I can't comment on the film as an adaption but I did find that it was quite entertaining standing alone. Some have criticized Robert Taylor for being too stiff, but I found him to be suitably formal and chivalrous. Elizabeth Taylor and Joan Fontaine both provided ample glamour and grace to their roles. They are also both very photogenic to say the least. The performance of George Sanders intrigued me the most. Though a villain, he actually became more sympathetic to me as the movie progressed. The relationship of the four major characters was what kept me interested. Although I am sure it took careful planning and execution (and a lot of extras) to stage the fight scenes, I actually thought they were quite perfunctory. Solid if not spectacular, 7/10.
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perfectbond27 March 2003
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edwagreen25 October 2006"Ivanhoe," filmed in bright techicolor was nominated for best picture in 1952.
Miklos Rosza again provides us with a major musical score. I always felt that his scores, so rich in textures, would be a prelude to his Oscar-winning score in "Ben-Hur." (1959)
The film deals with the ongoing fight between the Anglo-Saxons and Normans, the latter having ruled England since the infamous Battle of Hastings in 1066. While fighting in the crusades, Richard the Lionhearted has been kidnapped and held captive in Austria. This has been done with the help of the Austrian emperor Leopold and Prince John, Richard's evil brother, who assumes the throne in his brother's absence.
I laughed at the beginning of the film when Robert Taylor, who plays Ivanhoe, loyal to Richard, asks someone for a translation as he doesn't read Austrian. Didn't they mean German? While it is true that Germany did not become a unified country until 1871 following the Franco-Prussian war, the dialect spoken in the entire region was German.
Taylor rallies to the aid of his people. Hurt, he is given refuge by the Jewess Rebecca, played with warmth and skill by Elizabeth Taylor. Her father, Isaac the Jew, played by the always serious Felix Aylmer, promises to help pay the ransom for Richard so that his people can have religious toleration in England. Naturally, Rebecca loves Ivanhoe but so does Lady Rowena played by a much reserved Joan Fontaine. Her guardian, the father of Ivanhoe in the film, is portrayed by Finlay Currie, who played in numerous bible films.
The Technicolor and cinematography are breathtaking in the film.
A story of love and devotion, especially that of George Sanders, who sacrifices all for Rebecca. -
The difficulty with bringing a piece of revered literature to the big screen has more to do with pleasing the fans of the work than in making a pleasing movie. Those who hold Walter Scott's classic "Ivanhoe" in high esteem will deem any adaptation to a largely visual medium unworthy no matter how much care and devotion are given to visualizing the original source.
This version of "Ivanhoe" holds up well and remains one of the more realistic films dealing with the myth, legends, and pomp of the High Middle Ages. The pictorial representation of Judaism at a time of wide-spread persecution of that religion throughout Europe by Christians who continually used the Jews as scapegoats was noble indeed for 1952, the height of the McCarthy witch hunts. The audience of the day undoubtedly overlooked this point when Rebecca is accused of witchcraft in order to insure conformity and stifle opposition to Prince John's tyrannical rule of England in King Richard's absence.
From a historical perspective, this film is about as accurate as any of the numerous Robin Hood tales prevalent at the time in the movies and on TV. Ivanhoe's father is correct when he remarks that Richard would be no better than John as far as the Saxons were concerned. Both Richard and John were ineffectual rulers. Prince John (later King John) has received a bad press as a result of the lionization of Richard the Lionheart. At least John stayed home and attempted to rule England; whereas, Richard was always traipsing about Europe and the Near East on a Crusade or leading his knights in battle mainly for personal gain. His ransom as a result of falling into the hands of the Germans was costly for his realm. Neither Richard or John was the skilled administrator their father, Henry II, proved to be, one of England's greatest monarchs. Neither inherited the diplomatic skills of their mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of the great women leaders in western civilization.
The division between the Saxons and Normans as a result of the Norman invasion of 1066 is at the crux of the story, Ivanhoe being Saxon, the royal family being Norman, descended from William the Conqueror. Nothing is said about those who lived on the British Isles before either the Saxons or the Normans, the Celts first, then the conquering Romans.
A highlight of "Ivanhoe" is the jousting tournament, leading to rivalry between Ivanhoe (Robert Taylor) and Sir Brian de Bois-Guilbert (George Sanders), a rivalry that extends to winning the hand and heart of Rebecca. The alluring nineteen-year-old Elizabeth Taylor who portrays Rebecca is at the peak of her beauty and loveliness. George Sanders and Robert Taylor were much older than Elizabeth at the time. Taylor was uncomfortable making love, even on celluloid, to one so young, especially since he recalled her as a child in the early days of his movie career.
The brilliant Technicolor cinematography is bewitching even by today's standards. Adding to the eye-catching color are the action scenes, especially toward the end of the movie. The besieging of the castle is directed with élan by Richard Thorpe, who learned his trade well from directing action packed B films.
