Sword of Freedom

Lore & Background

The series follows Marco del Monte, a young Republican artist living in sixteenth century Renaissance Florence under the rule of the tyrant Duke de Medici. Marco's girlfriend is Angelica, a beautiful former pickpocket, and his friend and confidant is Sandro. The Duke's advisor is Machiavelli, and Captain Rodrigo heads the Medici forces. The story depicts the struggles of the Republicans to combat the Duke's attempts to strengthen his position and make himself a dictator.

Reader's Guide

Sword of Freedom is significant as a representative of the swashbuckler genre produced by Sapphire Films for ITC Entertainment, continuing a tradition of family-oriented adventure series. Its setting in Renaissance Florence and inclusion of historical figures like Machiavelli and Leonardo da Vinci (played by Andrew Keir and Edward Atienza) add a layer of historical fiction. The series featured a notable cast, including Edmund Purdom as Marco del Monte and Adrienne Corri as Angelica, with guest stars such as Joan Plowright, Peter Wyngarde, and Charles Gray. The theme music by Eric Spear, later known for Coronation Street, contributes to its cultural footprint. The series was filmed during 1957–1958 at Walton Studios and Alliance Film Studios, and its DVD release in 2010 by Network has helped preserve it for modern audiences.

Did You Know?

• The theme music was composed by Eric Spear, who later composed the theme for Coronation Street.
• The series was filmed during 1957–1958 at Walton Studios and Alliance Film Studios.
• Guest stars included Joan Plowright, Peter Wyngarde, Charles Gray, and Kenneth Williams.
• Network released the series on a 5-disc region 2 DVD set in June 2010.