Point To Point

NBC Sports commissioned a "history of fencing" for the 1980 Olympics from J. Allen Suddeth. Written, acted, and fight directed by him, and also starring A. C. Weary, this was shot on location at the Jay Gould estate along the Hudson River, near Tarrytown. It was supposed to have been aired prior to the Olympic fencing competitions, which had not been on TV in decades, and NBC was going to "break the mold" and air it, but felt the public needed a primer. Thus this film. It was, however, never aired, as the USA pulled out of the 1980 Games, in protest as Russia had invaded Afghanistan. Now we are there, 29 years later...

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• sabre
• saber
• epee

[JAllenSud]

To all who have commented on the historical inaccuracy of this video. In my defense a couple of things. First, I was young when hired by NBC Sports to make this for the Olympics of 1980. I was 26. No excuse I know, but it was before the internet, and research was easily had. Second, I was paid to "simplify" fencing for "casual" TV viewers (4th grade education) which I think I did. I know more now. Many comments are true. Finally, the weapons shown were the best available in 1979.

[zevis11]

Look at that Haney Broadsword!

[Quillons1]

Nicely put together but the facts are WAY off. Particularly about the rapier

[fightdesigner]

Wow... what a long way we've come even just this last decade in our understanding (and expectations) of historical martial arts!

[VegaEtereo]

@NewZealfighter Excellent comment sir!

[VegaEtereo]

Excellent video, thanks for sharing.

[kadzit]

i prefer sabres than rapier . good acting XD

[cborran]

is there any historical fact in this film i do talhoffer 15th century hand and a half sword and i do not use it like a baseball bat nor does it tier me out in a few minutes

its intresting to see 80s perceptions but that is all

[255Knights]

SO MUCH MYTHS HERE! Way too much old info and misunderstanding...

Broadsword is not a proper term...

Long-sword, Hand & Half, Bastard Sword, and others are the way to say them. What he has looks like a cheap Arming Sword...

They are not 5 lbs, but 2 lbs up to 3 lbs 10 oz... A Arming Sword would be about 2 lbs or lower...

And you do not use these sword like a baseball bat...

[mhewer2]

The video is taken in a professional way, the actors are very good. Unfortunately, the presentation of fencing is ridiculous. This is more stage fencing than historical reconstruction and it reflects a vision of fencing history at least 30 years old.

A broadsword is not a baseball bat. When you speak of the long rapier, why using a theatre rapier with a modern blade? And the principle of French smallsword work is the separation of parry and riposte.