Ivanhoe
GenreAdventure
Drama
Epic
Historical
Romance
Based onIvanhoe
1819 novel
by Sir Walter Scott
Written byJohn Gay
Directed byDouglas Camfield
StarringAnthony Andrews
Sam Neill
Michael Hordern
James Mason
Olivia Hussey
Music byAllyn Ferguson
Country of originUnited Kingdom
United States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducersNorman Rosemont
William Hill (associate)
CinematographyJohn Coquillon
EditorBill Blunden
Running time142 minutes
Production companiesRosemont Productions
Columbia Pictures Television
Original release
NetworkCBS (US)
Release23 February 1982 (1982-02-23)
NetworkITV (UK)
Release26 September 1982 (1982-09-26)
Related

Ivanhoe is a 1982 British-American made-for-television historical romance film. An adaptation of Sir Walter Scott's 1819 novel of the same name, it stars Anthony Andrews in the title role. The film was directed by Douglas Camfield, with a screenplay written by John Gay. It depicts the noble knight Ivanhoe returning home from the Third Crusade and becoming involved in a power struggle for the throne of England.

Brian de Bois-Guilbert is treated more ambiguously than in most versions of the story. He develops some genuine affection for Rebecca of York towards the end, and although he could easily have won the fight against the wounded and weakened Wilfred of Ivanhoe, Brian de Bois-Guilbert lowers his sword and allows himself to be killed, thus saving Rebecca's life.

Plot summary

Upon returning from the Crusades, Ivanhoe, Robin Hood and the Saxons work to restore King Richard to the throne with opposition from Prince John, his Norman knights, and the Knights Templar.

Cast

Production

The film was part of a slate of films from Columbia Pictures Television then under Herman Rush.[1] Anthony Andrews' casting was announced in September 1981.[2] "It's impossible to make Ivanhoe without being a bit tongue in cheek," said Andrews.[3]

Michael Hordern said, "You could change our costumes from 12th Century to 20th Century and have us running about in automobiles instead of on horseback, and you could do the same story in terms of prejudice is still very strong. Human nature doesn't seem to have changed very much since Cedric's time."[4]

It was filmed at Pinewood Studios and the historic Bamburgh Castle and Alnwick Castle in Northumberland.

"The problem with Ivanhoe is that he is whiter than white, cleaner than clean", said Andrews. "He's a straight-cut hero with no rough edge. Each time he opens his mouth, he says something incredibly just. The problem was to turn him into a human being."[5]

Julian Glover had played the role of Richard I previously in the Doctor Who serial The Crusade (1965), which was also directed by Camfield.

Broadcast and reception

The film premiered on CBS in the US on 23 February 1982 and was first broadcast in the UK on 26 September 1982 on ITV.[6]

In Sweden, where it first aired over TV 1 on 31 December 1982[7] the film's airing annually around Christmas–New Year has become a tradition.[8]

The score by Allyn Ferguson was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1982.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ SETTING A TV STUDIO BACK ON COURSE: RUSH: HE TURNED COLUMBIA AROUND Smith, Cecil. Los Angeles Times 02 Sep 1981: g1.
  2. ^ UPDATE Margulies, Lee. Los Angeles Times 6 Sep 1981: r5.
  3. ^ Days M old Colvin, Clore. The Observer 27 Sep 1981: 31
  4. ^ COVER STORY; ANDREWS STARS IN TV'S IVANHOE'; BRIDESHEAD'S' SEBASTIAN PLAYS SCOTT'S SWASHBUCKLING HERO: [FIRST Edition] Jack Thomas Globe Staff. Boston Globe 21 Feb 1982: 1.
  5. ^ BEING CAREFUL IS NOT IN MY NATURE' Blau, Eleanor. New York Times 21 Feb 1982: A.21.
  6. ^ James Champman (2015). Ivanhoe. Swashbucklers. ISBN 9780719098932. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  7. ^ "Ivanhoe" (in Swedish). Swedish Film Database. 31 December 1982. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  8. ^ ""Ivanhoe"-stjärnan [Sam Neil]: "Hatad av alla i Sverige"". Aftonbladet. Aftonbladet.se. January 2016.
  9. ^ "Ivanhoe". emmys.com. Retrieved 3 January 2022.

External links

Walter Scott's Ivanhoe
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