Awesome / The War Lord (1965)

• The production design and costumes really captured the looks and feels of what we know of the Norman 11th century, like panels of The Bayeux Tapestry coming to life.
• The first battle between the Normans and the Frisians.
  • It's Personal between Chrysagon and the Frisian chief, and their vicious axe vs sword duel ends on a draw. The Frisian chief manages to wound Chrysagon's shoulder through his mail armor before getting thrown in the river to fight another day.
  • And despite being wounded at the shoulder, Chrysagon holds his own against three Frisian warriors at once, then Draco runs one through with his sword.
• The Siege: The Frisians really don't run out of ideas and determination to storm the tower. And neither do the Normans to defend the tower.
  • The first night of the siege, Chrysagon spots Frisians sneaking and trying to sabotage the drawbridge. He kills one of them with a spear throw from the top of the tower, rings the alarm bell and goes nearly Full-Frontal Assault on the Frisians wearing just a loincloth, throwing several of them in the moat and blinding one with a torch. Then Bors and his soldiers shield his retreat while killing a few more Frisians with thrown spears. The drawbridge gets permanently opened, but now the Normans know they are being besieged.
  • By day, the Frisians try using a Battering Ram on the door. Chrysagon quickly devices a plan involving a grappling hook. They have none at hand... until Bors points out there's a semi-sunken boat in the moat that might have an anchor, and volunteers for the deed, at the risk of being shot at with arrows by the Frisians. He goes down there, pulls it off, and the Normans manage to topple the ram into the moat. Even the priest gets useful for once, joining in the effort to pull the rope.
  • The second night, the Frisians try to set the door on fire. Just when the Normans risk being overwhelmed, Chrysagon orders Bors to unleash the nervous horses on them, making a number of Frisians fall into the moat, then orders his men to pour oil on the drawbridge. The fire then expands, turning several Frisians into human torches and destroying the drawbridge, thus sealing the tower.
  • For the final daytime assault, the Frisians build and use a siege tower. This time they almost manage to overwhelm the Normans... until flaming and non-flaming boulders start hitting the tower, eventually destroying it. It's Draco, who brought reinforcements and a catapult with them.
• An Ax-Crazy Draco has been given the lordship of the tower and the village by the Duke upon seeking reinforcements. He turns to Chrysagon's men and expects them to kneel before him. Tybald shows his loyalty to Chrysagon by telling Draco to his face "Not where my lord lives".
• In the end, not being afraid to die one bit, Chrysagon simply goes to the Frisians to bring them the Prince's son back, with only Bors to accompany him. And it works.

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