Based on the novel by Walter Scott, first published in 1819.
In 12th-century England, a Saxon knight (Wilfrid) wants to restore King Richard, with whom Wilfrid had been to the Crusades, to the throne, which is now vacant, the ruler being Richard's brother John. Richard is considered dead by most in England, but Wilfrid locates him in an castle where he is being kept as a hostage by the Austrian ruler, the ransom payment having been denied by his brother. Wilfrid goes to the Jews for money and must fight many Norman knights in order to restore Richard's rule and save a fair Jewess from death (though his real love goes to his father's stepdaughter).
Basically bogus historically, but fairly entertaining as a narrative and spectacle, this is a film about which much could be written as analysis of its concepts and narrative devices, and of its historical distortions. For now, suffice it to say that it is visually pleasing and has enough internal coherence for fictional purposes.
Rating: 52
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