Ivanhoe
by Richard Thorpe
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DVD details
Actor: Elizabeth Taylor, Emlyn Williams, George Sanders, Joan Fontaine, Robert TaylorDirector: Richard Thorpe
Brand: Warner Brothers
Writer: Noel Langley
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 1.0; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 1.0; French (Original Language); French (Dubbed)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dubbed, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: Academy Ratio, 1.33:1
Running Time: 106 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-01-11
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Product features:
- Stand and pledge loyalty -- or prepare to lie cold beneath your shields. Chivalrous knight Wilfrid of Ivanhoe is determined to restore Richard the Lionhearted to England's throne. Gallantry and costumed pageantry combine in this crowd-pleasing nominee for 3 Academy Awards including Best Picture. Robert Taylor plays the title role and Elizabeth Taylor and Joan Fontaine also star in a rousing adapta
DVD Reviews of Ivanhoe
DVD Review: "A gentleman at last, and my first task is to steal a horse"
Summary: 5 Stars
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
Description of Ivanhoe
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