The Sword and the Sorcerer

The barbarian picture with the gimmick weapon: a three-bladed sword that can fire two of its blades as projectiles, which is essentially the entire marketing campaign. A mercenary prince seeks revenge on the sorcerer-backed tyrant who destroyed his family, and the film is a step above the cheapest of the cycle in scale and energy.

It was a surprise hit, promised a sequel in its closing title that took decades to almost arrive, and delivers exactly the sorcery, swordplay and spectacle its audience wanted. The launching sword is memorable.

Better-mounted than most of the Conan imitators, and gleefully pulpy.