Ivanhoe - The Black Knight
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Ivanhoe - The Black Knight |
| Original title | Ivanhoe |
| Country of production | USA , UK |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1952 |
| length | 106 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 12 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Richard Thorpe |
| script | Noel Langley |
| production | Pandro S. Berman / MGM |
| music | Miklós Rózsa |
| camera | Freddie Young |
| cut | Frank Clarke |
| occupation | |
| |
Ivanhoe is an American - British knight film from 1952 based on the novel Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott . Directed by Richard Thorpe , it stars Robert Taylor , Elizabeth Taylor and Joan Fontaine . In particular, the film's music and setting are considered groundbreaking for many other representatives of the genre .
action
prolog
The knight Wilfred von Ivanhoe travels through the country looking for King Richard the Lionheart , who suddenly disappeared on his return from the Holy Land . He struck gold at a castle in Austria, where Leopold V. held Richard prisoner. Richard's brother, Prince John, has refused to pay the ransom of 150,000 silver marks and has joined forces with some Norman princes to usurp the throne of England.
Normans at Rotherwood Castle
Disguised as a simple singer, Ivanhoe returns to England. The Norman knights Brian de Bois-Guilbert and Hugh de Bracy are on their way to the tournament in Ashby with their entourage in the woods . Ivanhoe joins the squad and recommends Rotherwood for night quarters. There the Anglo-Saxon Cedric, who has rejected his son Ivanhoe because he had moved to the Holy Land against his will, reluctantly, but in the spirit of hospitality, offers them the Lord's Supper and night camp. When the aged Jew Isaac of York asks for shelter, the Normans speak out against it, but Cedric orders that the guest be made room. Shortly after Cedric has told the Normans that no Anglo-Saxon shares the table with conquerors, his protégé Lady Rowena comes in and sits down at their table. Rowena asks about an Anglo-Saxon knight who, along with Richard, had proven himself to be a particularly good fighter at the Battle of Acre . His name was Wilfred von Ivanhoe.
Ivanhoe finally reveals himself to his father and asks him to pay part of the ransom for Richard. Cedric refuses, believing Richard the Lionheart is long gone, and demands that Ivanhoe leave his house. Ivanhoe then decides to meet the Normans in the tournament and makes the serf Wamba his squire . Two Norman soldiers meanwhile approach the sleeping Isaac of York with the intention of ambushing him. Ivanhoe and Wamba arrive and beat up the robbers. Then they take horses and accompany Isaac to Sheffield .
Ivanhoe in Sheffield
Although King Richard looted the Jewish temples to fund the crusade, Isaac, in gratitude to Ivanhoe, tries to raise the ransom. The following night, Isaac's daughter Rebecca, who fell in love with Ivanhoe at first sight, went to Ivanhoe disguised as a maid. She hands him her jewelry so that he can get equipment for the tournament.
The tournament at Ashby
Five Normans, including Brian de Bois-Guilbert and Hugh de Bracy, knock five Anglo-Saxons out of the saddle on the Ashby show ground. Isaac and Rebecca are among the audience. Finally, a black knight rides in front of him who withholds his name and merely states that he is an Anglo-Saxon and a follower of King Richard. He now challenges the Norman knights to battle. Ivanhoe, who is hidden under the black knight armor, lowers his lance in front of Rebecca and shows her his appreciation.
Cedric is delighted when the black knight lifts one Normandy after the other from the saddle. Bois-Guilbert, who has his eye on Rebecca, is certain that he has seen the black knight fight before. De Bracy is eventually lifted from the saddle as well. But he manages to wound Ivanhoe on the shoulder. Since the black knight has already defeated four out of five opponents and can no longer lose, Prince John donates a diadem , which the winner should present to his lady of the heart. To the delight of the Anglo-Saxons, Ivanhoe chooses Rowena.
In the last lance walk, Brian de Bois-Guilbert is badly hit and staggered, but Ivanhoe, already impaired by the wound, only makes it to the end of the arena and then falls from his horse. With Prince John there is quiet joy, with the Saxons and especially with Rowena horror. Cedric sends Rowena to Ivanhoe's tent, who meets Rebecca there. Ivanhoe is seriously injured and sees himself as a loser because he could not clearly defeat Bois-Guilbert. Rowena wants to get a doctor, but Rebecca would rather help Ivanhoe herself. Rowena realizes that Rebecca loves Ivanhoe and gives in because she trusts in Jewish healing. It is agreed that Ivanhoe should be brought to Isaac's house in Sheffield and that Wamba should serve as a regular messenger. A spy (de Bois-Guilberts squire) observes and reports the events.
