History Main / Swashbuckler

[[quoteright:300:[[Film/CaptainBlood https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Swashbuckler.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:300:Get ready for danger, romance, and [[{{Flynning}} spectacular swordfights]]!]]

!! Some Authors and Series Associated With the Swashbuckler Genre Include:

* The ''DerivativeWorks/{{Zorro}}'' series of [[LongRunningBookSeries novels, TV shows and films]], including:
** ''[[Literature/{{Zorro}} The Curse of Capistrano]]'' -- The first appearance of the masked bandit, who is arguably the first {{superhero}} to boot.
** ''Don Q, [[IAmXSonOfY Son of]] Zorro''
** ''Film/{{The Mark of Zorro|1920}}'' (1920) and ''Film/{{The Mark of Zorro|1940}}'' (1940). -- Two versions. The 1920 Creator/DouglasFairbanks, Sr., original introduced the iconic cape and Andalusian hat.
** ''Film/TheBoldCaballero'' -- The first Zorro talkie and the first Zorro color film.
** ''Series/{{Zorro|1957}}'' -- The series with Creator/GuyWilliams.
** ''Series/{{Zorro|1990}}'' -- The series with Duncan Regehr.

* ''Film/ANewHope'' -- Yes, even ''Franchise/StarWars'' fits into this; ''A New Hope'' is a {{Swashbuckler}} adventure [[RecycledInSpace IN SPACE]]. This is downplayed in later films, though, which become more reliant on the mysticism of [[SentientCosmicForce the Force]] in the following installments.

* ''Film/NateAndHayes''

* ''Film/ThePrisonerOfZenda'' -- More in its film adaptations than in [[Literature/ThePrisonerOfZenda Anthony Hope's original novel]].

The genre flourished most vigorously in the years in which the ideals of Romanticism dominated popular fiction, ''ca''. 1830-1950. It found its original inspiration in the historical novels of Sir Creator/WalterScott. The "juvenile historicals" of authors such as Harrison Ainsworth, G. A. Henty, Luise Mühlbach, Charlotte Yonge, and above all, Creator/AlexandreDumas, ''père'' further defined the genre.

The "penny dreadfuls" of the mid-[[UsefulNotes/VictorianBritain Victorian era]], very often adaptations of the adventures of {{Folk Hero}}es such as Myth/KingArthur and Myth/RobinHood, contributed to the jettisoning of all the non-essential characterization and historicity of the stories, and when at the end of the period the genre was picked up by serious authors such as Richard Harding Davis, [[Literature/ThePrisonerOfZenda Anthony Hope]], and Creator/RobertLouisStevenson, it had essentially assumed the character it would bear throughout its future career, both in novels by authors such as Creator/JohnBuchan, [[{{Franchise/Zorro}} Johnston McCulley]], Stanley J. Weyman, and Creator/RafaelSabatini, and supremely in the films (based, in theme if not in actual plot, on those novels) generally associated in the public mind with Creator/DouglasFairbanks and Creator/ErrolFlynn under the blanket of "{{Pirate}} movies." Swashbuckler tales ''can'' double as SeaStories, piratical or otherwise, although they tend to eschew or downplay the WoodenShipsAndIronMen tone for a more romantic and idealistic vibe.

Furthermore, the {{Superhero}} genre, partially inspired by ''Franchise/{{Zorro}}'' itself, continues the Swashbuckler tradition in a usually contemporary setting with SF/Fantasy elements that can incorporate [[GenreRoulette any genre]] with as much character and/or moral complexity as the artists desire.

* The ''Franchise/{{Zorro}}'' series of [[LongRunningBookSeries novels, TV shows and films]], including:
** ''The Curse of Capistrano'' -- The first appearance of the masked bandit, who is arguably the first {{superhero}} to boot.

** ''Literature/TheCountOfMonteCristo'' -- More in its film adaptations than in the original novel.

* ''Literature/Lochinvar'' by S. R. Crockett.

It will nearly always include a love-story as an important factor of its plot; despite the historical setting, the RuleOfCool will inevitably trump historical accuracy and HollywoodHistory. One may expect the hero to wear a sword for the inevitable SwordFight. [[HistoricalHeroUpgrade Historical Hero Upgrading]] and [[HistoricalVillainUpgrade Historical Villain Upgrading]] will also be along for the ride.

The "penny dreadfuls" of the mid-[[UsefulNotes/VictorianBritain Victorian era]], very often adaptations of the adventures of {{Folk Hero}}es such as Myth/KingArthur and Myth/RobinHood, contributed to the jettisoning of all the non-essential characterization and historicity of the stories, and when at the end of the period the genre was picked up by serious authors such as Richard Harding Davis, [[Literature/ThePrisonerOfZenda Anthony Hope]], and Creator/RobertLouisStevenson, it had essentially assumed the character it would bear throughout its future career, both in novels by authors such as Creator/JohnBuchan, [[{{Franchise/Zorro}} Johnston McCulley]], Stanley J. Weyman, and Creator/RafaelSabatini, and supremely in the films (based, in theme if not in actual plot, on those novels) generally associated in the public mind with Creator/DouglasFairbanks and Creator/ErrolFlynn under the blanket of "{{Pirate}} movies."

