Elizabeth Taylor in "Ivanhoe" (1952)

Elizabeth Taylor in "Ivanhoe" (image from JSR Pages)

REVIEW:
"Ivanhoe" is an American blockbuster, produced entirely in England. M.G.M. brings together again the two Taylors (Robert and Elizabeth), this time with a huge public success.

To counter-attack the television and bring the viewers back in the theaters, M.G.M. counted on blockbusters starring big celebrities, full of color and action. With "Ivanhoe" the challange succeeded: the film was the biggest box-office success of 1952.

FILM TITLE
"IVANHOE" (U.S.A./M.G.M./1952)

PROMO
Ivanhoe's story in Technicolor! (M.G.M.)

OVERVIEW
Middle Ages in England, Saxons and Normans, Richard the Lionheart and his brother Prince John, Robin Hood, the Crusades, knights, tournaments, Ivanhoe and Rebecca - the beautiful Jewish woman ... who hasn't read Walter Scott's famous novel? The film faithfully follows the classic novel's action. In the late 12th century, the Saxons and the conquering Normans still hate each others. Unpopular Prince John roules England when his brother, Richard the Lionheart left for the 3rd Crusade. On the way home, Richard is arrested by the Austrians, and John does not want to pay the ransom. Ivanhoe, returnes to England and comes to the castle of his father, Cedric, disguised as a minstrel, but he is recognized by his servant, Wamba. After Ivanhoe reunites with Rowena, his girlfriend, he reveals his identity to his father and asks for ransom money for the King, but he is refused. To raise money, he appeals to Isaac, the Jew, whose beautiful daughter, Rebecca falls for Ivanhoe ... Next situations with countless twists, sword fights, all in crescendo, leaving the viewer breathless until the return of the King in England.

CAST
Robert Taylor (Ivanhoe), Elizabeth Taylor (Rebecca), Joan Fontaine (Rowena), George Sanders (De Bois-Gulibert).
DIRECTED BY
Richard Thorpe.
SCREENPLAY
Marguerite Roberts, Noel Langley and Aeneas MacKenzie, after Walter Scott's famous novel.
PRODUCED BY
Pandro S. Berman.
COLOR FILM
Technicolor.
DURATION
106 minutes.
GENRE
action, drama, history, romance.
PRODUCTION DATES
between July - September 1951.
RELEASED
July 1952.

NOMINATED at
- Oscar for Best Picture, Oscar for Best Cinematography (Freddie Young), Oscar for Best Music (Miklos Rozsa);
- Golden Globe for Best Music, Golden Globe for Best Film;
- DGA Award For Best Director (Richard Thorpe).

TRIVIA
- Elizabeth Taylor considered that the role of Rebecca was so inconsistent that she could have played it on the phone!

Watch TRAILER here