New "Ivanhoe" DVD

[DAVID RAYNER]

I've just received, all the way from amazon.com in America, my new, re-mastered DVD of the 1952 British classic Ivanhoe and what a truly splendid transfer it is. Considering the film is 53 years old, the picture and sound quality are first class.

I particularly like the scene selection pages, with a different portrait of the stars on the left of each page as they appear in the film.

Otherwise, the DVD is a bit short on extras, but there are three original trailers on it for Ivanhoe; Scaramouche and Knights of the Round Table, the last mentioned being in wide screen and extolling the splendours and virtues of CinemaScope, the modern miracle you see without special glasses (well, this was 1953 and CinemaScope was the latest marvel). These trailers, as with the feature, have all been meticulously re-mastered and look brand new. However, you can't play them individually. They are accessed through a Play All icon on the menu and if you want to see the last trailer, you've got to watch the first two beforehand in order to get to it.

Ivanhoe is one of my all time favourites and this DVD is well worth the price. One gripe, though. Why is it that this British classic isn't available in the UK? The film hasn't even been available here on video for at least fifteen years. Although it does get the occasional run on television. An added bonus for the young uns is an Oscar winning seven minutes long Tom and Jerry cartoon in Technicolor from 1951 entitled The Two Mousketeers.

[The_Late_Peter_Cook]

Is Ivanhoe a British movie? I must admit that I always get confused by the nationality of movies like this, THE PRISONER OF ZENDA and MOONFLEET, with British stories, 'locations' and actors but with a MGM/Hollywood 'feel' to them.

[DAVID RAYNER]

Yes, Peter, Ivanhoe is a British movie, made by MGM British studios at Boreham Wood in Hertfordshire. Except for the two main stars, the rest of the cast was either English, Scottish or Welsh, with the exception of Guy Rolfe, who, I believe, was Australian. It was nominated for quite a few Academy Awards, including Best Music Score for Miklos Rozsa and Best Picture of 1952, inexplicably losing out to The Greatest Show on Earth.

The Prisoner of Zenda; Scaramouche and Moonfleet were all shot in Hollywood, despite the latter being set in mid-18th century Dorset.

Knights of the Round Table was also a British made MGM film, although as far as I know, the large battle scene was shot on location in Ireland.

[deejayjax]

Hi David,

I've just registered as a member. I've been trying to trackdown a Revion 2 DVD of the 1952 Ivanhoe film and during my internet surfing this domain appeared!

My father was a stuntman and doubled for Robert Taylor in this film. I've got a mediaeval pewter plate that was was presented to him (apparently everyone who worked on the set was presented with one).

My sons are 10 + 11 and they really want to see their grandfather (whom sadly they never met) in action – falling from the battlements into the moat with an arrow through his chest!

Anyway, I'm going off at a tangent here. The question I want to ask is: How do you play a Region 1 DVD in the UK?
Thanks
Jacqueline Wood

[JamesM]

Many DVD players will play other regions. Those that do not may have a 'hack' that allows you to make this possible. A hack is put in place by the manufacturere to circumvent the region code obstructions.

Let us know what player you have.

Alternatively, a computer DVD drive will change the region code for you (but some will do this only six times and then no more changes can be made).

It is odd that it never got a region 2 release. This would have been a straight forward release for Warners, unlike their RKO titles.

[Hackett]

Originally Posted by deejayjax Hi David, I've just registered as a member. I've been trying to trackdown a Revion 2 DVD of the 1952 Ivanhoe film and during my internet surfing this domain appeared! My father was a stuntman and doubled for Robert Taylor in this film. I've got a mediaeval pewter plate that was was presented to him (apparently everyone who worked on the set was presented with one). My sons are 10 + 11 and they really want to see their grandfather (whom sadly they never met) in action – falling from the battlements into the moat with an arrow through his chest! Anyway, I'm going off at a tangent here. The question I want to ask is: How do you play a Region 1 DVD in the UK? Thanks Jacqueline Wood