The acting is top notch throughout with Guy Rolfe as the loathsome Prince John stealing every scene he's in. The weakest is Emlyn Williams who plays Wamba (a chattel who becomes Ivanhoe's Squire). Wamba apparently is supposed to supply comic relief and is given some good lines by the writers, but Williams tends to overplay the part to the extent that at times the character becomes an obnoxious loudmouth. -
bd7421 June 2000An engrossing movie about 12th century England. It has everything you would want to see in a movie about medieval Europe: knights, fair maidens, jousting tournaments, battles, and feuding crowns. Yet the movie is not boring in any way. I enjoyed every minute of it. The title character is an Anglo-Saxon knight who's on a mission to return the imprisoned king, Richard the Lionhearted, to his throne. Along the way, Ivanhoe encounters some obstacles that may endanger his own life and threaten the future of England. Everything about this movie is enchanting. The movie is very colorful, the score is outstanding, and it's exciting to watch the battle scenes. I really enjoyed seeing one of my favorite actors, George Sanders, playing yet another villain. It was also great to see the always ravishing Elizabeth Taylor (at a very young age), who plays a jewish maiden. I liked the way the movie demonstrated the persecution of jews living in England at the time, and how they were looked down upon in spite of the different ethnic groups that made up the English population. Above all, I really liked the ending--it was awesome. Interestingly, this movie (which is from 1952) is more entertaining than and not as theatrical as some of the historical dramas that were made AFTER this movie.
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This splendid version of Sir Walter Scott's classic epic tale starts in 12th century, when Saxon Knight Wilfred of Ivanhoe(Robert Taylor), a suitable noble, having fought for Richard the Lionhearted(Norman Wooland) during the Crusades, goes back to England. He aware king Richard has been taken prisoner and gets a letter written, telling the following : 'To the people of England . I am here held captive by Leopold of Austria. My brother, prince John has knowledge of it, yet he has denied my ransom. One hundred and fifty thousand marks of silver. I fear he does conspire with certain Norman knights to seize my throne. People of England, speed my deliverance. Your kingdom is at stake'. In order to regain his freedom, Ivanhoe attended by a likable squire(Emilyn Williams) confronts Prince John(Guy Rolfe) and his lieutenants(in this case George Sanders and Robert Douglas)and he's also drawn to Jewish healer Rebecca(Elizabeth Taylor), Isaac(Felix Aylmer)of York's daughter. Meanwhile, Ivanhoe woo maidens, as his childhood sweetheart, Saxon heiress Rowena(Joan Fontaine).Prince John, now John Lackland will stop at nothing to assume the throne. Ivanhoe join forces with Robin Hood and his Merry man who attack the stronghold.
This enjoyable film displays romance, chivalry, knighthood, daring jousting and lots of action with spectacular castle attack. This one proved notable hit as well as the others two Robert Taylor's forays into English history, 'Quentin Durward and Knights of the Round table', produced and directed by similar crew, Pandro S Berman and Richard Thorpe. The film packs a glamorous and luminous cinematography by Freddie Young and evocative musical score by Miklos Rozsa. The picture is excellently handled by Richard Thorpe.
The film is partially based on true events. Although Ivanhoe didn't exist, John Lackland was king of England from 1199 to 1216. Few monarchs have been subject to such appalling publicity as John, Although by no means lovable, he was an able administrator and spent more time in England than his predecessor and elder brother Richard I but he was jailed by Leopold of Austria, returning from Crusades. Besides appears Robin Hood, also known Robin O'Locksley and the Earl of Huntingdom, is probably and sadly a creation of romantic imaginations. If Robin Hood did exist, it's almost certain that he was not a Saxon , though his enemies may well have been the Norman sheriff of Nottinghan and Prince and later king John Lackland. -
Although the story of Ivanhoe has been brought to screen several times, this is the version that I have always considered outstanding. Yes, I admit that it is a free adaptation of Sir Walter Scott's novel, much is changed. I also admit that it is a clearly Hollywood production of the early 1950s with cast elites of the time. Yet, IVANHOE is extremely entertaining as an epic movie.
MIDDLE AGES ON SCREEN: The picture of the medieval England of the 12th century is very appealing. Viewers get a right impression of the lifestyles, believes, and values of the time. And it is not only because of the costumes and sets... the film is supplied with such moments that allow us to travel in our imagination to the distant Middle Ages. I loved the tournament, for instance, when the "knight with the hidden face" (Ivanhoe) is supposed to prove his courage. Here, a mention must also be made of the castle siege and the very natural action. Another important medieval aspect that is developed in the film is man's chivalric love to a woman. Ivanhoe comes back to his homeland and refers to the vows of chastity he has made with his beloved Lady Rowena (Joan Fontaine). This delicacy combined with straightforward love and courage with sacrifice are very beautiful...and very medieval (consider this aspect in Gibson's BRAVEHEART as well). Finally, funny moments are accurately embedded in the context. The scenes with humble Squire Wamba (Emlyn Williams) constitute the heart of the movie's humor.
