Ivanhoe

I'll be the first to admit that I am not as well read as I'd like to be...I was never forced to read Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe in school, so I really can't tell you how much of what was in the book actually made it into the 1952 film, but I suspect a good deal probably got lost in the translation given that the original novel seems exceptionally long (depending on the publisher, it ranges anywhere between 500 to 700 pages). Despite what may have been left out (probably a lot regarding the development of the characters), I still think Ivanhoe (1952) is a darn good film worthy of anyone's time. Directed by Richard Thorpe (The Thin Man Goes Home), the film stars Robert `The Man With the Perfect Profile' Taylor (Knights of the Round Table), Joan Fontaine (Rebecca, Suspicion), and Elizabeth `I've been married eight times' Taylor (National Velvet). Also appearing is George Sanders (A Shot in the Dark), Emlyn Williams (They Drive by Night), Robert Douglas (The Desert Rats), Felix Aylmer (Knights of the Round Table), and Guy Rolfe (Snow White and the Three Stooges, Mr. Sardonicus) as the dastardly Prince John.After returning from the Crusades (the general consensus was that he croaked), the Saxon knight Wilfred of Ivanhoe (Taylor) finds the kingdom in a state of disrepair. The Normans, lead by the opportunistic Prince John (Rolfe), have assumed control of Mother England after the disappearance of King Richard (he actually got waylaid returning from The Crusades, and is now being held for ransom in Austria, which Prince John knows, but has decided not to pay up, keeping the whole affair on the QT). Ivanhoe thus begins his quest, in Richard's name, to remove the Norman villainy from the throne by challenging the current power structure, and wheelin' and a dealin' to come up with the funds to free Richard, through the aid of Isaac of York (Aylmer) and his comely daughter Rebecca (Ms. Taylor), who are both of the Jewish persuasion, and looked down upon equally by the Saxons and the Normans (Isaac's incentive is a guarantee from Wilfred on behalf of Richard that Isaac's persecuted peoples will be granted a home in England once Richard has returned...seems like a haughty promise on Wilfred's part). Oh yeah, Ivanhoe must also mend fences with his father, who disowned him after a difference of opinion with regards to The Crusades, renew his relationship with his father's ward, the lovely Lady Rowena (Fontaine), and enlist the aid of Locksley (Robin Hood) and his merry men. Donning the garb of the Black Knight, Wilfred challenges the corrupt Norman monarchy of Prince John and his lackeys Sir Brian de Bois-Guilbert (Sanders) and Sir Hugh De Bracy (Douglas), the victor gaining a kingdom, the loser subject to death.I really liked this film, and I thought it was too bad it wasn't made a year or two later than it was (the large scale usage of Cinemascope was just around the corner), as it would have benefited greatly with a panoramic showing, especially the large battle scenes. Regardless, some may say they just don't make them like this anymore, and I would tend to agree...oh, they (they being the current Hollywood system) try, with recent releases of Troy (did anyone else think Troy was a bit on the homoerotic side?) and Alexander, but too often those films get swept up with the expansive visuals, forgoing the important aspect of good acting and a decent story. Ivanhoe presents both, and in spades. I did feel some of the characters were a bit light (especially that of Elizabeth Taylor's Rebecca), but given the berth of the original material, some things obviously had to be minimized or discarded altogether. That being said, I thought the story fairly intricate, featuring a good many facets and excellent acting that kept me interested. Robert Taylor did well and oozes the chivalry one would expect from the once nobleman true to his liege. I especially liked the characters of Prince John, played by Guy Rolfe and Sir Brian de Bois-Guilbert, played by George Sanders...they were both equally heinous types that could easily elicit sneers from the audience anytime they appeared on screen (actually, later on, Sanders' character did seem to possess a smattering of what one might call a redemptive quality, but his motives were all screwy, so we didn't feel bad when he met the ending he did). Despite the film being thick with story, it doesn't lack in the action department. I could actually feel the competitors being shanked off their horses during the jousting scenes, the castle siege near the end was done extremely well, as was the fierce, close quarters battle between Wilfred and Sir Brian. And if you're one for the ladies, Ms. Fontaine and Ms. Taylor (who seemed a bit lackluster in her performance, but then a lackluster Elizabeth Taylor performance is still better than most) provide plenty of beauty, along with their other talents (look for the scene where Ms. Taylor's character is on trial...she possessed an unparalleled level of hotness in that full length white dress). This is one of those films that clicks on all cylinders, as all the elements (the rich and vibrant color cinematography, superior musical score, acting, costumes, etc.) work together well to create a wonderfully entertaining end result.The full screen picture (1.33:1) looks great on this DVD, and the audio comes through clearly. Special features include the Oscar winning Tom and Jerry short `The Two Musketeers' (I always liked that one, although I always thought it kinda creepy the way it ended, with the inferred beheading of one of the main characters...), along with a Swashbuckler movie trailer gallery that includes one for this film, Knights of the Round Table (1953), and one for a film called Scaramouche (1952). Warner Home Video is getting a little better with its' inclusion of extras, but still has a long way to go.Cookieman108

