The New World Movie

[Allen Johnson]

Well, experience has shown that once a sword related film comes out, a sudden surge of info seekers and info "experts" crawl out from all corners. With the film 'The New World' opening nationally on jan 13th (i think), I though it might be wise to open up a discussion about what we know reguarding weapons and armor to be at this time period, as well as its corresponding fighting style. Then we can be better prepared to give a critique once the film comes out.
We know the basics of English setlers hitting Virginia in 1607- that should give us a picture of what was used for arms and armor in the trip. If you go to the films official website at http://www.thenewworldmovie.com/ there are a few photo galleries to give us a peek at what Hollywood wants us to accept next, including a pretty shot of a pretty Colin Farrell in full plate armor getting ready to draw his rapier and dagger. Oh well <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Jason Romandell]

Ok, Ill bite. that really isnt pretty armor. That visor on his helm is rediculous. At this point he should have a burgonet with a falling buff. Or in the vary least an antiqhated armet. THe armor it self lacks the gracful curves and shape the armor of the day had. And I would bet dallors to dounuts that John's armor came out of the grennich armories and the suit in the movie bears no likeness to that style. The rapier looks ok, but cut and thrust weapondry are not my strong suite. I am guessing at another Collin Ferrel bomb....OMG alexander sucked.

[JeffGentry]

Gents

It appears to be another case of give the movie goer what they expect to see instead of using more interesting historicly correct armour and weapons, I cannot see Captain John Smith (he being the Military commander of the expedition) out in hostile territory with out an early pistol and a miltary cut and thrust sword.

He might walk around the village proper with a rapier on his side as a status of his standing.


Jeff

[Casper Bradak]

You can't be too dogmatic about armour. The armet, with visors like the one shown, were still produced and popular at that time (by the greenich armouries, even). The obviously not-tactically-sound decision for the producers to put him in an armet, on foot, with the visor down, for combat in the woods, is another matter entirely, however <img src="/forum/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" />
His breastplate and tassets/cuisses are passable, and his arm harness, though cheaply done, with nearly unidentifiable, loosely and cheaply assembled spaulders, is apparently from the proper time period, and even matches harness found at Jamestown. Cheap theatrical harness overall, but the general style of 3 quarter harness was popular at the time.

It's exraordinarilly unlikely a military man, especially on such an assignment, would be carrying a rapier. Even at that time, a rapier wasn't a status symbol (every class had them).
The americas were always behind europe, as far as fashion was concerned, as far as armour goes, but this being an expedition recently departed would probably not be. There are weapon and armour manifests available from the colonies.

The book titled Arms and Armor in Colonial America is a good source for this topic.

[Jason Romandell]

I would disagree with the visor thing. Yes the basic sape resembles some of the visors of the period, however it is of rude construction. SOrta a low res version.

[Gene Tausk]

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