PLAYERS: The cast give very fine performances. Although these are mostly great stars of the early 1950s and may be not that famous to the general audience at present, Robert Taylor is absolutely amazing as Ivanhoe. He perfectly expresses chivalric courage, purity of intentions and honor. I also liked young Liz Taylor who is noticeably not that professional on screen as she later was. Yet, her girlish beauty in the role of a Jewish girl, Rebecca, is magnificent. Except for Taylors, Joan Fontaine in the role of the virtuous Lady Rowena is terrific - real Lady, yet a bit boring. There are also such mainstays of epics like George Sanders, Felix Aylmer and Finlay Currie. Who can forget their roles in QUO VADIS? or SOLOMON AND SHEBA? Thanks to the famous cast, the film can be placed in the accurate cinema period. Yes, it cannot be forgotten that IVANHOE was made in the early 1950s and thanks to this awareness you partly know what to expect from such a film. However, the movie's old age talks even more for its value. IVANHOE is just standing a test of time.
EPIC PROPORTION FILM: IVANHOE is also filled with spectacular scenes. The first one worth consideration is the opening scene when Ivanhoe is traveling through Austrian valleys and hills looking for the captured Richard the Lionheart. Mind the excellent colors' selection and the sunset by the castle at Durnstein where the king was kept for ransom. The cinematography is outstanding. Another beautiful scene is the feast that Cedric (Finlay Currie) gives to his guests. This luxury of medieval cold castles, the hospitality of the Saxons and the manners of the wealthy are in focus. But these moments are not there for nothing...they serve the purpose to supply the viewer with a unique atmosphere.
What more to say? IVANHOE by Richard Thorpe, in spite of its 54th birthday, is a great medieval epic that I would recommend to everyone. For me, it is one of those films that I have seen several times and still dream to see once again. I am always in a very nice mood whenever I see this movie 7/10 -
It's sort of a paradox, but a huge, sprawling novel is more likely to adapt well to film when it's bad.
A good example is the hideous novel THE GODFATHER. By the time Coppola got through hacking away all the garbage, what was left was just enough plot to make a great movie.
On the other hand, there's Peter Jackson's FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING. Far too much of interest is lost to the necessity of getting through the plot in the allotted time.
The same fate befalls IVANHOE. Athelstane (and Cedric's dream of a Saxon restoration), the journey of the Black Knight (who is not Ivanhoe in the novel), Bois-Guilbert's membership in the Knights Templar, and many other things which do not strictly contribute to the advancement of the basic plot, are simply lost.
I can imagine people who haven't read the book wondering who this Locksley person is, and what he and his friend "the clerk of Copmanhurst" have to do with Ivanhoe and Richard. Of course, those who know who Locksley is might be even more confused at what he's doing here.
In an example of political correctness *avant la lettre*, Isaac of York is transformed from a rich moneylender who plays both sides of the political fence, into a poor inoffensive victim. This may have been inevitable, but it does make Isaac a much less interesting character.
On the other hand, the acting is passable (and Guy Rolfe steals the show as Prince John), the film is gorgeous-looking, and the battle scenes are excellent (the final "showdown" is far more exciting here than it is in the novel).
6/10. -
Director Richard Thorpe made some good and entertaining movies in his days but never anything too remarkable or great. In that regard "Ivanhoe" is a typical Richard Thorpe movie. It's a good and well made one but by no means among the greatest or most entertaining one's, out of the genre.
It's a rather enjoyable movie, that features all of the usual swashbuckler elements from the good old days! So, expected stereotypical villains, a charming hero, a love-story and lots of sword fights and other action.
It's a well made movie, that is good looking, although it all of course by todays standards look terribly outdated. The movie shows some definite parallels to the movie "The Adventures of Robin Hood" from 1938, starring Errol Flynn. It has the same style, colors and settings. Even some of the characters are the same. Prince John, King Richard the Lionhearted and Robin Hood himself all appear in this movie again. And John has taken over the thrown again, while King Richard is being held captive. Needless to say that both stories show similarities as well.
Hard to imaging these days that this movie was even being nominated for the Best Motion Picture of the year Oscar, back in '53. It's just a bit too much credit for this movie. The movie was even being nominated for 2 more Oscar's; Freddie Young's color cinematography and Miklós Rózsa's musical score.
The dialog was absolutely great at parts, although I have the feeling that the best lines were directly copied from the Sir Walter Scott novel. Nothing wrong with that of course! It's some typical old fashioned writing, that suits the movie its time period.
The story is good and solid, although perhaps also confusing since it features many different characters, that look a like and all have different motivations. When watching this movie it's just all to clear that the story was based on a novel, rather than that it was an original script, specifically made for the screen. It also shows in its complicated triangular love-story.
Because of its story the movie isn't really non-stop paced action and fun but it has some great remarkable sequences in it. Some of the action is really grand, such as the assault on the English castle by Robin Hood and at least an hundred of his merry men. It's a surprisingly big battle sequences (at least for '50's standards of course) that almost is in contrast with the rest of the movie, in terms of its size. The movie further more also features some great jousting competition sequences and of course the usual good versus evil sword-fights, that aren't that special really and are perhaps a even a bit clumsy looking.
