Fire and Sword

This article is about the film. For the 2009 novel, see Fire and Sword (novel). For the 1884 novel, see With Fire and Sword.

Fire and Sword
Film poster depicting Tristan and Isolde
Directed byVeith von Fürstenberg [de]
Screenplay byMax Zihlmann
Story byVeith von Fürstenberg
Based onTristan and Isolde
Produced by
  • Peter Genée
  • Don Geraghty
Starring
CinematographyJacques Steyn
Edited byBarbara von Weitershausen
Music byRobert Lovas
Release date
  • 1981 (1981)
Running time
95 minutes
Countries
LanguagesGerman, English

Fire and Sword (German: Feuer und Schwert: Die Legende von Tristan und Isolde) is a 1981 romantic drama film directed by Veith von Fürstenberg [de]. It is based on the legend of Tristan and Isolde, played by Christoph Waltz (in his first leading credited film role) and Antonia Preser. Leigh Lawson and Peter Firth also star. Set during a raging war between Cornwall and Ireland, the film explores themes on conflict between magic and religion, violence, and destruction.

Principal photography took place from July to November 1980. It was filmed in Ireland at the same location as Excalibur (1981), another Arthurian film, and reused the stuntmen and horses from that production. Critics praised its cinematography, for which it won an award at the 1983 Sitges Film Festival, but criticised the script, Waltz's and Preser's performances, and its interpretation of the source material.

  1. ^ a b Bildhauer 2011, p. 255.