MovieChat Forums > The Blood on Satan's Claw (1971) Discussion > 17th century?

17th century?

posted 13 years ago by andrewbanks
7 replies | jump to latest

A number of reviews and film reference books state that this film is set in the 17th century. However, in an early scene the judge played by Patrick Wymark proposes a toast to 'King James III'. This was the title assumed by the Old Pretender, James Stuart, the Jacobite claimant to the British crown, after the death in exile of his father, the deposed King James II, in 1701. So, by my reckoning, this film is set in the early 1700s.

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." (Matthew 7:12)

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] pawprint2000 11 years ago

I'm glad/relieved to see that someone else has queried this issue. The toast to the Catholic king in exile, James III, clearly places this film after the death of James II in 1701, yet every reference I've seen to the film's time places it in the 17th century - some sources even refer to specific decades, such as the 1640s. Clearly it must be set in the 18th century. As James III lived until 1766, it's not even clear when in the 18th century - although clearly the look of the piece suggests very early on.

[–] Pharaoh-in-de-Nile 10 years ago

You are both right. It can't be the 1640s based on the fashions alone (which are mostly baroque), due however to some lingering fashions from the earlier Stuart era; I'd say it is set in the 1700s (so not long after James II death) or at latest the 1710s.

[–] ContinentalOp 10 years ago

Agreed. The movie is definitely early 1700s, the fashion is much the same as the 1690s but the mention of ''King James III'' alone makes it obviously not that era. I could have sworn that there is a specific date given in the movie but when watching today I didn't notice it - could be because I too the 1700s date for granted.

I am not sure where somewhere stated it was 1640s but Pharaoh is definitely right, the fashion was noticeably different in that era, having not taken on the look more iconic in the Georgian era (Baroque as Pharaoh states). Infact, the 1640s was the era of the War of Wars of the Three Kingdoms (1639-1651), the most famous part being the English Civil War (1642–1651).

Formerly KingAngantyr

[–] garyedgecombe 10 years ago

The plough is another clanger! You'd not have seen one like the one that features in the opening scene until around 1800 - 1820! Oops!

[–] imbluzclooby 9 years ago

I am glad someone mentioned the King James III tribute. That always threw me off as well. Perhaps the film makers were unaware of their anachronisms and didn't pay close attention to the details.

Based on the costumes I would guess this period was late Baroque (1690's).

However, the James III speech, the plow and a couple of other references imply 1700- 1720.

[–] syphongb 8 years ago

I always understood this part to be sarcasm - the Judge was proposing a toast to keep James Stuart in France - well away from England - the Judge didn't strike me as a Jacobite!