The cast of the movie was surprisingly big and great, though perhaps not all actors were rightly cast in their roles. Robert Taylor just never has been the greatest swashbuckler hero. At the time of this movie he was already too old looking for his role, even though he was only just barely 40 at the time. He just wasn't the sort of person that aged very well and on top of that he doesn't look to professional in his fight sequences. No denying that he's a good actor though. I wouldn't had cast him but he still is sort of OK in this movie. Joan Fontaine plays the sort of role in this movie, her sister (Olivia de Havilland) became legendary with. She is not as good or charming as her older sister but at least she still has got the right good looks for it, so she suits the role fine. A still very young Elizabeth Taylor also plays a fine and big role in the movie. Other great actors in this are George Sanders and Guy Rolfe, among others.
A good, enjoyable movie that is very well worth watching, as long as you don't expect the Errol Flynn kind of classic swashbuckling action/adventure.
7/10
http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/ -
This loyal colorful classic account of Sir Walter Scott about knighthood flourishing in 12th Century medieval England is filmed under the direction of Richard Thorpe...
We see lavish sets, splendid scenery, castles, halls, courts, noble knights, gorgeous maidens, sumptuous ornaments, fancy dresses, jousting fields, tournaments, elegant pavilions, brilliant tents, costumed horses, armors, swords, shields, bows and arrows...
To seek the freedom of King Richard The Lion-Hearted imprisoned by Leopold of Austria, a Saxon knight, Wilfrid of Ivanhoe (Robert Taylor), asks the help of Isaac of York (Felix Aylmer), a persecuted Jewish merchant, to raise l50,000 marks of silver... Prince John (Guy Rolfe), his treacherous brother, was conspiring with the Norman Knights to seize his throne..
The best moments of film were: When Ivanhoe, disguised as a Black Knight, enters the tournament at Ashby; the siege of Torquilstone Castle; the attack of Locksley and his bowmen; and the dramatic fight-to-the-death, with mace and ax, between Bois Guilbert and Ivanhoe...
Robert Taylor is the exact choice for a handsome, vigorous, gentile medieval hero who loves Rowena, and he is loved by Rebecca, creating a romantic triangle... Taylor plays the part with dignity, vitality and energy, rising high the age of Chivalry...
Elizabeth Taylor is sweet, sincere and beautiful... We see love through her beautiful violet eyes... Joan Fontaine, at the contrary, is far to be engaged with the part... She seems so cold and indifferent as the Saxon heiress...
George Sanders gives a splendid performance as the villainous Norman knight whose heart was stronger than his sword... He wants Rebecca at any price...
Robert Douglas plays the ambitious Sir Hugh De Bracy who had a taste for beauty and love for money... This great actor crossed swords with Errol Flynn in "Adventures of Don Juan," with Burt Lancaster in "The Flame and the Arrow," with Cornel Wilde in "At Sword's Point," and with Lawrence Harvey in King Richard and the Crusaders."
With three Academy Award Nominations for Best Picture, Best cinematography, and Best Score, "Ivanhoe" remains a spectacular motion picture rich in action epics... -
Pedro_H4 June 2017King Richard is captured while returning from the crusades and his evil brother, Prince John (Guy Rolfe), is appointed acting king in his absence. A middle-order knight (Ivanhoe) seeks natural justice for his country and freedom for his former ruler.
Hard to know the correct approach to take on this crowd-pleasing historical epic. Falling short as a history lesson (other than a few random nods at reality) it quickly boils down to nothing much more than a good versus evil parable that even a small child couldn't lose. The masterful MGM reading the whole thing as nothing more than a well-financed and staged pot-boiler.
The casting of Robert Taylor in the lead role is curious because being a knight and warrior is a young man's game and he is - despite his permed hair and clever make-up - clearly approaching middle-age. Still he does a good job when not being replaced by a stuntman.
Evil brother and stand-in king Guy Rolfe is brilliant in the role and maybe the best acting on show. All snarl and beard stroking. Liz Taylor is a bit all-at-sea, which the director simply disguises by making her stand stock still while the camera takes in her staggering early beauty.
