King Richard and the Crusaders (1954)While leading the Third Crusade, King Richard Lionheart battles treachery in his own camp as well as the Saracenesand their charismatic leader Saladin. Director:David Butler |
|
| 0Share... |
King Richard and the Crusaders (1954)While leading the Third Crusade, King Richard Lionheart battles treachery in his own camp as well as the Saracenesand their charismatic leader Saladin. Director:David Butler |
|
| 0Share... |
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Rex Harrison | ... | ||
| Virginia Mayo | ... | ||
| George Sanders | ... | ||
| Laurence Harvey | ... |
Sir Kenneth of Huntington
|
|
|
|
Robert Douglas | ... | |
| Michael Pate | ... |
Conrad, Marquis of Montferrat
|
|
|
|
Paula Raymond | ... | |
|
|
Lester Matthews | ... |
Archbishop of Tyre /
Narrator
|
|
|
Anthony Eustrel | ... |
Baron De Vaux
|
| Henry Corden | ... | ||
|
|
Wilton Graff | ... | |
|
|
Nejla Ates | ... |
Moorish Dancing Girl
|
|
|
Nick Cravat | ... | |
|
|
Leslie Bradley | ... |
Castelaine Captain
|
|
|
Bruce Lester | ... |
Castelaine
|
In 1191, King Richard the Lionhearted, along with several other European monarchs, is in the Holy Land intent on retaking Jerusalem from the Saracens. There is much infighting and outright treachery in the European encampment encampment however. Two nobles in particular, Sir Giles Amaury and Conrad of Montferrat, want to eliminate the English king and attempt to have him assassinated. Severely wounded and on his death bed, Richard is brought back to health by a Saracen doctor recruited by one of his loyal knights, Sir Kenneth of the Leopard. The king recovers from his wounds but when he hears that Sir Lawrence wishes to marry Lady Edith Plantagenet, the knight is banished only to be taken in by the very doctor who treated the king and who has an altogether different identity. Written by garykmcd
The problem with this movie isn't so much the hokey dialogue, the relatively cheap sets, and the slapdash makeup. The story isn't bad, but it never gets as gripping as Max Steiner's spectacular musical score suggests it should be.
There are a few good battle scenes and a good jousting match, but only Rex Harrison (in absurd makeup as Saladin) and George Sanders (as Richard the Lionheart) give the film any substance. Virginia Mayo still looks like Cody Jarrett's wife in WHITE HEAT; this is a substandard performance for her. For that matter, Rex Harrison still looks like 'Enry 'Iggins, despite all the soot they've smeared on his face to make him look like a Kurd.
This is a fun film, but I can bring myself to give it five stars, because it was somewhat boring. It's campy, but not campy enough to be enjoyable from start to finish.
At least I saw it in a widescreen German print (in English); to my knowledge there has been no video widescreen release of this film in any format.