Lady Godiva of Coventry

If you like the comic spoof The Court Jester and want it to be even funnier the next time you watch it, rent The Vagabond King and Lady Godiva of Coventry. Both seem like they borrowed the sets and background actors from Danny Kaye's comedy. In Lady Godiva of Coventry, Maureen O'Hara gives the best performance in the film, and since she's a notorious over-actress, that's saying something. Her leading man is George Nader, and he's so contemporary, he kept reminding me of Christopher McDonald.

As you might be able to surmise from the title, this film focuses on Lady Godiva who famously rode a horse naked. Before you get excited, just remind yourself that this movie was made in 1955, so there's no nudity in the film, and the ride itself isn't a very long scene. Mostly, it's about her courtship and marriage to Lord Leofric, and their disagreements about political issues. The classic "woman behind the man" theory is on full display, so if you like Maureen O'Hara's strong-willed characters she usually plays, you'll probably like her in this movie. And she does look very pretty in Technicolor splendor. If you're just looking for a good movie, or at least one that won't have you running to the kitchen for more popcorn without pressing pause, stick with How Green Was My Valley.

I am sure a lot of folks watch "Lady Godiva of Coventry" just to see how much skin they'll see in the movie. But this was made in 1955...so this is NOT a good reason to see the film. Is there another compelling reason to see this picture? Not really.

The story of Lady Godiva and her famous nude ride through town is a myth, and they chose to place the story in the mid-11th century, during the period when English king Edward the Confessor reigned. This was just before the Norman Invasion and the country is ruled by Saxons...but soon will be ruled by the western French invaders following the Battle of Hastings. All sorts of intrigue involving Normans and Saxons fill the story...most of which I honestly didn't care about one way or the other. After all, the serfs would still be serfs and life would generally suck either way.

One of the Saxon lords who is afraid of a Norman invasion is Lord Leofric (George Nader...who is practically unrecognizable under a blond wig). He is a grouchy sort (as are MOST of the royals in this movie) and is so busy hating and feuding with his neighboring Saxon lords. So, in essence, Leofric just seems mad all the time. He drops the grouchy goth persona long enough to marry a lovely local Saxon girl, Godiva (Maureen O'Hara) but is soon back to his Mr. Cranky personality. She constantly is at odds with her new husband and she is one spunky lady...married to a super-grouch. So how does all this result in Godiva taking her famous nekkid ride? See the film and find out...though, frankly, there isn't any payoff and the road there is bumpy and dull!

I am not a huge fan of costumers. But making one about this period or the period immediately after COULD have been exciting. After all, I love "Ivanhoe" and "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (both set in 12th century England). But "Lady Godiva of Coventry" is too full of angry, grouchy people and not much payoff otherwise. Nice music, nice color...but not much else. I particularly felt bad for Nader who looks ridiculous AND was given a script that made him look like a real putz. Easy to skip, hard to love....but if you actually DO see the film, notice what happened to Peeping Tom near the end! The only interesting thing I noticed in the film!

The screenplay is often confused and muddled ,and one sometimes find it hard to tell the traitors from the good guys ,but it does not matter.

"I wanted a wife ,not a political advisor" the macho husband (George Nader)moans .But this wife is a feminist before the time and she 's as good at political intrigues as she is as the so called ill king's doctor:blood-letting weakens the monarch ,all he needs is good food and fresh air.In internal affairs ,she shows more flair than her hubby.

Maureen O'Hara 's flaming red hair is shown to good advantage in her naked ride ,and she displays plenty of go , not really supported by the rest of the cast .She had always been a female musketeer in a curious adaptation of Alexandre Dumas "at sword's point" ;feminist she said.

This is my kind of movie - a good old historical drama set in 11th Century England. Sadly, though, the whole thing is just too episodic and disjointed for the story to ever really flow. It sets out do depict the tale of the eponymous lady (Maureen O'Hara) who rode naked through the streets of Coventry (draped in "Rapunzel"-esque locks that appear nowhere else on her head in the film!) to draw the attention of her Norman husband "Leofric" (George Nader) to the plight of the commons as the Norman and Saxon peoples of this now divided land start to draw battle lines. Her husband has already fallen foul of King Edward I (Eduard Franz) by refusing to marry his chosen bride, so the couple soon find their allies at court are few, and goaded by the duplicitous "Godwin" (Torin Thatcher) things are soon simmering perilously close to insurrection. Though rooted in fact, this plays fast and loose with just about everything from the history to the characterisations. Thatcher exudes a soupçon of menace, but the rest of the cast really appear to be going through the motions with this colourful, and at times energetic (largely thanks to Victor McLaglen), enterprise. Nobody could ever describe O'Hara as especially versatile - here she is just playing her usual determined and feisty character and though she isn't bad, it's all just the same role she has played against an array of more famous leading men in years gone by. Fans of the men-in-tights genre ought to enjoy it well enough, I did, but it's all pretty unremarkable fayre I'm afraid.

It feels rushed, but I kinda do like 'Lady Godiva of Coventry'.

The film, in my opinion, is at its best with Maureen O'Hara and George Nader alongside the trio of would-be prisoners, spearheaded by Victor McLaglen. The stuff with that quintet was really enjoyable to me; the main story isn't even to do with them.

The plot of this 1955 involves the characters of O'Hara and Nader, but with Leslie Bradley & Co. Those parts of the film aren't the strongest and don't really leave a sizeable imprint. I would've preferred a production with those other five more, to be honest. It's all still watchable though. There's a couple of neat shots scattered in there, also.

I managed to spot Clint Eastwood in his uncredited minor role. Much bigger things to come for that man, I reckon...