The whole affair puts me in mind of Raiders of the Lost Arc where after being entertained for a couple of hours you are left reflecting of the things you could have been doing other than being entertained. Still simple entertainment isn't something to be sneezed at... -
The trouble with this film is mainly the casting of Robert Taylor as Ivanhoe. He is not swash buckler material and moves and speaks like a medieval It's a Flat World animatronic character. It's bad when the villains are more sympathetic than the hero. Joan Fontaine and Liz provide the sighs and heaving bosoms and a cast of English character actors provide the right accents and atmosphere. As Sir Walter Scott proved never letting historical accuracy get in the way of telling a good story has proved financially rewarding provided the story you're telling your audience buys into. As in "The Adventures Of Robin Hood" the Normans are the bad guys while Ivanhoe like Robin Hood is a hero to the downtrodden Saxon masses. The fact that a peasants life was brutally miserable whether under Saxon or the Norman conquerors makes no difference. Richard the Lion Heart and Prince John and their vassals spoke Norman French they didn't know or care to know what those dirty beggars spoke only as long as they obeyed. To rise to knighthood Ivanhoe would have to learn that language,manners,and ways of warfare familiar to the dominant class. In other words it was the Normans who shaped Angleland into Great Britain. History lesson and opinion over; the best aspect of the film and why I say it was George Sanders, not Guy Rolfe,who walked away with the best actor award was the FORBIDDEN ROMANCE of the Christian knight and the Jewish Princess. Miss Taylor just sighed and looked puppyeyed, while Sanders actually whether worrying about real life issues or acting,played a conflicted yet heroic character. His character was willing to give up all his social standing And feudal holdings to become a wandering free-lance or mercenary knight on the Continent to be with her character(Rebecca of York) and she is in love with an empty suit of chain mail that is Robert Taylor. Go figure.
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ozzy_marco-16 January 2007When audiences think of Hollywood's 'Golden Age', its movies like this one that sums up that concept. Gloriously garish Technicolour, beautiful sets and costumes that have nothing to do with historical accuracy, and a story that is so full of inaccuracies (both historical and compared to the novel) that it would be quite laughable if it wasn't so much fun. And that's what this movie is all about - good, clean fun and pure, 100% entertainment.
I'd like to mention something about the musical score. Miklos Rozsa was one of the great movie composers, and his score to this movie is truly great. No composer today could write a score so lush and full of beautiful melodies. Each of the main characters gets their own theme, and all themes are gorgeous, especially those written for Rowena and for Rebecca. Ivanhoe's theme, heard first over the main titles, is one of Rozsa's greatest pieces. In fact, its worth watching this movie and concentrating listening to the music rather than the dialogue. -
dougandwin31 March 2012Having just seen "Ivanhoe" after many years, I was still thrilled to see the beautiful photography, and the beautiful Elizabeth Taylor. Actually I enjoyed the story (very different from the Book) and thought Robert Taylor was very good in the title role, and Guy Rolfe as Prince John hammed his way magnificently. The old stagers In Finlay Currie and Felix Aylmer showed how real professionals do it, while George Sanders played a role he has done many times. My big disappointment was Joan Fontaine who seemed cold and distant in a role that her sister would have handled much better (her Maid Marian in "Robin Hood" shows that clearly). The colour was vibrant and the action good, and I am lost trying to describe Emlyn William's effort
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robinakaaly2 January 2011The less said about this film as a depiction of life in medieval England the better (since when did Saxon landowners eat turkey? And how did they manage to have such effective lighting in their manorial halls?) However, as a colourful spectacular romp, it had its moments, and the star cast acted well despite the appallingly awful dialogue. The Saxons hate the Normans, and vice versa, and King Richard has been locked up in a castle in Austria as Prince John refuses to pay his ransom. Ivanhoe, also returning from the Crusades, wanders round European castles singing songs (not the sort Minnesingers would have sung) until Richard joins in the chorus. Actually, I thought it was Blondel who found the king. Back in England, the Saxons cannot raise the ransom, so turn to the Jews of Sheffield and York. In the process, Ivanhoe, engaged to Joan Fontaine, catches the eye of Elizabeth Taylor, Isaac's daughter. Then aged 20, she was stunningly beautiful with a figure to die for. Unlike Jessica, she was not close confined, and gives her jewels to Ivanhoe so he can buy armour to enter the tournaments with the Normans, which he does and wins. The tournament scenes are the best thing about the film, with some excellent crafted action shots. The main battle scene involves the Saxons besieging the Normans in a Scottish castle: done without the aid of cgi, there were some quite spectacular stunts. In the end Liz is captured by the Normans and about to be burnt as a witch when Ivanhoe offers to defend her in mortal combat. His Norman adversary is George Sanders who himself has, not surprisingly, fallen for Miss Taylor's ample charms. After a long fight, ball and chain versus throwing axe, Sanders is mortally wounded, just as Richard and a large retinue of knights splendidly rides in from Austria (clearly the Channel ferries were working well) to reclaim the crown, pardon Ivanhoe and release Liz, to general rejoicing. The Technicolor© was superb, and it was great to see Valentine Dyall in a bit part.
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ed.bishop28 November 2004It was in this film that the legendary stuntman, Paddy Ryan, did a spectacular fall into an amazingly small amount of water. I started working in the UK in 1960 and there was still talk among casts and crews of Paddy's famous fall. I met Paddy a few times and asked him about the stunt dive. He said it was no big deal. He remembered being asked by some publicist why he did such dangerous things. He replied that he looked down from the great height, imagined he saw his pay check lying there, and took off! I suggested that he should write his memoirs. He said he had started and had spent a long time writing it all out by hand and had almost finished when his manuscript was stolen from, if I remember correctly, his car. He said he was too fed up to sit down and do it all again. What a loss!
