Quentin Durward (1955)

Powerful

The first must-see film of the year.

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

This film was absolutely a step above awful. In fact, it was just terrible.Had we had a decent script, Joan Fontaine would have easily landed the Kay Kendall part. How fortunate for Joan. Kendall was way off her mark here. She was far better known for light comedy along with some singing and dancing.The plot here is absolutely ridiculous. An old uncle sends his nephew, Taylor, to view the woman of his dreams in 1465. You don't have to have a doctorate to realize what will occur.In the middle of all this nonsense, there is intrigue between factions in France and some character who hides in the woods to make mischief. No, it's not Robin Hood.Robert Morley is again King Louis, but this time with a different Roman numeral from his wonderful performance 17 years before in the memorable "Marie Antoinette" with Norma Shearer. That was a Louis and that was a film.

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.

Around the time that Kay Kendall was awarded her role in this MGM costumer, Grace Kelly, who had first been considered for the role, said, in an interview in which she admitted declining the role, "All I would have had to do was clutch my jewel box and flee!" Along with her ceding the title role to Tippie Hedren in Hitchcock's "Marnie" (filmed after her ascension to the Grimaldi throne), Grace seemed to have had her sights set upon the real royalty of Monaco, rather than continuing her reign as one of cinema's loveliest princesses!

This is a film to be watched with a wide and affectionate grin. Outstanding are Robert Morley as Louis XI, the infamous and wily 'Spider' of France, and Robert Taylor as the eponymous Durward, a would-be chivalrous hero born out of his time who is none too sure of himself. The necessary, and highly satisfactory, heroics are spiced with a rich leavening of humour and some genuine moral questions - how much should a man sacrifice for his country's sake? His love? His life? His honour? But above all it is a joyous and thrilling romp that doesn't take itself too seriously. Durward wants to be a knight in shining armour, but circumstances tend to conspire against him, and his lady is definitely the stronger-willed of the two; though like the audience, she cannot resist his puppydog charm. And ambiguous, cynical, cowardly Louis is often in danger of stealing the show outright, as he sits at the centre of his web and pulls the strings that manipulate all the other characters - a far-from-two-dimensional villain after my own heart! Definitely a superior swashbuckler, with a saving vein of humour.