IVANHOE
UK, 1982, 142 minutes, Colour.
Anthony Andrews, Lysette Anthony, James Mason, Sam Neill, Olivia Hussey, Michael Hordern, John Rhys Davies.
Directed by Douglas Camfield.
Ivanhoe is a colourful remake of the 1952 adventure with Robert Taylor and Elizabeth Taylor. It is filmed colourfully on English locations and has costumes and decor to highlight aspects of the mediaeval times. There is action and adventure, politics and romance.
James Mason is highlighted as Isaac of York. The hero, Ivanhoe, is Anthony Edwards (Brideshead Revisited) and the villain is Sam Neill. 01ivia Hussey has the Elizabeth Taylor role as Rebecca of York.
1. Entertaining telemovie, scope and scale, stars?
2. Production values: location photography, mediaeval period atmosphere?
3. Action and pageantry, chivalry and romance? The world of Sir Walter Scott transferred to the screen?
4. The situation in England: the Crusades, Richard the Lionheart on the Crusades, Prince John usurping his power, the clashes between Normans and Saxons, the place of the Jews?
5. Wilfred of Ivanhoe as a Saxon, at the Crusades, imprisoned, loyalty to Richard the Lionheart, the return, getting the money for the king's ransom, his family, his love for Rowena? Bois Gilbert and the clashes, Isaac and Rebecca, the rescue of Rebecca? The moneys and the redemption of Richard? The jousts, the vindication? Ivanhoe as the romantic hero?
6. Bois Gilbert: knight and chivalry, Norman, loyalties, encounters with Isaac, in love with Rebecca, the jousts, his death?
7. Isaac as an elder amongst the Jews, their status in England, his life, the money lending, contacting all the Jews to raise the ransom for King Richard, persecution and dangers, his love for Rebecca? Rebecca and her place amongst the Jewish community, prison, love for Bois Gilbert and his being her champion?
8. The royal court, the family of Ivanhoe, Rowena as the lady of chivalry?
9. The contrast between Richard and John? Clashes, the usurping of power, tyranny? The nobility and their loyalties?
10. The blend of action and adventure, romance! A glimpse of the Middle Ages?