Hi Jacqueline,
I'v only just come accross your post today and would I be right in thinking that your father was Paddy Ryan. If so I'm sorry to hear he is no longer with us. I looked him up on the IMdB which has no dates of your fathers life only that there are no more entries after 1988. It's a shame that stuntmen and women don't get the recognition they merit for thier contribution to the business. With the recent death of Peter Braham, which took a while to filter through, this is another example of not enough respect. I had better move on before I really get on my soap box with this subject.
I have a picture of Paddy doing the battlement fall into the moat which was only 8 feet deep. He also had to negotiat the wires and hidden scaffolding supporting the property curtain wall of the castle. A story is told that Paddy was to be paid in cash for the stunt and when asked afterwards if he had been frightened he replied: "Very frightened. I saw all those faces looking up at me but I couldn't see the cashier anywhere". According to Derek Ware: " Paddy Ryan who had been in films since the late 20's has a permanent place of honour in the history of cinema stunting, and particularly in the field of high dives and falls". Also gave Bob Simmons his first chance in "THE RED BERET" 1953.
As for getting R1 on your DVD you could ask google. There are lots of sites on the net to show you how to switch your machine to multiregion. Best of luck.

[JamesM]

He passed away in 1990, according to the BFI database.

[ChristineCB]

Let's hope we can entice a separate thread about this person. I'd love to hear what a stuntman's family remembers about dad's work.

On another note, I see that Ronald Colman's PRISONER OF ZENDA is about to be released finally in a "literary classics" collection DVD, including the Gregory Peck's Captain (hrumph) Hornblower. Oh well - I love the film, but it's a shame Hollywood couldn't have thought of a single colonial naval hero for him to have played instead. All those puffy shirts - !

[JamesM]

Stunt men Robert Porter and Joe Powell (who I understand is writing his autobiography) are still around.

[Guenther]

Originally Posted by JamesM It is odd that it never got a region 2 release. This would have been a straight forward release for Warners, unlike their RKO titles.

Actually there is... Warner Home Video in Germany released several DVDs last years from THEIR backcatalogue.... Ivanhoe amongst them.

But be warned they are atrocious! They were made from old 198ies Turner VHS masters and look and sound awful.

After a lot of bad press WHV then put a sticker on them "Not digitally remastered".
In fact no remastering has been performed digital or otherwise. Avoid!

[faceoff]

Robert Taylor - boy that takes me back. I thought he was too old for the part but a good film. This habit of casting Americans in lead roles in Brit history continues doesn't it.

Remember that diamond geezer, from Bow in London Tony Curtis?

"Yonder lies the castle of my fodder!"

and some woman addressing at least our George Sanders

"War, war, war, that is all you ever talk about Dickie Plantagenet!"

I have a vague recollection of a TV series called "Ivanhoe" starring William Russell

But Virginia? I'll have Mayo with anything. She was "yar" in the words of Tasha Yar's (Denise Crosby) uncle, Bing in "High Society".

[Hackett]

"IVANHOE" was Roger Moore and William Russell was in "THE ADVENTURES OF SIR LANCELOT". Russells series is out on DVD. But Mr.Moore will not even acknowledge "IVANHOE" so I dout we will ever see it on DVD. Which is a shame in my view.

[faceoff]

Originally Posted by Hackett "IVANHOE" was Roger Moore and William Russell was in "THE ADVENTURES OF SIR LANCELOT". Russells series is out on DVD. But Mr.Moore will not even acknowledge "IVANHOE" so I dout we will ever see it on DVD. Which is a shame in my view.

Hackett, Thanks. Of course you are right. Although the memory of Moore in chain mail was forever wiped from my mind by his rubbish The Saint portrayal. That and an English cousin of the Maverick's too. Beau (Brummel) Maverick wasn't it?

Was he our only actor back then? With Roger, you got Moore but acting talent didn't come with the deal. :

[Hackett]

In the past I'v thought that as well. But have a new look at him. For me he's the fourth best Bond but in his time he made the part his own. A fresh look at the B/W Saint series on DVD and he stands up well even now. Maverick episodes I don't remember with Moore but I would love to see them. I enjoy James Garner in whatever he's in and if I was a producer of Maverick and I had to replace him Moore would be my chouse.
I think they could both have stepped into Cary Grants shoes. Moore was lucky with Bond and reached megastardom. If he had not I think he still could have filled the Grant void. He's one of those people who makes things look easy. He's very ambitious but so good you think it's just luck. But it's not . It's that thing called star quality.

[faceoff]

I came to the TV "Saint" series after devouring the Leslie Charteris book's. The early "Saint" books made James Bond look like a wimp. Roger Moore was NOT that character. You missed nothing with Maverick, Jack Kelly and James Garner were the draw for me. Like with that Persuaders seried, Roger just phoned in his performance.