Ivanhoe (1952)

This film is a respectable adaptation of Scott's Waverley novel, full of passion and pageantry, knights templar and damsels fair. George Sanders makes a delicious villain Bois Gilbert. Robert Taylor's Hollywood accent seems a bit out of place, but the film is primarily visual and succeeds on a cinematographic level. The dramatic Elizabeth Taylor plays a sweet Rebecca.

Icon Joan Fontaine, looking here much like her sister Olivia De Havilland (of "Gone with the Wind" and "Robin Hood" fame), is a stately, refined Rowena. Tournaments, courtly love, and hand to hand combat abound. This is classic 50's epic drama at its best.

Fmovies: Out of MGM, Ivanhoe was spared no expense and became the costliest epic produced in England at the time. Though the studio millions that were tied into English banks is more telling than any sort of love for the project one feels.

It's directed by Richard Thorpe and produced by Pandro S. Berman. The cast features Robert Taylor, Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Fontaine, George Sanders, Emlyn Williams, Finlay Currie and Felix Aylmer. The screenplay is by Æneas MacKenzie, Marguerite Roberts, and Noel Langley who adapts from the novel Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott. The score is by Miklós Rózsa and Freddie Young is on Technicolor cinematography duties with the exterior location work at Doune Castle, Stirling, Scotland.

Though the pacing is far from perfect and there's some saggy bits in the script, Ivanhoe remains arguably one of the finest and most under appreciated of MGM's historical epics. Naturally there's some differences from Scott's novel (a given in most genre pieces of this type), but Thorpe and his team come through with the material given and deliver a rousing treat.

It looks tremendous courtesy of Young's lensing, where he brilliantly brings to life Roger Furse's costumes and Alfred Junge's majestic sets. Taylor (R), Fontaine and Taylor (E) look delightful, (especially Liz who can easily take you out of the movie such is her beauty here) and their romantic triangle makes for an ever watchable romantic spectacle.

The action is on the money, with the attack on Front de Boeuf castle adroitly constructed (and not skimped on time wise), a jousting competition that vividly comes to life, and a Mano-Mano fight between Taylor's Ivanhoe and Sanders' De Bois-Guilbert that is grisly and adrenalin pumping in equal measure (check out the sound work here too).

It's also worth acknowledging the anti-semitic part of the story, with the MGM suits thankfully deciding to not ignore this part of Scott's literary source.

The three handsome lead stars are backed up superbly by a robust Williams, while the trio of villains played by Sanders, Robert Douglas and the excellent Guy Wolfe as weasel Prince John, deliver the requisite quota of boo hiss villainy.

It made big money for MGM, setting records for the studio at the time. It's not hard to see why. It's a beautiful production across the board, and while it's not without faults per se, it holds up regardless as it firmly engages and stirs the blood of the historical epic loving fan. What a year 1952 was for MGM! 8/10

Of the four films that Robert Taylor called his "iron jockstrap movies" Ivanhoe is probably the best. Filmed on location in Great Britain with a classic mixed cast of American and British players, Ivanhoe is a film for those of us who like their heroes strong and true and their causes noble ones.

It's a noble cause in every sense of the word. King Richard the Lion Hearted is held captive by Duke Leopold of Austria on a return from the Crusades. Leopold's demanding a hefty sum and Prince John who is regent over in England ain't in no big hurry to pay it. So it is one Wilfred of Ivanhoe, a Saxon knight on Crusade with the Norman King, who takes up the burden of raising that ransom.

As Walter Scott wrote the story, Ivanhoe is a pretty virtuous fellow who takes those chivalry vows quite seriously. If this had been made at 20th Century Fox Tyrone Power would have been Ivanhoe. But MGM had a perfect actor for Ivanhoe in Robert Taylor, especially with the success Quo Vadis had previously.

Joan Fontaine is the prim and proper Lady Rowena and Elizabeth Taylor is the lovely Rebecca ready to be martyred for her Jewish faith. She's the key to this whole film. She's crushing big time on Ivanhoe, but it is Norman knight Bois Guilbert who has it bad for her.

George Sanders who plays Bois Guilbert has the most complex role in the film. He's genuinely in love with Liz Taylor, but all she sees is the oppressor of her people in him. Of course by his reasoning the Normans are enjoying the spoils of conquest in England which they've been doing since 1066 even though it's over 120 years at this point. Nevertheless he's a brave knight and a worthy opponent of Ivanhoe.

Guy Rolfe as Prince John has an interesting part as well. Except in a Doctor Who episode I've never seen a good characterization of Prince later King John. Guy Rolfe is no exception. When Elizabeth Taylor is on trial for witchcraft and sorcery and Ivanhoe challenges the verdict of the court with a wager of battle, Rolfe knows how Sanders feels about Taylor. Yet in an act of supreme cruelty he chooses him as the court's champion. I suppose the idea was for Rolfe to get some kind of sadistic amusement at Sanders's discomfort. It costs Rolfe dearly.

Other good performances come from those four reliable players Finlay Currie as Cedric of Ivanhoe, Felix Aylmer as Isaac of York, Robert Douglas as Hugh DeBracy, and Emlyn Williams as Womba the Squire.

In that 19th century romantic age of literature Walter Scott did much to elevate the ideals of chivalry to what we popularly accept them today. Of course back in the day those knights weren't all that chivalrous all the time.

But this film heeds to that bit of philosophy about American popular myths, "when the legend becomes fact, print the legend."

Or film it as the case may be.

Ivanhoe fmovies. 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 W

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.

"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.