"Ivanhoe" (1997) (mini)TV mini-series

Director:

Stuart Orme

Writers:

Deborah Cook (writer)
Sir Walter Scott (novel)

Release Date:

21 July 1998 (Sweden)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Anti Hero | Knights Templar | 1100s | Anti Semitism | Castle

Cast

Roger Ashton-Griffiths	...	Prior Aymer
Chris Barnes	...	Priest
David Barrass	...	Hubert
Niven Boyd	...	Oswald
Nick Brimble	...	Front de Boeuf
Ralph Brown	...	Prince John
David Catherine	...	Saxon Lord
Jimmy Chisholm	...	Wamba
Trevor Cooper	...	Gurth
James Cosmo	...	Cedric
Ron Donachie	...	Friar Tuck
Simon Donald	...	Louis Winkelbrand
Rory Edwards	...	King Richard
Aden Gillett	...	Robin of Locksley
Patrick Gordon	...	Austrian Courtier
David Graham	...	Nathan Ben Israel
Cynthia Grenville	...	Elgitha
Peter Guinness	...	Montfitchet
Ciarán Hinds	...	Brian de Bois-Guilbert
David Horovitch	...	Isaac
Demetri Jagger	...	Squire
Dermot Keaney	...	Brother Ambrose
Tim Killick	...	Man at Rotherwood
Ken Kitson	...	Henry Bohun
Jack Klaff	...	Malvoisin
Rosalind Knight	...	Edith
Renny Krupinski	...	Bardon
Christopher Lee	...	Lucas de Beaumanoir
Susan Lynch	...	Rebecca
Ciaran Madden	...	Urfried
Ewan Marshall	...	Higg
Peter Needham	...	Abbot
David Nicholls	...	Little John
Valentine Pelka	...	Maurice de Bracy
Siân Phillips	...	Queen Eleanor
Ronald Pickup	...	Fitzurse
Victoria Smurfit	...	Lady Rowena
Steven Waddington	...	Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe
John Wagland	...	Buthan
Chris Walker	...	Athelstane
Martin Walsh	...	Young Guard

Runtime:

270 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Singapore:PG | UK:12

Filming Locations:

Ashridge Park, Little Gaddesden, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

A&E Television Networks

Trivia:

Christopher Lee's first acting role for the BBC since 1947.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the final showdown between Ivanhoe and Brian de Bois-Guilbert, Ivanhoe cuts Brian de Bois-Guilbert's shield in half. In the next scene we see Brian de Bois-Guilbert turn his horse for a new charge, and his shield is undamaged. But when he reaches Ivanhoe, the shield is broken again.

Quotes:

Brian de Bois-Guilbert: [lying defeated on the ground, whispering to Ivanhoe] In Austria, I was not brave enough to die for Richard... but for her...
[turning his face to look at Rebecca]
Brian de Bois-Guilbert: [to Ivanhoe] Do it!

Movie Connections:

Version of Ivanhoe (1952)

Once again, the BBC regales us with an astounding and outstanding production

After having been unduly assaulted by Jerry Zucker's unacceptable interpretation of British folklore in `First Knight' (1995) (qv) with an overaged Richard Gere doing his best – which is not much – to be a romantic young dashing philanthropic Lancelot, it was a blessing indeed to come across this 1997 version of `Ivanhoe' from the BBC, shown here over Christmas on a regional channel in two hefty parts.

Years ago I thrilled reading Sir Walter Scott's excellent adventure stories – Rob Roy, Westward Ho!, Ivanhoe, etc. A few days ago I thrilled seeing the written word converted into a brilliant film for TV. Magnificently photographed mostly in the north of England and the south east of Scotland, the film adheres faithfully to the 44 chapters of Scott's book, such that you could almost follow it on screen page by page. Superb directing by Stuart Orme, specialist in TV films and series, which produces convincing performances from all the actors. Battle scenes on the North York Moors, around the alleyways of Craigmillar and Doune Castles, astounding scenery somewhere up on the Northumberland coast, all added up to a dramatic telling of this legendary novel.

Probably one of the very best medieval tales I have ever seen on film: once again the BBC has shown it is capable of really high-class intelligent viewing. If you should doubt this, try the magnificent BBC production of Stendahl's great novel `Scarlet and Black' (1993) (mini) (qv) directed by Ben Bolt. Thoroughly recommendable. Just about the best that can possibly be put on television – or even at the cinema.