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slokes10 March 2012Hollywood had so much fun with Errol Flynn's "Robin Hood" they tried to do it again, with this big-budget, star-studded adaptation of Walter Scott's famous novel. Yes, "Ivanhoe" is weaker in many departments, yet the good outweighs the bad and there's much to applaud here.
Condensing a complex, sprawling novel into an hour-and-three-quarters could have been far worse. As it is, we a presented with the essence of the original story, its characters and contexts reduced to bare nubs. Director Richard Thorpe uses Scott's story lines as an excuse for plush settings and thrilling battle scenes that still pack a punch.
Saxon Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe (Robert Taylor) seeks the restoration of Richard to the throne of England, but Richard's brother John and his evil knights conspire to keep Richard in prison abroad. For Ivanhoe to succeed, he must not only rally Saxon support but gain financing from the Jews, one of whom, Rebecca of York (Elizabeth Taylor), has fallen in love with the noble, albeit Christian, knight.
To start with the negatives, Robert Taylor is impossibly stiff in the lead role. For a long period, we are burdened not only by him but with the "comic relief" of Emlyn Williams' Wamba, a jester who Ivanhoe promotes to squire. Add to this a dead-on-arrival romance between Ivanhoe and the Lady Rowena (Joan Fontaine), who share only two dialogue scenes for the entire movie, and there's a lot of deadweight for this film to carry.
But the good on offer here is stronger. The secondary cast is really exceptional, especially Guy Rolfe as dastardly Prince John and George Sanders as one of his henchmen. Sanders walks a fine line in this film, presenting a character who garners our empathy if not sympathy. He loves Rebecca, and with real heart, too, but he's pretty awful otherwise.
The script, by Æneas MacKenzie, Marguerite Roberts, and Noel Langley, makes up for a choppy narrative with memorable dialogue. "Bid them enter in peace and depart in peace, or else depart in pieces," is the warning of Ivanhoe's father Cedric to a pair of imperious knights. Later, the Jew Isaac of York warns Ivanhoe "Money takes flight when might conquers right."
Roberts got in trouble around this time with the House Un-American Activities Committee for her communist beliefs, causing her name to be dropped from the credits. While not at all preachy, one can read into "Ivanhoe" messages of both popular hysteria (Rebecca on trial for witchcraft) and the exploitation of the powerless (both Saxon and Jew). Anti-Semitism comes up often.
"To whose god shall a Jew pray for a Gentile?" Rebecca is asked by her understanding if disapproving father.
"To the same God who made them both," she answers.
When Liz has a good line to deliver, she delivers it well. Fontaine is stronger, though, thoroughly winning as Rebecca's good-hearted but jealous rival and surprisingly holding her own against Liz for cinematic sexiness. I think Fontaine was far prettier in her thirties than in her late teens and early twenties.
Add to these virtues Freddie Young's fantastic cinematography that seems to squeeze every inch from Alfred Junge's set design. You can get lost in such details as the purple raven perched on a skull that decorates the helmet of Sanders' knight character, or the Bayeux-style tapestries that cover the walls in many scenes.
If only the film had a better lead, and maybe a few more minutes to run. Alas, you can only make a classic like "Robin Hood" once, or it wouldn't be a classic. Still, this is an engaging time-passer with some things about it worth seeing, hearing, and remembering. -
Hard to believe that this was nominated for the Oscar as the year's Best Picture but it's an enjoyable piece of derring-do all the same even if its hero is a miscast, over-aged and ever-so-slightly over-weight Robert Taylor. George Sanders is a better villain, (he's even got something of a heart), and we have, not one, but two heroines in Joan Fontaine and a young and incomparably lovely Elizabeth Taylor. There are battles and joustings and Emlyn Williams slumming as a trusty Squire not to mention that old ham Felix Aylmer, gibbering and jabbering away to his heart's content. It was obviously a hit and it's beautifully photographed by the great Freddie Young; just don't expect anything in the class of Curtiz' "Adventures of Robin Hood".
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SusanJL7 January 2009The scenery & costumes (especially of the jousting) are the main stars of this movie. I was prepared to dislike Elizabeth Taylor's performance (due to the message board comments), but thought she was utterly believable & soulful in her role. I loved Prince John's performance. And even though he played the evil knight, I found myself surprisingly sympathetic to George Sander's character at the end; a man driven by his passion for Rebecca. I thought Robert Taylor's acting was wooden & one-dimensional. And whoever played the castle "guards" (who were overpowered by the good guys during the castle siege) - I give them the worst actors of the century award.
