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Ivanhoe [1997]


RRP: £19.99
Our Price: £8.77 (subject to change)

Marvellous - at last a 'Robiun Hood' typredrama for adults.
Review date: 2008-05-20 Rating: 10 out of 10

I am not sure if this follows the classic novel accurately but it is an adult series set in the 12th century that kept me watching until the end. The story was well acted and the scenes brilliantly done. Even the costumes and surroundings were relatively accurate (no biros or aircraft scooting across the sky, or zips!!) This is a magnificent effort by the BBC.
It only has one minor drawback and that is the sound track, whilst it is not as dominant as I thought it would be, still has its moments of corny sound effects. It is an adult version of Ivanhoe so I resent the children's television soundtrack that occasionally came in but that is a very minor annoyance. I think sound engineers go into withdrawal if there is just dialogue. Anyway, it is well worth buying. Let's have some more of these where the producers do not turn everything into a medieval equivalent of a car chase or Star Wars. Great stuff.


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Reviews


Brilliant historical adventure
Review date: 2008-04-26 Rating: 8 out of 10

This is cracking stuff, and I can't believe I neglected it when it was on TV. The haircuts bothered me then - but now it's a much-loved DVD which I regularly turn to when I want to escape the dreary present.

It's the story of a moment in time: King Richard dawdles in Palestine; Prince John plots to have the throne; John's barons engage in a mad plot to kidnap the Saxon princess Rowena, and a large cast of characters become caught up in the storm. This really gives you everything: jousting tournaments, swordfighting, Saxon-Norman tensions, romance, intrigue, castles - great stuff.

It's very well cast, and in particular, is absolutely elevated by the presence of the great Ciaran Hinds as the proud, arrogant Norman Knight Templar Brian de Bois Guilbert, whose electrically charged scenes with Susan Lynch's Rebecca form the cornerstone of the whole drama. Hinds' commitment to his part makes this more than an average tv period dramatisation, and he's to be commended - likewise the scriptwriter for turning Scott's decided villain into an anti-hero, creating a triangle of Ivanhoe, Rebecca and Bois-Guilbert which provides a much more exciting scenario than that in the book (more suited to modern tastes).

Stephen Waddington does pretty well with a difficult part in Ivanhoe: he gets a raw deal, as his character is mostly in the background, but his conflicted, love-struck Ivanhoe is a warrior first, brave and strong. Elsewhere the cast list shows real quality: Susan Lynch's beautiful and noble Rebecca; Christopher Lee magnificent as the bigot Templar Grand Master Lucas de Beaumanoir; Ronald Pickup's smooth courtier, Fitzurse; Aden Gillet's plain-speaking Robin Hood; James Cosmo's proud Saxon Cedric; the list goes on and on. There's some hamminess but really, who cares? It's great stuff, well shot, gripping and different from the usual 19th century fare. I'd strongly recommend it for all-round entertainment.

Brilliant
Review date: 2008-03-19 Rating: 10 out of 10

Knights Templar, Christopher Lee, Ciaran Hinds, Saxons vs Normans, Robin Hood, Maidens is distress, this great little mini series has it all.

BBC doing Historical drama properly.

Highly recommended :o)

One of the BBC's Best Drama Series
Review date: 2008-03-11 Rating: 10 out of 10

I really can't recommend this version of Ivanhoe enough. It's a complex and absorbing tale of political intrigue, betrayal, romance, self-sacrifice and redemption. The cast they gathered together for this production is out-standing (there's many faces you'll recognise) but chief amongst them has to be Ciaran Hinds (of ROME fame) with his portrayal of Sir Brian de Bois Gilbert. This brooding character is absolutely fascinating and his love trist with the Jewess Rebecca is far more interesting than that of the hero Ivanhoe.

The whole series appears to have been filmed in actual castles, churches and manor houses rather than sets and this definitley gives the programme a more authentic feel. The scenery too is spectacular and varies from very British looking woodland, craggy highlands and wind-swept moors.

If I had to pick any faults for Ivanhoe it would be the occasional niggling editing error. For example, during the joust a knight wearing a helmet with enormous horns sprouting out of the top of it gets un-horsed and his helmet clearly goes flying off his head. In the next shot the character is sat on his backside pulling the helmet off that's magically re-appeared back on his head! There's a couple more unfortunate incidents like this but they really don't detract from what is an otherwise brilliant piece of television.

A great mini series
Review date: 2008-02-10 Rating: 8 out of 10

The television series "Ivanhoe" from 1997, are among the very best tv-series about life in the english middle age. Sir Walter Scotts classic adventure story about the young saxon knight Ivanhoe, who upon his return from the Crusades, finds a much changed England, is truly both dramatic and exciting. The evil prince John, and his vicious norman knights, is oppressing the saxon people. And the Templar knight, Brian de Bois-Guilbert, has spread a lot of false ruomors about Ivanhoe, accusing him of being a coward on the battlefield. Ivanhoe sets out to clear his name, and to deffend the saxon pepople. Among the young knights friends are the mysterious Black Knight, who in fact is the rightfull king of England, Richard the Lion-Hearted. There are many players in this fine drama, among them are the fanatic grandmaster of the Knights Templar, played to perfection by Christopher Lee (Dracula, The Lord of the Rings).

The 1982 version of Ivanhoe was a very good adaption of the book, but maybe a bit to glamorous. This version shows the middle age as a grim and dirty period, as it in many ways was. A great production, but I can not award it 5 stars, mainly because some of the tournament and battle scenes have to few people in them. I suspect that there was some budget constraints. That said, the castle siege stil manage to be full of action and excitement. This is a great piece of television enertainment. I highly recomend it if you are into period drama and adventure.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Christopher Lee
Victoria Smurfit
Sian Phillips
Ciaran Hinds

Creators:
Christopher Lee (Primary Contributor)
Sian Phillips (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Acorn Media
Manufacturer: Acorn Media
EAN: 5036193096372
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 2
Format: Closed-captioned, PAL,
Release date: 2008-02-04
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 306 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1997
Language: English (Unknown)

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