagination, and brutal punch. David Whittaker spirited score chimes in largely, and overwhelms many sequences. Lee Horsley makes for a charming, brawn heroine and a lively Richard Lynch mercifully eats it up as the clichéd villain of the piece. Kathleen Beller stands tall with her bold performance, and makes for nice eye-candy. Simon MacCorkindale has a strong showing, and Richard Boll (in gooey make-up) stands out too in his role as a monstrous sorcerer. In solid support are George Maharis, Joe Regalbuto and a formidable Robert Tessier.

I'm sorry that a sequel was never made of The Sword And The Sorcerer. It was fairly obvious that Lee Horsley got caught up with his Matt Houston series at the time. This one was a very well done fantasy adventure.

Lee Horsley plays Talon deprived of his rightful place as king by evil usurper Richard Lynch who employs the black arts of sorcery to conquer the kingdom run by Horsley's father. Talon who is a child at the time flees, but grows up to be an adventurer medieval soldier of fortune with one nasty triple sword that actually fires two of its blades like a spring, the better to take care of more than one adversary.

In the meantime brother and sister Simon MacCorkindale and Kathleen Beller are having Richard Lynch now threaten their domain. Of course it is the mysterious Horsley that comes to their aid.

Lynch of whom I can't think of playing any good guys in his career is as evil as they come. Soon after resurrecting a wizard to help him in his quest, he kills the same wizard played by Richard Moll. But the sorcerer is far from done with him.

And there's George Maharis a mysterious nobleman with his own agenda involving the kingdom.

Horsley cut quite the romantic medieval figure and Kathleen Beller is a beautiful doe eyed princess who knows exactly where men are vulnerable in protecting her virtue. Nice special effects also characterize The Sword And The Sorcerer. I wish Horsley had done more films with his Talon character.