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ilprofessore-126 December 2008This film is often compared with Warner Brothers' "Robin Hood". In this case, comparisons are very odious. The major difference between the brilliance of "Robin Hood" and "Ivanhoe" is the vast gap in talent between the directors: "Robin Hood" was directed by Warners' top man, the vastly underrated Michael Curtiz ("Casablanca," "Yankee Doodle Dandy") whereas "Ivanhoe" was put in the hands of the ever-reliable Richard Thorpe a great favorite of the MGM studio head, Louis B. Mayer. Thorpe famously never came in over-budget. IMDb lists 128 films that Thorpe directed in a long career beginning in 1923 and ending in 1967; he was the ideal contract director, much valued by the management, who could direct everything competently and quickly from Tarzan to Elvis with rarely if ever a spark of inspiration. The action sequences in this film are spectacular, but they were probably staged by a number of second-unit directors, among them the great Yank Canuttt ("Ben Hur"). Freddie Young's cinematography in the subtle tones of English Technicolor and Miklos Rozska's atmospheric score only make Thorpe's mediocrity as a director more apparent.
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In his return from the crusades king Richard of England is captured and held for ransom by Austrian king Leopold. His loyal knight Wifred of Ivanhoe tries to collect the amount for his liberation but Prince John (Richard's brother) sits now in the throne and will do anything to stay there with the aid of some Normand knights.
This is a real good action and adventure medieval film with knights, maidens, castles, tournaments, battles, duels and else. Richard Thorpe direction is excellent (perhaps his best work ever); you'll find also good color photography, well made settings and an interesting plot. Costumes and armours -though perhaps too "hollywoodish" perfect- are also a plus.
Robert Taylor (Ivanhoe) was in his peak and does well as the reliable and faithful knight who fights for his captive king. George Sanders is very well casted as Brian de Bois Gilbert the Templar warrior-monk that would give up his honor for the love of the Jewish maiden Rebbeca (Elizabeth Taylor) but will rather see her death when he is rejected. Joan Fontaine is Lady Rowena Ivanhoe's bride. The rest of the cast includes some all time favourites as Felix Aylmer (Rebbeca's father), Finlay Currie (Cedric the Saxon), Robert Douglas (as Sanders's sidekick Sir Hugh de Bracy) and in a typical role for him Guy Rolfe as the treacherous and ambitious Prince John (this guy was born to play villains).
The tournament in which Ivanhoe challenges the five top Saxon knights and the assault on Front de Beuf's castle by Robin of Locksley and his men are very well achieved action scenes and even more if you consider it was the early 50's. And the final duel between Taylor and Sanders is a great climax for the film (notice they chose war axe and iron ball and chain instead of the usual swords).
A most enjoyable film in its genre. -
cutter-1213 December 2001One of those costume epics made in the years following Flynn's The Adventures of Robin Hood which takes itself too seriously and retains none of the charm and heart characteristic of that timeless classic. Though handsomely mounted it moves like a knight in rusty armor and relies far too much on insipid writing. The film needed a vibrant leading actor to carry it through and Robert Taylor just goes through the motions as the hero of the title. Actually it's probably his best role considering the other mediocre or downright awful performances he registered over the course of his lacklustre career.
The film does contain some great British actors, but George Sanders as de Bois Guilbert isn't challenged in the least by the flat dialogue and just phones his lines in. Joan Fontaine does the best she can with her role as Rowena while Elizabeth Taylor is just simply eye candy and offers little more. The picture is left to Guy Rolfe to steal and he does just that, turning in a properly nasty performance as the wicked Prince John. The guy just looks like bad tidings and plays the part with relish.
The best sequence is of course the Jousting tournament, while the castle siege sequence is a routine and at times cheesy (all those arrows) exercise leading to the final battle between de Bois and Ivanhoe which has the worst sound effects you can imagine.
What should be an entertaining two hours just isn't. Aside from the wooden script, the direction is also culpable leaving one wishing Michael Curtiz or someone of his ilk had have helmed it. The fifties were strewn with bland swashbucklers, Knights of the Round Table, also starring Taylor, another example. Only Danny Kaye in the great send-up The Court Jester managed to deliver a swashbuckling masterpiece full of charm and humor in that decade.
Ivanhoe is watchable but mostly forgettable. -
hall89522 August 2015Swashbuckler films should just by their nature always be quite fun. Unfortunately Ivanhoe is not much fun at all. This is a dull film, too serious-minded for its own good. When you think of swashbucklers Errol Flynn's Robin Hood is of course the first thing that comes to mind. This film suffers terribly by comparison. Robert Taylor, playing Ivanhoe, has none of the charm and charisma Flynn had. Taylor turns in a very bland performance. To be fair he is not helped by what is a rather lousy script. The dialogue in this film is so stilted and unnatural. The film looks good, colors pop off the screen, battle scenes are well done. But visual spectacle is not enough. The story has to engage. And, weighed down by that clunky dialogue, the story in this film falls flat.
