Ivanhoe (1952)

Directed by Richard Thorpe and based on Sir Walter Scott’s novel of the same name this average romantic drama is set during the same time as the more famous Robin Hood story from which it borrows many of the same elements. Scott’s titled character is played by Robert Taylor a knight conflicted by a love triangle involving his childhood sweetheart (played by a very blonde Joan Fontaine) and a beautiful Jewish girl he’s only just met (played by Elizabeth Taylor!). All the while Ivanhoe must fight Sir Brian (George Sanders) who’s allied with the evil Prince John (Guy Rolfe) that wants to take the absent King Richard’s (Norman Wooland) throne. Naturally Ivanhoe finds himself fighting on the same side as the woodsman Locksley (Harold Warrender) since he’s trying to find and free Richard from where he’s been remotely imprisoned. An exciting jousting contest (in lieu of an archery tournament) in which Ivanhoe is the mysterious challenger against Prince John’s finest is one of the highlights. Finlay Currie plays Ivanhoe’s stern and initially disapproving father Felix Aylmer plays Taylor’s. Emyln Williams plays Ivanhoe’s trusty squire freed of his lowly duties by Ivanhoe; Sebastian Cabot also appears. The film was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar as was its Color Cinematography (brilliant!) and Score.

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