TrueJoshNight Truly Dreadful Film

WillSushyMedia This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

Taraparain Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

Hadrina The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

JohnHowardReid Copyright 1955 by Loew's Inc. An M-G-M picture. U.S. release: 21 October 1955. New York opening at the Mayfair: 23 November 1955. U.K. release: 26 March 1956. Australian release: 11 April 1956. Sydney opening at the St James. 9,011 feet. 100 minutes. SYNOPSIS: Refusing to marry her aged suitor, a duke's ward flees to the king.NOTES: M-G-M embarked on a movie version of Sir Walter Scott's "Ivanhoe" in 1952. This marked the first time any Scott novel had been filmed since way back in 1923. The enormous box-office success of the new "Ivanhoe: prompted M-G-M to follow up with "Quentin Durward". Both these films were directed by super-fast, economy- conscious Richard Thorpe, who also turned his hand to M-G-M's first CinemaScope production, "Knights of the Round Table" (1953). These three movies all share two other features — they were all lensed in England and all starred Robert Taylor.COMMENT: Knighthood is indeed in full flower in this handsomely produced, energetically directed adaptation of Sir Walter Scott's classic novel of a Scottish swordsman's adventures at the French court. Mind you, Robert Taylor is certainly no Scot, but he plays the role with such dash and finesse, it really doesn't matter that his accent is all wrong for the part. And he's helped out by a truly wonderful support cast, including the lovely, high-spirited yet suitably vulnerable Kay Kendall in an ideal role, and Robert Morley perfectly at home as the crafty king. Except for one unfortunate scene (the rape of the monastery), director Richard Thorpe and screenwriter Robert Ardrey keep a nice balance between adventure and comedy. With the exception of this one scene, the film maintains the right flavor of derring-do and then comes to a fine action climax in a blazing bell-tower. The sets and color 'Scope photography are also most attractive.

ma-cortes 1955 classic movie directed by Richard Thorpe with a good cast and mighty spectacle about Medieval knights and the famed romance in color magnificence . Spectacular and above average adaptation derived from Sir Walter Scott classic novel . This MGM Cinemascope production from the company and producers ( Pandro S Berman ) that gave you Quo Vadis, Ivanhoe among others and only this Production Company could bring it so magnificently to the screen . The classic story of romantic adventure come to life enriched by Technicolor and with such great stars as Robert Taylor , Robert Morley, Duncan Lamont and Kay Kendall . Nice family fare with romance and great action scenes . Film which proved to be notable success in this lively rendition about chivalry and knighthood in century XV , France . Knights battle each other and woo maidens on this chivalrous epic romance . This splendid version , in superb Technicolor , of Sir Walter Scott's classic epic tale starts in 15th century , 1465 , when a man of honour , Knight Quentin Duward , a suitable noble wielding a sword and courage is assigned by his uncle to travel to France to meet Isabelle (Kay Kendall) and for political reasons to marry her . But Charles (Clunes)the Duke of Burgund has other plans and she is utilized as pawn in a deadly game . Meanwhile the young countess renounces the marriage proposition and flees, when is suddenly attached by the De La Marck's devious underlings , being saved by Duward . In order to regain his freedom , he protects her but Durward finds they're being double-crossed by the King Louis XI who has a likable confidant , a barber named Oliver (Wilfrid Hyde White). But Quentin will stop at nothing to assume his mission. Quentin join forces with Hayraddin (George Cole) against William De La Marck (Duncan Lamont)-the Beast of Ardenas- and his hoodlums who attack the stronghold. Sir Walter Scott's story of romance and chivalry in Medieval France is faithfully brought to life in this awesome film in which Robert Taylor stars as Quentin Durward who fights the evil William De La Marck and his hoodlums in an attempt to restore Louis XI to the throne facing Charles the Reckless . This enjoyable film displays romance, chivalry, knighthood , daring adventures and lots of action with spectacular castle attack and overwhelming final that includes a breathtaking confrontation in a bell tower at its climax . The fighting , brawls , duels and other action sequences with a plethora of sword-fights involving maces, axes and lances are magnificently handled . The authentic fight images are among the most spectacular ever shot , as the ending duel between the dastardly William De La Marck excellently played by Duncan Lamont and Quentin is impressive . This one proved notable hit as well as the former adventure movies starred by Robert Taylor . This is an overwhelming tale with adventures, villainy,romance and heroism in the grandeur of Cinemascope although in television set lost splendor. Luscious costumes and gowns specially suited for Kay Kendall . The film packs a glamorous and luminous cinematography by Christopher Challis and evocative musical score by Bronislou Kaper . This is the third on a magnificent trilogy of movies realized by M.G.M. in Great Britain with Robert Taylor , produced by Pandro S Berman and directed by Richard Thorpe , the other were : ¨Ivanhoe and Kights of the Round Table¨. The picture is excellently handled by Thorpe , an expert on adventure movie as proved in ¨All the brothers were valiant , Prisoner of Zenda , The prodigal and many others ¨. The picture will appeal to aficionados with chivalric ideals and historic movies fans.

CarrJL You know a movie is in trouble when the worst parts are the action sequences. The cast does the best they can with the material, particularly Robert Morley as the scheming Louis XI, but the movie lacks originality and can't overcome comparisons to much better historical action films of this era.

Nazi_Fighter_David Richard Thorpe managed a few amusing moments in "The Adventures of Quentin Durward" which has a trapped Kay Kendall, whose only hard way to escape was to get rid from the evil black villain William De La Marck (Ducan Lamont).Robert Taylor (Quentin Durward) engaged with De La Marck a rare but extremely exciting duel to-the-death with ax and dagger in the burning bell tower, swinging on the bell ropes in a rhythmic motion, getting from side to side with the sound of the ringing bells, until the destruction of the vile Count...The best part of the film is the performance of the delicious heroine, Kay Kendall, 'one of the Cinema's few outstanding Comediennes,'whose beauty and artistic talent flourished the story, set in the 15th-Century France...Kay Kendall (1926-59) went away much too young of leukemia...Kay performed the maiden in distress, the medieval heroine fitting well into a motion picture which caught beautifully Scott's novel... The plot was simple: an elderly English Lord (Ernest Thesiger) sends his nephew (Robert Taylor) to seek in marriage a French Lady (Kay Kendall) on his behalf... He falls in love with her himself..Sir Walter Scott wrote the novel in 1823... His 'Ivanhoe, 'The Talisman' and 'Rob Roy' have received most attention from filmmakers...Another quality of "The Adventures of Quentin Durward" is the good acting of Robert Morley as the cunning, outrageous, very winding King, a characterization so different to his great performance as the weak-minded Louis XVI in "Marie-Antoinette" opposite Norma Shearer... This delightful British actor played excellent supporting roles in good-humored or pretentious roles...Robert Taylor was the perfect cavalier, the man of word and sword, the romantic adventurer who appeared to relieve a charming Lady..