Amazon.com: Among the most exciting of MGM swashbucklers, Richard Thorpe's 1952 Ivanhoe stars Robert Taylor as the medieval hero of Sir Walter Scott's novel. Returning to England from the Third Crusades, Ivanhoe is steadfast in his determination to raise the ransom for the captured King Richard (Norman Wooland), but the effort is full of peril. First is Ivanhoe's reunion with his estranged father (Finlay Currie), a Saxon who hates the Norman king and refuses to give his son the money. Then there's Ivanhoe's unpopular rescue of a wealthy Jew, Isaac (Felix Aylmer), from anti-Semites, and the subsequent decision by Isaac's beautiful daughter, Rebecca (Elizabeth Taylor), to pay Ivanhoe's entry fee in a tournament. (The strapped knight seeks the tourney's cash prize.) Wait, it gets worse: two of Ivanhoe's closest associates (played by George Sanders and Robert Douglas) collude with Richard's evil brother, Prince John (Guy Rolfe), to discredit their friend and steal away Rebecca and another woman, Rowena (Joan Fontaine)--who also fancies Ivanhoe--for themselves. Yes, the situation looks grim, but surprise appearances by a couple of legendary hero types toward the end help level the playing field. Nonstop adventure to make one swoon, Ivanhoe is a gorgeous treat and reasonably faithful to the Age of Chivalry. Things worked out so well for this film, Thorpe and Taylor got together the next year to make Knights of the Round Table. --Tom Keogh
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - True to the book!
And enjoyable film about a violent era. I first saw Ivanhoe as a teenager - not long after having read the book as a mandatory assignment in English class. The passage of more than five decades has not changed my opinion of Ivanhoe. The film is a well made classic. Anyone who reads the book feels that Ivanhoe should have squired and loved faithful, selfless Rebecca. The same holds true for the film. But these were the Middle Ages, the time of Christian fervor when Crusaders marched off to drive infidels out of the Holy Land, and Jews were lesser people in England's social structure. So, staying ... Read More
Rating: - Entertaining...
Good old-fashion fun! Love being able to show these movies to my kids and not worry about the content!! They loved the action...
Rating: - "Ivanhoe" DVD
A classic movie, based on a classic novel by from the GOOD days of Hollywood. Set during the same time frame as Robin Hood (his character is also in the movie). The jousting scenes are terrific.
Robert Taylor's character, Sir Ivanhoe, has returned from the Crusades and is searching for King Richard. When he finds the king is being held for ransom in Europe, he returns to England to try to raise the money to ransom the king. King John is on the throne, just like in Robin Hood, and is opposed to King Richard's return. There is no Sheriff of Nottingham in this movie, but King John ... Read More
Rating: - Still moving
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This is another one of those movies that proves your emotion can be evoked without any f-bombs, or any swearing at all.
WARNING: Spoiler follows.
The climax comes when, for political reasons, the Jewess Rebecca is accused of witchcraft. Sir Brian de Bois-Guilbert, the antagonist and supporter of the evil Prince John, had been making advances to her throughout the story, to no avail, because she was in love with Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe.
To save her from burning at the stake, Ivanhoe challenges the verdict by an offer to combat the prince's champion. To ... Read More
Rating: - Ivanhoe oldie but goodie
A classic film with all the bells & whistles. Considering how old this film is it still holds great character performance and directorship.
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