The "penny dreadfuls" of the mid-[[UsefulNotes/VictorianBritain Victorian era]], very often adaptations of the adventures of {{Folk Hero}}es such as Myth/KingArthur and RobinHood, contributed to the jettisoning of all the non-essential characterization and historicity of the stories, and when at the end of the period the genre was picked up by serious authors such as Richard Harding Davis, [[Literature/ThePrisonerOfZenda Anthony Hope]], and Creator/RobertLouisStevenson, it had essentially assumed the character it would bear throughout its future career, both in novels by authors such as Creator/JohnBuchan, [[{{Franchise/Zorro}} Johnston McCulley]], Stanley J. Weyman, and Creator/RafaelSabatini, and supremely in the films (based, in theme if not in actual plot, on those novels) generally associated in the public mind with Creator/DouglasFairbanks and Creator/ErrolFlynn under the blanket of "{{Pirate}} movies."

The swashbuckler is the most rigidly conventionalized of all the subgenres of the {{Adventure}} genre, and one with close affinities to the HistoricalFiction and {{Romance}} genres as well. A descendant of the ''capa y espada''[[note]]"cape and sword"[[/note]] plays of the classical Spanish stage, it is nearly always set at some remote date, usually in the distant past (TheMiddleAges and TheCavalierYears being favorites), generally either European or heavily Europeanized.

Compare with {{Wuxia}}, the genre's East Asian counterpart. See also {{Picaresque}}.

** ''Literature/TheThreeMusketeers'' and its [[Franchise/TheThreeMusketeers countless adaptations]]. Notable film adaptations include:
*** ''Film/{{The Three Musketeers|1921}}'' (1921)
*** ''Film/{{The Three Musketeers|1948}}'' (1948)
*** ''Film/{{The Three Musketeers|1953}}'' (1953)
*** ''Film/{{The Three Musketeers|1961}}'' (1961)
*** ''Film/{{The Three Musketeers|1973}}'' (1973)
*** ''Film/{{The Three Musketeers|1993}}'' (1993)
*** ''Film/{{The Three Musketeers|2011}}'' (2011)

** ''Literature/{{Scaramouche}}'' -- Filmed twice, [[Film/Scaramouche1923 once in the silent era]] and [[{{Film/Scaramouche1952}} then in 1952]]

* Many versions of the RobinHood story, including:
** ''Film/TheAdventuresOfRobinHood''
** ''Film/ThePrinceOfThieves''
** ''Robin Hood and His Merry Men'' -- A 1908 British film, perhaps the earliest in the genre.
** ''Film/RobinHoodPrinceOfThieves''

** ''Film/TheMaskOfZorro''
*** ''Film/TheLegendOfZorro''

!!Other Notable Swashbucklers Include:

* The Richard Thorpe-directed films starring Creator/RobertTaylor:
** ''Film/{{Ivanhoe}}''
** ''Film/KnightsOfTheRoundTable''
** ''Film/TheAdventuresOfQuentinDurward''

* ''Film/AnneOfTheIndies''

* French films starring Creator/JeanMarais:
** ''Film/{{Le Bossu|1959}}''
** ''Film/LeCapitan''
** ''Film/LeCapitaineFracasse''
** ''Film/{{The Iron Mask|1962}}''
* ''Film/{{Cartouche}}''
* ''Film/CheechAndChongsTheCorsicanBrothers'' is a parody of the genre.
* ''Film/TheCrimsonPirate''
* ''Film/CyranoDeBergerac'' -- The 1990 film, which is the most action-packed version of the play.
* ''Film/FanfanLaTulipe''
* ''Film/FanfanLaTulipe2003''
* ''Film/FireOverEngland''
* ''Film/OnGuard''

* ''Film/TheMarriedCoupleOfTheYearTwo''

* ''Film/OnceUponAWarrior'' -- An Indian swashbuckler adventure film co-financed by Disney.

* ''Film/ThePrincessBride''

* ''Film/RevengeOfTheMusketeers''

* ''Film/SinbadTheSailor'' -- Perhaps the first in a surprisingly ample number of ArabianNightsDays {{Swashbuckler}}s.
* ''Film/{{Swashbuckler}}''

* ChandelierSwing: From the sparkly to the more the prosaically thrifty... the odds are good you'll find ''some'' poor lighting fixture being used outside its intended purpose.

** ''Literature/TheThreeMusketeers'' and its [[Franchise/TheThreeMusketeers countless adaptations]]
*** ''Twenty Years After''
*** ''Le Vicomte de Bragelonne'' -- More in its film adaptations (like ''Film/TheManInTheIronMask'') than in the original novel.

* Notable adaptations of ''Literature/TheThreeMusketeers'':
** ''Film/{{The Three Musketeers|1921}}'' (1921)
** ''Film/{{The Three Musketeers|1948}}'' (1948)
** ''Film/{{The Three Musketeers|1953}}'' (1953)
** ''Film/{{The Three Musketeers|1961}}'' (1961)
** ''Film/{{The Three Musketeers|1973}}'' (1973)
** ''Film/{{The Three Musketeers|1993}}'' (1993)
** ''Film/{{The Three Musketeers|2011}}'' (2011)

* Notable adaptations of ''Franchise/TheThreeMusketeers'':

** In fact, [[VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII Ezio]] is himself quite a swashbuckler. So are [[VideoGame/AssassinsCreedUnity Arno]], [[VideoGame/AssassinsCreedRogue Shae]], and [[VideoGame/AssassinsCreedIIILiberation Aveline]]. In fact, many of the series' protagonists fit the swashbuckler bill whenever they fight with short/light swords and flintlock pistols.

* ''Film/ANewHope'' -- Yes, even ''Franchise/StarWars'' fits into this, though arguably only for the first movie. ''A New Hope'' is a {{Swashbucker}} adventure [[RecycledInSpace IN SPACE]].