Ivanhoe (1952) | (Laserdisc) | USED

Title: Ivanhoe (1952)

Genre: Historical Adventure / Epic

Plot Synopsis
After returning from the Crusades, a Saxon knight embarks on a mission to free a captured English king held in Austria for ransom. Back home, he disguises himself and becomes entangled with Norman knights, a noble ward, and a Jewish healer who aids him. Tournament drama, betrayals, and castle sieges follow, culminating in a trial by combat to save the healer from execution and restore rightful rule to the throne.

Cast and Crew

• Director: Richard Thorpe

• Writers: Aeneas MacKenzie, Noel Langley, Marguerite Roberts

• Cast:

  • Robert Taylor as Ivanhoe

  • Elizabeth Taylor as Rebecca

  • Joan Fontaine as Rowena

  • George Sanders as De Bois-Guilbert

  • Emlyn Williams as Wamba

YouTube Trailer: Ivanhoe | Trailer

IMDb Link: Ivanhoe 1952 

Reviews from Letterboxd

1. Clintarantino – ★★★★☆
   “Loved the fights, the pacing and the whole story. I would have rather seen another actor in Ivanhoes role but it’s ok. Also I surely would have loved to watch this in my childhood to enjoy it even more.”

2. Taylor Leverage – ★★★☆☆
   “A classic conflict between Normans and Saxons – but someone really needs to remind you which side you’re supposed to be rooting for; it’s not like an ’80s movie where the villains wear devious eyepatches.”

3. Jake Alda Coffey – ★★☆☆☆
   “Ivanhoe has a strong cast, but most of their performances aren’t memorable and many of their characters come off too one dimensional. The execution of this medieval epic comes off flat and uninspired. It’s mildly entertaining at times, but a lot of it, particularly in the first half, is a bit of a slog.”

4. Dale Nauertz – ★★★☆☆
   “The plot is sometimes challenging to follow. Robert Taylor is a solid hero as Ivanhoe, but he lacks the dashing quality of an Errol Flynn or Tyrone Power (check out ‘The Mark of Zorro’, it’s fantastic). Joan Fontaine is pretty and solid as the object of Ivanhoe’s affections. But then Elizabeth Taylor shows up and hijacks the film.”

5. Saul Lazenby – ★★★★☆
   “The film had a good story with a great cast. Most of the characters were likeable and Elizabeth Taylor has to be the most beautiful woman ever. Overall I enjoyed the movie very much.”

Meta Description:
A lavish Technicolor epic of knights, tournaments, and political intrigue set in medieval England, featuring Robert Taylor, Elizabeth Taylor, and Joan Fontaine.