Ivanhoe (1952 film)

Ivanhoe is a 1952 dramatic historical adventure film based on Sir Walter Scott's 1820 novel of the same name. The film was released to theaters on July 31, 1952 and has a run time of 106 minutes.

Plot
Richard the Lionheart, King of England, vanishes while returning from the Crusades. One of his knights, the Saxon Wilfred of Ivanhoe, searches tirelessly for him, finally finding him being held by Leopold of Austria for an enormous ransom. Richard's treacherous brother, Prince John, knows about it, but enjoys ruling in his absence.

Ivanhoe returns to England to his estranged father, Cedric, to be reunited with his love and Cedric's ward, the Lady Rowena, and to beg his father's help in raising the ransom. Cedric refuses to help a Norman king and orders his son to leave. Wamba, Cedric's court jester, begs to go with Ivanhoe and is made his squire.

Two separate parties of travellers arrive and are granted Cedric's hospitality: a Jew, Isaac of York, and Norman knights Brian de Bois-Guilbert and Hugh de Bracy, and their entourage. That night, two Normans try to rob Isaac, but are foiled by Ivanhoe. Not feeling safe, Isaac decides to return home to Sheffield; Ivanhoe offers to escort him there.

When they reach Isaac's home, Ivanhoe secures his help in raising the ransom by promising better treatment for the Jews once Richard returns. Rebecca, Isaac's daughter, visits Ivanhoe secretly in the night to reward him for rescuing her father; she gives him jewels to purchase arms and a horse for an important upcoming joust. She falls in love with him, despite the great social gulf between them.

Nearly everyone of note is at the tournament, including Prince John. Norman knights loyal to him defeat all comers. Just when it seems that they are victorious, a mysterious Saxon knight appears, arrayed all in black, with white trim, his face hidden behind his visor. He does not give his name, but challenges all five Norman champions. He easily defeats the first three, Malvoisin, Ralph, and Front de Boeuf, one after the other, and also wins the fourth bout against de Bracy, but is seriously wounded in the shoulder. His identify is guessed by some. When Ivanhoe salutes Rebecca, Bois-Guilbert is immediately smitten by her beauty. In the last joust against Bois-Guilbert, Ivanhoe falls from his horse. He is carried off, to be tended to by Rebecca.

Fearing Prince John's wrath, the Saxons depart; Ivanhoe is taken to the woods under the protection of Robin Hood. The rest make for the city of York, but are captured and taken to the castle of Front de Boeuf. When Ivanhoe hears the news, he gives himself up in exchange for his father's freedom. However, the Normans treacherously keep them both. Robin Hood's men storm the castle. In the fighting, de Boeuf drives Wamba to his death in a burning part of the castle and is slain in turn by Ivanhoe. Bois-Guilbert alone escapes, using Rebecca as a human shield, while de Bracy is captured after attempting the same with Rowena.

Meanwhile, the enormous ransom is finally collected, but the Jews face a cruel choice: free either Richard or Rebecca, for Prince John has set the price of her life at 100,000 marks, the Jews' contribution. Isaac chooses Richard. Ivanhoe promises Isaac that he will rescue Rebecca.

At Rebecca's trial, she is condemned to be burned at the stake as a witch, but Ivanhoe appears and challenges the verdict, invoking the right to "wager of battle." Prince John chooses Bois-Guilbert as the court's champion. Bois-Guilbert makes a last desperate plea to Rebecca:, he would forfeit the duel in return for her love, though he would be forever disgraced. She refuses, saying, "We are all in God's hands, sir knight."

In the battle to the death, Ivanhoe is unhorsed, but manages to pull Bois-Guilbert from his horse and inflict a mortal wound with his battle axe. As he lies dying, Bois-Guilbert tells Rebecca that it is he who loves her, not Ivanhoe. Rebecca acknowledges this to Rowena.

King Richard and his knights arrive to reclaim the throne from his brother. The King calls on his kneeling people to rise, not as Normans or Saxons, but as Englishmen.

Differences from the Novel

 * Odd for the era of this films release the hero, Ivanhoe kills two Normans during the siege of Torquilstone in dishonorable fashion- stabbing one (a sentry) in the back with a dagger and the other (a squire) he shoots in the back with a crossbow. Not only does such action go against the 1950s film standard that only villains kill in such a fashion but such actions are not found in the novel where Ivanhoe is the epitome of chilvary.