At the Lord's Supper, Bois-Guilbert realizes that Ivanhoe is the black knight and that he wants to get the ransom from the Jews. Prince John sends out his knights to catch Ivanhoe. Robin is notified of this via the outlaw arrow mail from Locksley , who is on Ivanhoe's side. Meanwhile, Rebecca languishes at the sleeping Ivanhoe. Her father notices her feelings and advises her that Jews and Christians are not allowed to marry each other. When Ivanhoe wakes up, he learns from the rushing Locksley that the Normans are after him. Ivanhoe follows Locksley into the woods, while Wamba, at Ivanhoe's request, brings Isaac and Rebecca to join Cedric and Rowena.
The battle for Torquilstone Castle
On the way to Rotherwood, the travelers are captured by the Normans and taken to Torquilstone Castle. Ivanhoe rides to the castle alone and is ready to face Prince John if the prisoners are released in return. Bois-Guilbert agrees, but breaks his word and has Cedric and Ivanhoe taken to the torture room to find out where the ransom is.
When De Bracy tries to propose to her, Rowena slaps her across the face. Bois-Guilbert also has marriage plans. But Rebecca wants to rush down the battlements rather than take him for a husband. A horn signal finally announces the arrival of the outlaws from the woods. Locksley demands the surrender of the prisoners. Bois-Guilbert wants to stir up the hatred of the outlaws and has Ivanhoe brought to the keep . The Norman Front de Boeuf wants to rush Ivanhoe down spontaneously and takes the rope from him for this purpose. Ivanhoe then manages to escape to the basement, where he frees the prisoners. When a fire breaks out, Front de Boeuf rushes out with two men to put it out. Ivanhoe defeats him and fights his way to Rowena together with Cedric. But Wamba perishes in the fire. Locksley's trusted brother Tuck meanwhile leads a group with a ram against the gate. When the gate breaks, the attackers enter.
Rebecca in court
Bois-Guilbert escapes with Rebecca and rushes to Prince John. Waldemar Fitzurse advises accusing Rebecca of being a witch in order to lure Ivanhoe and blackmail the Jews. Cedric, Rowena and several helpers look at a table full of money and valuables in York . To complete the ransom, Isaac brings a parchment worth 100,000 silver marks in Vienna. When the news arrives that Rebecca will be released for 100,000 silver marks, Isaac with a heavy heart decides to give up his daughter in favor of Richard. However, Ivanhoe is determined to save Rebecca too.
Rebecca is eventually charged with witchcraft in court. When she refuses to confess and renounce her Jewish faith, Prince John breaks off the questioning and Fitzurse announces Rebecca's death sentence. Ivanhoe, previously a secret spectator in the audience, steps forward and demands a divine judgment in a duel. According to the law, this must be granted. Rebecca, who is about to be executed at the stake, accepts Ivanhoe as her fighter. Prince John chooses Brian de Bois-Guilbert as an opponent. He is ready not to fight and lose his honor as a knight if Rebecca hears him. But Rebecca declines his offer.
Bois-Guilbert chooses the morning star as his weapon and Ivanhoe the ax. During the fight, Ivanhoe is thrown from his horse. Bois-Guilbert continues to hit his opponent from his horse. Ivanhoe finally tears Bois-Guilbert off his horse and hits him in the chest with an ax. The fight is just over when Richard rides in with his entourage and faces his brother with a reproachful look. Rebecca rushes to Ivanhoe, but realizes that he belongs to Rowena. She therefore turns to the dying Bois-Guilbert. Finally, King Richard gives a speech. The people break out in frenetic jubilation.
background
Ivanhoe was the first film in the knight trilogy by the trio of Pandro S. Berman (producer), Richard Thorpe (director) and Robert Taylor (male lead). It deals with the climax of the knighthood under King Richard the Lionheart, while the successor The Knights of the Round Table (1953) the beginnings under King Arthur and the third film Love, Death and the Devil (1955, based on the novel Quentin Durward by Walter Scott) dedicated to the end of this era.
