Ivanhoe [DVD]

I really can't recommend this version of Ivanhoe enough. It's a complex and absorbing tale of political intrigue, betrayal, romance, self-sacrifice and redemption. The cast they gathered together for this production is out-standing (there's many faces you'll recognise) but chief amongst them has to be Ciaran Hinds (of ROME fame) with his portrayal of Sir Brian de Bois Gilbert. This brooding character is absolutely fascinating and his love trist with the Jewess Rebecca is far more interesting than that of the hero Ivanhoe.

The whole series appears to have been filmed in actual castles, churches and manor houses rather than sets and this definitley gives the programme a more authentic feel. The scenery too is spectacular and varies from very British looking woodland, craggy highlands and wind-swept moors.

If I had to pick any faults for Ivanhoe it would be the occasional niggling editing error. For example, during the joust a knight wearing a helmet with enormous horns sprouting out of the top of it gets un-horsed and his helmet clearly goes flying off his head. In the next shot the character is sat on his backside pulling the helmet off that's magically re-appeared back on his head! There's a couple more unfortunate incidents like this but they really don't detract from what is an otherwise brilliant piece of television.

This is cracking stuff, and I can't believe I neglected it when it was on TV. The haircuts bothered me then - but now it's a much-loved DVD which I regularly turn to when I want to escape the dreary present.

It's the story of a moment in time: King Richard dawdles in Palestine; Prince John plots to have the throne; John's barons engage in a mad plot to kidnap the Saxon princess Rowena, and a large cast of characters become caught up in the storm. This really gives you everything: jousting tournaments, swordfighting, Saxon-Norman tensions, romance, intrigue, castles - great stuff.

It's very well cast, and in particular, is absolutely elevated by the presence of the great Ciaran Hinds as the proud, arrogant Norman Knight Templar Brian de Bois Guilbert, whose electrically charged scenes with Susan Lynch's Rebecca form the cornerstone of the whole drama. Hinds' commitment to his part makes this more than an average tv period dramatisation, and he's to be commended - likewise the scriptwriter for turning Scott's decided villain into an anti-hero, amping up the triangle of Ivanhoe, Rebecca and Bois-Guilbert to provide a much more exciting scenario than that in the book (and more suited to modern tastes).

Stephen Waddington does pretty well with a difficult part in Ivanhoe: he gets a raw deal, as his character is mostly in the background, but his conflicted, love-struck Ivanhoe is a warrior first, brave and strong. Elsewhere the cast list shows real quality: Susan Lynch's beautiful and noble Rebecca; Christopher Lee magnificent as the bigot Templar Grand Master Lucas de Beaumanoir; Ronald Pickup's smooth courtier, Fitzurse; Aden Gillet's plain-speaking Robin Hood; James Cosmo's proud Saxon Cedric; the list goes on and on. There's some hamminess but really, who cares? It's great stuff, well shot, gripping and different from the usual 19th century fare. I'd strongly recommend it for all-round entertainment.

Knights Templar, Christopher Lee, Ciaran Hinds, Saxons vs Normans, Robin Hood, Maidens is distress, this great little mini series has it all.

BBC doing Historical drama properly.

Highly recommended :o)