This movie is a perennial for us that we purchased on Prime. It features some unintentional funny stuff such as Locksley using the same trumpet signal to get his army to engage in different maneuvers. (Hey, Cyril, was that the second or third trumpet blast? Arrows, right? No, wait a minute, storm the castle walls?). We always get a kick out of that. It's also fun to see what was probably filmed as a swordfight at a snail's pace speeded up. It only lacks a lively Keystone Kops piano score. Lastly, there's the actor portraying a castle guard who stands in a corridor facing the camera with a dumb look on his face waiting to get stabbed in the back. It always gets us rocking. All in all, it's a fun, fast-paced movie that always leaves us relieved a young and beautiful Lizzie Taylor doesn't get BBQ'd.

Pardon me if you object to boomers, because I'm one. However I was born a couple years after the release of this deluxe MGM production that was produced in England with three American stars (four, counting George Sanders) to anchor it for American exhibition. None of which I knew or cared when I saw it in reissue in a drive-in theater (a second of silence for the fun these represented for young people dating, AND families!). The first thing you see in this gorgeous new remastering done by Warner Bros (which currently owns the rights through Ted Turner) is that familiar--hey, familiar to me, ha!--MGM Lion roaring in his circular 'frame', looking sharper and more saturated with color than many people have seen him in a very long time. But this was TECHNICOLOR back in its glory days, and THAT is how it looked! They have nailed it in this restoration. As 'Leo', as he was known, lets out with his roars, the legendary MIKLOS ROZSA's music builds and builds with several archaic sounding fanfares until it bursts into one of the great main themes ever composed for a movie. The movie proper stars Robert Taylor, who also never looked better (well, except maybe in his extreme youth when he was a proper beauty) nor lent more virile presence to a costume picture. He easily carries the role and the entire film. Somehow we know that in his quest to restore the rightful ruler, King Richard, to the throne of England, he will succeed! He has the love of the beautiful and faithful Rowena, Joan Fontaine still a beauteous and intelligent leading lady; and, he also gains the love and adoration of a stunning young woman whose cause he takes on, played by an incandescent young Elizabeth Taylor. I've got one word: wow. Her closeups are to die for. The jousting tournaments are portrayed for what they really were, besides the pageantry and flags fluttering and horns blaring out Rosa's endlessly clever fanfares: they were BRUTAL! The end of the movie is a magnificent payoff to everything that has preceded it, what with Ivanhoe and 'Locksley' (it's ROBIN HOOD, gang) storming a castle to rescue the ladies from the bad guys (the Normans), and the grand finale when the young Liz Taylor is cynically sentenced to death as a witch, and "by trial of combat", Ivanhoe/Taylor literally throws his gauntlet (glove) into the hall and announces he will champion her. This literally will make your heart soar. Then in the final bout between the appointed challenger and Ivanhoe, you get to witness a hand-to-hand combat fight to the death that is amazingly vivid and, like I said, utterly brutal. It looks bad for Ivanhoe! But, SEE THIS MOVIE, and find out! Absolutely brilliant and one of the greatest 'knights of the round table' + Merrie Olde England genre of escapist treasures.

Muy buena calidad de imagen y sonido!!

Grew up with this movie and have been trying to track it down on dvd for years. Am so happy.

Cheerful entertainment with a strong cast and excellent action sequences. Robert Taylor , Elizabeth Taylor , Felix Aylmer - plus Robin Hood ! - save the throne for Richard the Lion Heart, while George Sanders and Guy Rolfe do their best to thwart them....

Es un buen producto, contiene:1 DVD-RAudio original en inglés mono stereoSubtitulada en españolExtrasTráiler cinematográficoTom y Jerry los dos mosqueterosle doy tres estrellas porque, la información descrita es errónea, ya que dices que es DVD y en realidad es un DVD-R, se ve muy bien y no tiene fallas de ninguna índole, se debe de reproducir en un Blu Ray, deberían corregir la información, el envío como siempre excelente, gracias.

Great Walter Scott Classic.