Sir Walter Scott al cinema: dalla Donna del Lago a Quentin Durvard

L'ARCIERE DEL RE

(The Adventures of Quentin Durward)

1955, regia di Richard Thorpe

Scheda: Nazione: GB - Produzione: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer - Distribuzione: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer - Soggetto: dall'omonimo romanzo di Sir Walter Scott - Sceneggiatura: Robert Ardrey, George Froeschel - Fotografia: Christopher Challis, Desmond Dickinson - Montaggio: Ernest Walter - Scenografia: Alfred Junge - Costumi: Elizabeth Haffenden - Musiche: Bronislau Kaper - Effetti speciali: Tom Howard - Formato: Eastmancolor - Durata: 103'.

Cast: Robert Taylor, Kay Kendall, Robert Morley, George Cole, Alec Clunes, Duncan Lamont, Laya Raki, Marius Goring, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Eric Pohlmann, Harcourt Williams, Michael Goodliffe, John Carson, Nicholas Hannen, Moultrie Kelsall, Frank Tickle, Bill Shine, Ernest Thesiger.

Trama e commenti: kataweb.it - mymovies.it - ciao.it - film.tv.it - cinekolossal: «Vegliardo scozzese, di nobile casato, istruisce il nipote e gli affida la missione di tutelare la contessa Isabella presso la corte di Carlo il Temerario, il quale, vorrebbe prenderla in moglie. Il cavaliere controlla la situazione e finisce per innamorarsi della nobildonna. Di produzione inglese, uno degli ultimi sfarzosi film in costume marcati MGM. Domina il gią visto e risaputo. Esauriti gli spunti, nessuno sembra prendere sul serio la vicenda; Richard Thorpe (Ivanhoe, I cavalieri della tavola rotonda, Il figliol prodigo) č assuefatto dal genere, Robert Taylor, stufo di rappresentare sempre e soltanto il paladino medioevale, dice basta e persino il compositore ufficiale della Metro, Miklos Rozsa, lascia il campo a Bronislau Kaper. Rimangono le scene, al solito suntuose e ricche di seta...».

Plot Summary, Synopsis, Review: IMDb - entertainment.msn.com - allmovie.com - movies.nytimes.com - screenarchives.com - en.wikipedia.org - tvguide.com: «It's 15th-century France and King Louis XI (Morley) is worried that the Duke of Burgundy (Clunes) may be scheming to gain power. Meanwhile, Taylor is sent from Scotland by his uncle (Thesiger) to check on the uncle's bride-to-be (Kendall). Taylor falls for Kendall himself, but remains loyal to his uncle and hides his feelings. Morley wants Kendall kidnaped because of her prior connections with Clunes, and he has Taylor unknowingly escort her into a trap. Morley's plot involves Taylor taking Kendall to Williams, but en route she is to be kidnaped by Lamont, a count known as "the Wild Boar of Ardennes." Taylor foils the kidnaping, however, and Williams, a powerful bishop, is murdered by Lamont. Taylor then engages in an exciting battle with the Wild Boar as the two swing back and forth on bell ropes in a burning church tower. The bells loudly clang as the pair slash at each other with knives. Lamont finally falls to his doom and Taylor flees with the terrified Kendall. Word comes that Thesiger has passed on, leaving Kendall free to marry Taylor; meanwhile, Morley has come up with more plans to win Clunes over to his cause. He rides to Clunes' castle courtyard and plays on the man's sense of loyalty. Any plot to lessen the king's power is quickly squashed and Taylor marries Kendall. The plot is a little confusing towards the end, but otherwise this is a fun adventure. Taylor had done several films of this nature and clearly enjoys himself in a neatly played role. The direction ably choreographs the different elements of color, costumes, location, and actors for a fine period look. It was filmed on location in English and French countryside castles, which add to the realistic flavor. Of course, there's lots of swashbuckling action, nicely played; the bell tower sequence is a real thrill. The supporting cast isn't bad, with Morley a wonderful standout in his role. Kendall, alas, is merely passable, registering the proper emotions but little else. She was to die in 1959».

Approfondimenti: Movie Review

Conosciuto anche con il titolo: Quentin Durward.

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