A huge castle complex was built for Ivanhoe on the site of the British MGM studios in Borehamwood , which was later used for other knight films. Alfred Junge was employed as the film architect. The shooting took place from July to September 1951. Another location was Doune Castle in Scotland . The budget for the film was just under four million dollars.
Ivanhoe - The Black Knight premiered in London on June 12, 1952 . For MGM, the film became the most successful film of the year, with grossing more than 6.2 million dollars. In Germany the film was released on March 28, 1953.
Differences from the novel
An essential difference between the film and the novel is the outcome of the final court battle between Ivanhoe and the Knights Templar. While Brian De Bois-Guilbert in the novel is not struck down by Ivanhoe, but by a higher power (from a modern point of view, possibly a stroke , heat stroke or heart attack ), Ivanhoe in the film wins the "final battle" apparently on his own.
The German title addition “The Black Knight” applies to Ivanhoe's colors in the knight tournament (film), but in Scott's novel it bears the title “Desdichado” on the shield. In the novel, Richard the Lionheart is hidden behind the black knight, who later commands the attack on Torquilstone Castle. Ivanhoe himself is still wounded in the castle during the attack.
Reviews
"Thanks to a good cast and rich equipment, a captivating portrayal of the High Middle Ages."
"The classic of the knight film in dreamlike colors [...]. Conclusion: Monumental fairy tale with heart and action. "
"With Ivanhoe - The Black Knight , director Richard Thorpe staged grandiose Hollywood cinema and the prime example of knight films."
Awards
The film was nominated for three Oscars in 1953 in the categories of Best Picture , Best Cinematography and Best Score. Director Richard Thorpe received a Directors Guild of America Award nomination . In addition, the film received a Golden Globe nomination for its statement to promote international understanding, and Miklós Rózsa for the film music .
German version
The German dubbing was created in 1953 in the MGM synchronization studio in Berlin.
| role | actor | Voice actor |
|---|---|---|
| Wilfred from Ivanhoe | Robert Taylor | Paul Klinger |
| Rebecca | Elizabeth Taylor | Bettina Schön |
| Rowena | Joan Fontaine | Tilly Lauenstein |
| Brian De Bois-Guilbert | George Sanders | Walther Suessenguth |
| Wamba | Emlyn Williams | Clemens Hasse |
| Hugh de Bracy | Robert Douglas | Fritz Tillmann |
| Cedric | Finlay Currie | Otto Stoeckel |
| Isaac of York | Felix Aylmer | Franz Weber |
| Front de Boeuf | Francis De Wolff | Walter Altenkirch |
| Richard the Lionheart | Norman Wooland | Axel Monjé |
| Waldemar Fitzurse | Basil Sydney | Karl Schönböck |
| Locksley | Harold Warrender | Wolf Martini |
| Dog beard | John Ruddock | Carl Heinz Carell |
| norman guardian | Valentine Dyall | Franz Nicklisch |
| Prince John | Guy Rolfe | Otto Matthies |
Soundtrack
- Miklós Rózsa : Ivanhoe. The Complete Motion Picture Score . Intrada, San Francisco 1994, sound carrier no. MAF 7055D - digital re-recording of the full score by the Sinfonia of London under the baton of Bruce Broughton
literature
- Walter Scott : Ivanhoe . Novel. dtv, Munich 2007, ISBN 978-3-423-13587-0 .
- Heinrich Adolf: Richard Thorpe: Ivanhoe (1952) . In: Christian Kiening, Heinrich Adolf (Hrsg.): Middle Ages in Film . Berlin 2006, pp. 227-247.
- Annegret Holtmann: Medieval Jews in the historical culture of modernity - the example of "Ivanhoe" . In: Sigrid Hirbodian u. a. (Ed.): Pro multis beneficiis . Trier 2012, pp. 303–321.
Web links
- Ivanhoe - The Black Knight in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- Ivanhoe at Turner Classic Movies (English)
- Review of the film music on cinemusic.de
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b cf. cinema.de
- ↑ Michael T. Toole: Ivanhoe (1952) - Articles. In: Turner Classic Movies . Retrieved June 15, 2019 .
- ↑ a b Ivanhoe - The black knight. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed June 15, 2019 .
- ↑ Film review ( memento from January 7, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) on br-online
- ↑ Ivanhoe, the black knight. In: Synchrondatenbank.de. Retrieved June 15, 2019 .