The Flashing Blade

Originally produced in France in 1967 under the title Le Chevalier Tempête, The Flashing Blade is a swashbuckling historical adventure that first graced British television screens in 1969 as part of the BBC’s children’s programming. Adapted from its original format of four sweeping 75-minute episodes into twelve briskly-paced 22-minute instalments, the series was dubbed into English and quickly gained a loyal following among young viewers captivated by tales of heroism and daring.

Set during the War of the Mantuan Succession (1628–1631), the story unfolds in a turbulent period of 17th century European history, where France and Spain—along with their various allies—clashed over control of the strategically vital Duchy of Montferrat. At the heart of the action is a beleaguered French garrison defending the fortress city of Casal against a determined Spanish siege. With rumours of an impending truce threatening to end hostilities, factions within the Spanish ranks seek to sabotage peace by intensifying their bombardment of the French battlements.

Enter the eponymous hero: the dashing and resourceful François de Chevalier (Robert Etcheverry), a French spy who, together with his loyal (and often comic) servant Guillot (Jacques Balutin), undertakes a perilous mission behind enemy lines. François’s efforts to destabilise the Spanish war effort are met not with glory, but with a court martial for insubordination. Facing execution, he and Guillot make a dramatic escape and press on with their original mission, doggedly determined to serve their country despite the odds.

While the storyline is filled with intrigue, action, and a strong sense of patriotism, the UK broadcast was somewhat marred by a technical mishap in the final episode. A degradation in picture quality—later attributed to faulty film stock—led to a flood of complaints from viewers, prompting the BBC to re-air the closing minutes on the programme Ask Aspel. Despite this hiccup, the series was repeated frequently throughout the 1970s and remains fondly remembered by a generation of viewers.

In 1988, The Flashing Blade received an unexpected second wind in the form of a spoof re-dubbing for the Saturday morning show On the Waterfront. This irreverent version, voiced by the likes of Andrew O’Connor, Kate Copstick, Bernadette Nolan and Terry Randall, transformed the series into a tongue-in-cheek parody. The comic script was penned by a young Russell T. Davies, years before his fame as the writer of Dark Season, Queer As Folk and Doctor Who.

The series’ theme tune, "Fight" by The Musketeers (written by Alex Masters), added to its appeal—a stirring anthem of defiance and valour that was even released as a single on the Philips label in 1969.

Though perhaps a little rough around the edges by today’s standards, The Flashing Blade remains a charming slice of television history—an ambitious blend of historical drama and childhood nostalgia, remembered as much for its earnest heroics as for its memorable theme and later cult spoofing. Whether viewed in its original form or as 1980s pastiche, this is a series that left its mark on British popular culture.