Quentin Durward (1955)

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.

This movie stinks! Although I have always liked Robert Taylor to some degree I do not find him believable in any period piece I have ever seen him in, including "Quo Vadis." He was a very handsome man and he did, at times, command your attention in some roles but I find his vocal inflections simply too American to be real. Taylor did come to stardom through the studio system and I have always thought they should have insisted he work with a dialect coach for these types of roles. Despite a cast that included Robert Morley, this film simply did not hit the mark. In my opinion the best movie I've ever seen him is was "Waterloo Bridge" where he co-stars with Vivien Leigh.

A peripheral pleasure was the sight of those great English character actors, the backbone of so many heroic films. Alec Clunes for example, whose son, Martin, is such a favourite today. Wilfred Hyde White, usually an elegant toff, was here a barber with a delightful wig shaving Robert Morley. He of course was in danger of stealing the show, a villain with a winning smile and wonderful accent. I relished the sight of a Kay Kendall in what appeared to be a white nightdress; but even more more striking was the speed with which she added a robe, whilst running round the castle with Taylor. We so easily take the music for granted; here it was expertly matched to the action, wonderfully orchestrated and brilliantly played and conducted - but by whom? The composer Bronislaw Kaper? Was it recorded in London or Hollywood? The professional skill that these musicians displayed deserves far more attention. Too often today the score is synthesised, or inanely repetitious regardless of the scene and the action.

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..