IMDb > Alfred the Great (1969/I)

Alfred the Great (1969/I) More at IMDbPro »


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Overview

User Rating:
6.0/10   539 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
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Director:
Writers:
James R. Webb (story)
Ken Taylor (screenplay) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for Alfred the Great on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
1 October 1969 (Hong Kong) more
Genre:
Plot:
While Old England is being ransacked by roving Danes in the 9th century, Alfred is planning to join the priesthood... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
User Comments:
A personal fave more (23 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
David Hemmings ... Alfred

Michael York ... Guthrum
Prunella Ransome ... Aelhswith
Colin Blakely ... Asher

Ian McKellen ... Roger
Peter Vaughan ... Burrud
Alan Dobie ... Ethelred
Julian Glover ... Shrdlu
Vivien Merchant ... Freda
Julian Chagrin ... Ivar
Jim Norton ... Thanet
John Rees ... Cuthbert
Christopher Timothy ... Cerdic
Peter Blythe ... Eafa
Sinéad Cusack ... Edith
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
A King Is Born (USA) (working title)
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Runtime:
Norway:122 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Metrocolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.20 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Mono (35 mm prints)
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Film debut of Ian McKellen. more

FAQ

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17 out of 18 people found the following comment useful.
A personal fave, 7 January 1999
10/10
Author: Speedy-21 from Portland, OR

Though I'm quite aware of this film's shortcomings (length and the multitude of exotic names, etc.), I must say that I think Leonard Maltin does this film a disservice. It accurately portrays some of the most important events in English history, and also paints a fine portrait of a monarch torn between earthly passions and the desire for spiritual purity. It is only by truly balancing these two forces that a man can succeed, and Alfred did so.

The conflicting forces in the film also symbolize Alfred's inner struggle -- the church representing his spiritual desires and the Danes standing for the passions and lusts of the physical world. Certainly the Battle of Athelney Marsh, one of the pivotal events in British history, is stirringly portrayed, particularly when the peasants and commoners rise up to save their king. This film, despite its flaws and its abysmal box office performance, remains a personal favorite of mine.

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Message Boards

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Recent Posts (updated daily)User
enjoyable film michaeljoseph_74
Hemmings has a perfect Medieval face LCShackley
Please vote KiRsTy_Mc17
good movie tana_ricky
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