There are some saving graces here. Taylor is a bit of a dud and in a film like this if the hero is a dud that is a big problem. But the supporting players perk things up a bit. Joan Fontaine plays Rowena, the object of Ivanhoe's affection, and Fontaine falls comfortably into the role much like her sister did in Robin Hood. There is the sense though that, much as with Olivia de Havilland in that film, Fontaine's character is somewhat underdeveloped. The story would be helped if we got to know more about Rowena. We do get to know more about Rebecca, a young Jewish woman who finds herself in quite a difficult situation. Elizabeth Taylor plays the part very well, bringing some emotion to a film which desperately needs it. Of course she also brings her great beauty to the role, easy to see why a man would fall under her spell. It is De Bois-Guilbert, Ivanhoe's rival, who loves Rebecca. But she loves Ivanhoe. And Ivanhoe loves Rowena. But Rowena is jealous of Rebecca. All a bit messy.
The romantic entanglements all sort themselves out in the end. But it's a bit of a slog getting to that ending. This is a rather dull, oddly lifeless movie. You can't help but compare this movie to Robin Hood. Heck, Robin Hood even shows up in this movie, serving to do little more than to reinforce the notion you'd rather be watching Errol Flynn. Ivanhoe is no Robin Hood. The women in the picture, Fontaine and Elizabeth Taylor, do good work. George Sanders, though saddled by that awful dialogue, is reasonably decent as well playing De Bois-Guilbert. But in a movie titled Ivanhoe the actor playing Ivanhoe obviously holds the key to the film's success. And Robert Taylor is not up to snuff. How can the hero of a swashbuckler film be so bland? The character of Ivanhoe disappoints so the movie can't help but disappoint. This is a movie which takes itself way too seriously. It is the type of movie you should be able to have some fun with. But fun is in desperately short supply here. -
nerdomatic10-937-66723021 February 2013This film made a HUGE impression on me as a small child while I watched it on the family TV, lying on the floor. So I have a very sentimental attachment to it. At that time I was a big fan of all Sir Walter Scott's novels - well, the Classic Comics versions, actually. Anyway, I was completely in awe of "Ivanhoe" and I enjoyed very second of it. The only thing I couldn't grasp was how Ivanhoe could prefer Rowena over Rebecca! I was only 6 or 7, but the 19-year-old Elizabeth Taylor made a deep, incomprehensible-at-the-time impression on me. She was literally incredible. How could anybody possibly turn her down? But, that's what happened for the sake of the story.
I've watched "Ivanhoe" many times since, and my older, cynical self spotted a lot that I missed that first time. Robert Taylor was way too old and too stiff and was a very wooden actor. Put Tyrone Power in there and you'd have an all-time classic epic. But I also noticed the inimitable George Sanders. Wow! What a great villain he was! I thought his Sir Brian was actually far more realistic than Ivanhoe because he fell really hard for Rebecca, which made a lot more sense to me.
But anyway, this is a great swashbuckler, very entertaining and colorful. I am now so old that I can just let it carry me along and take me back to my childhood for a couple hours. No matter what though, it's still impossible for me to comprehend someone not taking Liz when he had the chance. After it's over, I picture Ivanhoe in his castle being nagged by Rowena and kicking himself in the butt, over and over and over. -
buxtehude9925 September 2005The thing that really bothers me about this version, is that by 1952, Hollywood had forgotten how to make this kind of movie. Ivanhoe doesn't look too bad, until you watch "The Adventures of Robin Hood" of 1938. Much more energy, and stronger casting down the line. Elizabeth Taylor as Rebecca is very good, but poor Joan Fontaine looks like a beautiful society lady hosting some rather rude guests. It's hard to imagine her in REAL 13th century England. Plus, she and Robert Taylor are pretty wooden. I guess it's not Robert Taylor's fault that he is not Errol Flynn. The production design is old school, although an attempt is made to portray the Saxons as more rustic. The Technicolor is rather garish. The role of Isaac is particularly well played, and George Sanders as the bad guy stands out. If you have not seen may swashbucklers, this movie will pass, mainly because of the great story. If you really like the story, check out the 1982 version with Anthony Andrews, James Mason, Olivia Hussey, et al. A more realistic look at the Middle Ages, less "star" casting and more really good, age appropriate casting.
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Lejink22 August 2007Overblown and yet underpowered epic. Based on the wonderful source material of Sir Walter Scott's novel, all the dressing (big name cast, extras a-plenty, expensive set-pieces) can't stop this vintage swashbuckler from dragging in places as it reaches the end. Frequently beautiful to look at, a tribute to Freddie Young's excellent cinematography, I occasionally got the feeling the actors were only playing the clothes. Robert Taylor is handsome but lacking magnetism in the title role. George Sanders is altogether too polite to really work as Ivanhoe's nemesis whilst the womenfolk mainly get to react rather than act, as the camera too frequently cuts to their responses as our hero takes yet another beating. Of the three big set-pieces, the jousting tournament and Taylor's final duel with Sanders play best with some great horseman stunt work in the former while in the latter you do at least get to see the protagonists' shields battered and dented as the fight progresses. However the fire at the castle as Robin Hood's men attack seems about as dangerous as a dead sheep with some pretty unconvincing fight scenes to boot. On the whole, though it stays fairly true to its novel source, the film lacks drama and true emotion and is the weaker for this.