oscar-35
*Spoiler/plot- 1982, Classic Medieval English story with knights, ladies, kings, princes, Hebrews, jousting, feasting and treachery with intrigue.*Special Stars- James Mason, Anthony Andrews, John Rhys-Davies, Julian Glover, Olivia Hussey, Sam Neil. Dir: "Dr Who"'s Douglas Camfield*Theme- Chivalry will win out.*Based on- Arthurian legends, Robin Hood stories and medieval history from Walter Scott.*Trivia/location/goofs- A Swedish tradition for their New Years TV showing. TV remake of a knightly epic from author, Walter Scott. This film is probably more watchable than the 50's expensive MGM version with an American cast with British roots. This film has extremely good casting for the lead characters and nice to see John Rhys-Davies in his earlier acting mode (Pre-Shogun) of playing a 'scenery eating' playful villain in this film. He gets questions about that role even today from his British fans at events. The broadswords are made of heavy aluminum and chip & bend badly in the sword duels, watch for obvious sword edge damage in those close-ups.*Emotion- A somewhat enjoyable 80's 'TV-ish' film from Columbia Pictures and a British production company taking more of a dramatic (more interesting) thorough character look at the Walter Scott book matters. Enjoyable and fun for the most part.
bellyruba
We watched this movie in school. We also watched Spartacus. I definitely prefer Ivanhoe to Spartacus. I think that Ivanhoe was more interesting with all of the jousting. Though, as I was watching it I kept thinking of "Robin Hood: Men in Tights" by Mel Brooks. "Its King Richard back from the Crusades" Though at the end of the film, our teacher take a vote and the boys thought that Ivanhoe should choose Rowena and the girls wanted Ivanhoe to choose Rebecca!Overall I really liked this movie. I really want to read the book now. Though some parts are boring. The jousting is wicked cool though. If Sir William Scott was still alive, I think that he would of been very proud.
PennyLANE77
If you have the chance, catch this splendid Ivanhoe remake on the tube or on VHS (it is a crying shame that this doesn't come on DVD, Amazon). It punches several well deserved holes in the tedious, pompous and dire 1952 version with the two Taylors, each performing worse than the other. Come on, Robert Taylor as Ivanhoe?? The 1952 film is clearly a case of a movie being made at the wrong time in Hollywood history.Anyone questioning the acting capabilities of Anthony Andrews clearly hasn't seen Brideshead Revisited. He is a great, believable, and may I add, gorgeous Ivanhoe.The film boasts a great, thought provoking script (which granted does take some liberties with the source material although much of the lovely dialog from Scott's book has found its way into the film), great performances (especialy by Neill, Mason and Hussey and the incomparable George Innes as Wamba) as well as beautiful production values and photography.And, as an added bonus, it is a virtual babe fest (Wilson, Neill and Andrews are all at their physical prime here)!
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...
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