IRONCLAD

UK, 2011, 121 minutes, Colour.
James Purefoy, Brian Cox, Kate Mara, Derek Jacobi, Paul Giamatti, Charles Dance, Jason Flemyng, Jamie Foreman, Mackenzie Crook.
Directed by Jonathan English.

Ironclad is a story of the Magna Carta, King John, the suppression of the Magna Carta and the revolt of the barons. It is presented vividly, with some accent on the gorier aspects of battles and vindictiveness in that era.

The film was directed by Jonathan English who directed Minotaur as well as a sequel to Ironclad: Battle of Blood.

The film features James Purefoy as a Knight Templar, with a vow of silence, intent on his keeping his vows and his loyalty to the rebels. Brian Cox is the Duke of Aubigny, leader of the rebels. Derek Jacobi is the Duke of Cornhill, occupier of the Castle of Rochester which holds out against King John – who is played, unexpectedly, by Paul Giamatti. Kate Mara is the Duchess of Cornhill and Charles Dance is Archbishop Langton of Canterbury. The rebels include character performances, typical of their careers, by Jason Flemyng, Jamie Foreman and Mackenzie Crook.

The bulk of the film is the detail of the siege of the Castle of Rochester and the lengths to which a small band of rebels go to preserve the castle.

1. Audience interest in mediaeval history, mediaeval society, military exploits? Magna Carta?

2. In the British monarchy, King John, his being forced to sign the Magna Carta, the failure of the document? The rebellion of the barons?

3. The 1215 setting, the south of Britain, Canterbury, Rochester, the detail of the castle? The musical score?

4. Audience knowledge of the background of Magna Carta, the opening credits sequences, John signing, the barons putting pressure, John’s reaction?

5. The character of John, his talk about his father and his discipline, his relationship with Richard, succeeding to the throne, a king and tyrant, his battles, sexual liaisons, hold onto power? His treatment of the barons? A small man, truculent and resentful? Employing the Danes as mercenaries, his lies to them? The pope annulling the Magna Carta? The French and their attack on England, yet his pride in his French heritage? The decision to lay siege to Rochester? His strategies, his soldiers, the battle tower? His whims, his cruelty, cutting off hands and feet? His defeat? His philosophy of the divine right of kings? The story of his death?

6. The Duke of Albany, representing the barons, his merchant background, John’s despising of this, the going for democracy, the strategies? His squire, the injunctions of Archbishop Langton, Marshal working with him? Going to the towns, his friends, their paying their debts and going with him? The ethos of the rebellion? His being wounded, his limbs being cut, his death?

7. Archbishop Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury, supporting the Magna Carta, the reaction of Innocent III, the threat of excommunication, the annulment of the Magna Carta? His sympathy with the rebels? Enlisting the aid of France?

8. The opening of the film, the abbot, travelling with the Knights Templar, going to castle, his arrest, the accusation of treason by King John, the betrayal by the duke, the duke being hanged? The abbot and his tongue being cut out? His death?

9. Marshal and the Templars, their vows, hard men, in the Crusades, on the side of the rebels? Capacity to fight? The vow of silence? Going to Rochester, John’s men being there, the fight and his taking the castle? His leadership? The reaction of the Duke of Cornhill? His wife and her infatuation? Preparing for the siege, training the men? Especially Albany’s squire?

10. Albany, his personality, the merchant, his recruiting his friends, the various types? Becket and his womanising and rough manner? Coteral and his family? Marks and his skill with his arrows? The spies in the town, informing on the Duke of Albany, occupying the castle?

11. The major part of the film devoted to the battle, its detail, the defences of the castle, twenty men, their skills? John, his numbers, the Danes and the leadership by Tiberius? The fireballs, the crashing of the ramparts, the defence by oil, arrows? The ladders? Swordfighting, hatchets?

12. The ebb and flow of the siege, building on their resources, the stone thrower from within the castle? The military tower – and its being burnt?

13. The final attack, the deaths, the torture of the men, the holding of the keep?

14. Marshal, his serious personality, Isabel and her reaction to her husband, talking with her maid? The infatuation with Marshal? Breaking his vows and his response? Isabel fighting with the men? The duke, his wanting to surrender, his hanging himself?

15. The final defiance? The arrival of the French?

16. John, what he had achieved – and the pathos of his death?

17. The value of this kind of realistic recreation of particular battles in history?