Ivanhoe 1952

     This film is based on a novel by Walter Scott.  Ivanhoe is a disowned knight but he is planning to join up with Robin Hood.  He is brave of hearted, high minded and valiant.  Currently Robin Hood is living in Forest Sherwood.  The people want King Richard to rule the kingdom instead of his brother evil Prince John.  Some believe King Richard to be dead but Ivanhoe has learned that Richard I is holding him prisoner and there is a high ransom for his release.

     There is a LOT going on in this film!!  There is a jousting tournament, a siege of a castle and a duel near the end.  Rebecca is brought before Prince John and she is found guilty of treason.  Her punishment is death at the stake by fire.  Everyone loyal to King Richard knows and believes that Rebecca is innocent.  Somehow she must be freed!!  The Normans have innumerable arrows but the Saxons have crossbows!!  4 1/2* (I really liked this movie) 

      

106 min, Adventure directed by Richard Thorpe with Robert Taylor, Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Fontaine, George Sanders, Emlyn Williams, Robert Douglas, Finlay Currie, Felix Aylmer, Francis De Wolff, Norman Wooland, Basil Sydney, Harold Warrender, Patrick Holt, Roderick Lovell, Sebastian Cabot.

Note:  Imdb 6.8 out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes 80% critic 75% audience, Amazon 4.6* out of 5* with 229 reviews, Three Movie Buffs 3 ½* out of 4*, Letterboxd average 3.1* out of 5*, decentfilms.com B+.

Special Note:  Filmed at MGM British Studios, Borehamwood, Hertforshire, England, UK; Castel Leone, Lana; Castel Pietra, Vipiteno; Castel Tasso, Vipiteno; Castel Cornedo, Cornedo all’Isarco, Trntino-Alto Adige, Italy.  Robert Taylor was 40 when he played Ivanhoe but the character was in his mid-20’s in the novel.  One of the archers shooting from the walls of Warwick Castle is ‘Mad Jack Churchill’ aka John Churchill.  He is a WWII veteran who was an expert archer and actually carried a sword and longbow into battle.  In Germany of 1940, he notched an arrow onto his longbow and fired at a German soldier.  The German was killed and John is the last British soldier on record to have done so in this manner.  It is accurate that Blondel went around to all the castles singing Richard’s favorite song.  When he heard Richard join in the chorus, he went home and told the Normans that Richard is alive.  This was the highest grossing film for MGM and one of the top four moneymakers of 1952 grossing over $7million, and the second highest–grossing film of 1952.