edmund-marlowe
Sir Walter Scott's novel, Ivanhoe, is about a "Saxon" noble championing the cause of justice, nebulously represented by the absent King, Richard Coeur-de-Lion, against the machinations of the King's brother John and his wicked Norman barons. It is undoubtedly a great work of literature, and, in its romance and excitement, so well-suited to adaption to the screen that it has been done multiple times. The central historical theme of patriotic, so-called Saxons defying their oppression by the Normans is redolent of a peculiarly early modern, romantic and anachronistic view of English society in 1194 and Scott took considerable liberties with the known facts, avoiding anything that would have diminished the drama, such as John's flight to Normandy to avoid Richard. I merely point this out for those who might think they are being treated to a story that could have taken place, while realizing that if one is to criticize such a part of the British literary canon on these lines, one would have also to damn Shakespeare's Macbeth and Polanski's masterful film of it.Accepting, then, that this a great story crying out to become a great film, I was most excited to discover a version played by a cast of absolutely first-rate actors, and they certainly didn't disappoint. Olivia Hussey was especially good and moving as the beautiful Rebecca, better than I had ever seen her except in that greatest of all films, Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet. The expected setting of castle and forest was all fine too.So what went wrong? I'm afraid I laughed during the opening scene when James Mason, playing Rebecca's viciously ill-treated Jewish father (whom one would have expected to keep a low profile while traveling through a lawless land), appeared wearing an absurdly exotic Burmese peasant's hat, which he never then took off. Thus harshly alerted to a costume designer who should never have been allowed near a children's pantomime, I could not avoid having my attention undermined throughout by the invariable cheap and tacky props, including jewelry, ornaments and weapons that looked and sounded much too obviously like cheap plastic, and the factory-made printed shields, one of which could be seen to bounce back into shape like rubber after being bent in half.Nor I'm afraid was the costume designer the only one at fault; the script writer should also have joined him on the dole. He was unsurprisingly fine when he stuck to Scott's fine words, but a disaster when left to use his imagination. The climactic battle scene consisted of a small band of men taking perhaps an hour to capture the castle, ultimately by knocking on the door with a ram. Had he never heard of moats or portcullises or that, without treachery, such a castle could only be captured by a large army after a siege of months? I cannot imagine what the producers were thinking to invest in such high-profile actors for an excellent story, only to wreck it through inept and stingy disbursement in other directions. The tacky props, when combined with the swashbuckling tone and slightly corny bombast, reminded me of some best-forgotten historical films from the fifties, so that I wondered whether it was unfair to blame the filmmakers for not having then had the technical means to produce anything faintly resembling Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones. Then I remembered that the other two films I have mentioned, Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth were made a decade earlier than Ivanhoe without these faults, and realized there was no excuse.Edmund Marlowe, author of Alexander's Choice, a novel about Eton, amazon.com/dp/1481222112
bkoganbing
Although the romance and derring do of medieval chivalry is best expressed in the famous MGM big screen version of Ivanhoe that starred Robert Taylor, this made for British TV Ivanhoe stays far more accurately to what Sir Walter Scott wrote. There are even characters that the MGM film eliminated from the story that are present here.Anthony Andrews plays the hero Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe in this version and he's a knight who takes his vows quite seriously. That means help and aid to the weak and oppressed and Jews in medieval England were among the most oppressed. Although his heart is set on the Saxon princess Rowena played by Lysette Anthony, he gets a stirring for the medieval Jewish princess Rebecca as played here by Olivia Hussey.But the one who's really crushing out on her big time is Sam Neill playing Brian Bois Guilbert a knight of the Templar order and the Templars are trying to topple Richard the Lion Heart from the throne and put Prince John on it. Sad for the years of his reign for the people of England they got a King John after the action of this film is over. As a Norman he and Andrews just don't like each other on general principles. Put in the romantic angle and even those who never read the book know that Andrews and Neill will be duking it out with lance and spear at the climax.The Robert Taylor classic never covered the Templars and hence the anti-Semitism was muted. Here it bursts forth in full flower and the Templars who pronounce Hussey a witch are sure no knight who takes any Christian vows will champion an infidel.By dint of his star power James Mason who plays Rebecca's father Isaac of York gets top billing. Mason is effective and the part is built up somewhat.I do love Robert Taylor's Ivanhoe, one of my favorite of his films. But this version is one good Cliff's Notes version of the story.
teetah
I love this movie. Everyone is playing larger than life, but that's fine with me. Olivia Hussey is wonderful as Rebecca. Anthony Andrews is great in any period part (or any other, for that matter). It took me a few viewings to figure out that that really was Sam Neill, as he's not as understated as I'm used to seeing him play. Lysette Anthony is pretty as Ivanhoe's love, if a bit less convincing as someone who would cause him to be faithful to her forever. The Black Knight coming to Ivanhoe's rescue is an interesting move. Basically everything that one other reviewer hated most about this movie were the things I liked the best.If they would put this out on DVD I'd be extremely happy.
yespis
Just like in " Romeo and Juliet " Olivia Hussey takes place in front of us. She makes all the difference. An extraordinary actress with a very special beauty takes this classical movie and place it very, very high...The music, the scenery- and the acting... It all ends up in this beautiful movie. Sadness. Frustration and a lot of love.You got to love it...
