Flesh and Blood (1985 film)
| Flesh+Blood | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster by Renato Casaro
|
|
| Directed by | Paul Verhoeven |
| Produced by | Gijs Versluys |
| Written by |
Gerard Soeteman Paul Verhoeven |
| Starring |
Rutger Hauer Jennifer Jason Leigh Tom Burlinson Ronald Lacey Susan Tyrrell Jack Thompson |
| Music by | Basil Poledouris |
| Cinematography | Jan de Bont |
| Edited by | Ine Schenkkan |
| Distributed by | Orion Pictures |
|
Release date
|
June 10, 1985 (SIFF) August 30, 1985 |
|
Running time
|
126 minutes |
| Country | United States Netherlands Spain |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $6,500,000 |
| Box office | $100,000 (USA) |
Flesh and Blood (stylized as Flesh+Blood) is a 1985 American-Dutch-Spanish dramatic adventure film directed by Paul Verhoeven and starring Rutger Hauer, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tom Burlinson and Jack Thompson. The script was written by Verhoeven and Gerard Soeteman. The story is set in the year 1501 in Italy, during the passing of the Late Middle Ages to the Early modern period, and follows two warring groups of mercenaries and their longstanding quarrel.
The script is partly based on unused material for the Dutch TV series Floris, which was the début for Verhoeven, Soeteman and Hauer. The film, originally titled God's Own Butchers, was also known as The Rose and the Sword on early VHS releases. It was Verhoeven's first English language film.
In 1501, a city in Italy has been taken by a coup d'état while its rightful ruler, Arnolfini (Fernando Hilbeck), is away. Arnolfini promises some mercenaries 24 hours of looting if they succeed in retaking the city, and they do so. But in their revelry, Arnolfini decides that he wants them gone. Hawkwood (Jack Thompson), the commander of the troops, is caring for a young nun he mistakenly attacked during the siege. Arnolfini promises to get medical attention for her and Hawkwood leads Arnolfini's cavalry, betraying his former lieutenant, Martin (Rutger Hauer). The cavalry ejects the mercenaries from the city without their loot. Soon after, Martin's son is stillborn. Burying the infant unearths a wooden statue of Saint Martin of Tours – a saint with a sword. The mercenaries' cardinal views this as a sign from God to follow Martin as their new leader.
...
Wikipedia