PRINCE VALIANT
US, 1954, 100 minutes, Colour.
James Mason, Janet Leigh, Robert Wagner, Debra Paget, Sterling Hayden, Victor Mc Laglen, Donald Crisp, Brian Aherne, Barry Jones, Tom Conway, Neville Brand.
Directed by Henry Hathaway.
Prince Valiant is one of a number of mediaeval films from 1953-1954. Somehow or other, especially with the coming of Cinemascope, the middle ages seemed very attractive to film-makers. Films of the period include The Knights of the Round Table, The Black Knight, Quentin Durward, The Black Shield of Falworth.
Since this film is based on a comic strip, it keeps to its origins with more sense than such comic strip films as The Black Shield of Falworth (with Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis).
James Mason enjoys himself as Sir Brack, the villain at the Round Table (in the year that he was Oscar-nominated, most deservedly, for his role in A Star is Born). Robert Wagner is something of the equivalent of Tony Curtis as Prince Valiant himself. Janet Leigh is the attractive Princess Aleta. Various knights are played by such stalwarts as Sterling Hayden. Brian Aherne plays King Arthur.
The film has all the popular ingredients, recreates the mediaeval atmosphere – and is directed by veteran Henry Hathaway who was moving into the Cinemascope era with a number of spectacular films.
1. How entertaining a costume drama? Why?
2. The conventions of mediaeval drama? Knights and castles, tournaments? Why do audiences like this kind of costume dram? The appeal of the Middle Ages, knighthood, King Arthur and Camelot?
3. The film was based on a comic-strip series. Was this evident? Did the film retain the comic-strip style, or did it go for something stronger and deeper?
4. The film’s use of colour, widescreen? Locations? Pageantry, music? The importance of theme for this kind of film?
5. The strengths of the plot? The hero, his romance, his growing in knighthood, the mystery of the villainous knight? How much suspense and audience involvement? The techniques to engage audience attention?
6. How interesting and attractive was Prince Valiant himself? His being pictured as a Viking, relationship to hie parents and his loyalty, the royal family in exile - audience sympathy? His ambitions the encounter with the Black Knight? His naivety at King Arthur’s Court? The details of his training? His pursuing the Black Knight? The ambush, his illness? His falling in love and the complications? The melodrama of the tournament? His escape and fight? The Viking siege? The final combat? The ingredients of a fairy tale and a fairy tale hero? Audience response to this kind of legendary hero?
7. How attractive was Aleta as the fairy tale Princess? Her appearance, falling in love with Valiant, her role in her own castle, the heroine of the tournament, the romantic mix-up? Her final capture and vindication?
8. The subplot of Sir Gawain and Ilene? The complications in romance? Sir Gawain as Valiant's tutor? The happy ending?
9. The portrayal of villainy? Sir Brack as the fairy tale villain? His nobility, the bastard, the clash with King Arthur? His plotting? The final combat and death?
10. The contribution of King Arthur and the Camelot mystique? The atmosphere of the round table and knighthood? How genuine, audience response to the ideals?
11. The picturing of knights and kings, Vikings, tournaments, battles and combat?
12. How much of the quality of legend did the film retain?
