Lady Godiva

This is my kind of movie - a good old historical drama set in 11th Century England. Sadly, though, the whole thing is just too episodic and disjointed for the story to ever really flow. It sets out do depict the tale of the eponymous lady (Maureen O'Hara) who rode naked through the streets of Coventry (draped in "Rapunzel"-esque locks that appear nowhere else on her head in the film!) to draw the attention of her Norman husband "Leofric" (George Nader) to the plight of the commons as the Norman and Saxon peoples of this now divided land start to draw battle lines. Her husband has already fallen foul of King Edward I (Eduard Franz) by refusing to marry his chosen bride, so the couple soon find their allies at court are few, and goaded by the duplicitous "Godwin" (Torin Thatcher) things are soon simmering perilously close to insurrection. Though rooted in fact, this plays fast and loose with just about everything from the history to the characterisations. Thatcher exudes a soupçon of menace, but the rest of the cast really appear to be going through the motions with this colourful, and at times energetic (largely thanks to Victor McLaglen), enterprise. Nobody could ever describe O'Hara as especially versatile - here she is just playing her usual determined and feisty character and though she isn't bad, it's all just the same role she has played against an array of more famous leading men in years gone by. Fans of the men-in-tights genre ought to enjoy it well enough, I did, but it's all pretty unremarkable fayre I'm afraid.

I have been interested in movies since my childhood and have never heard about this film, starring the fabulous Maureen O'Hara and also directed by Arthur Lubin. I have purchased thousands of movies from the USA, collectors stuff from TV taping offs, trading, taping off from UK and French channels, and also from other countries channels, all over the world ; in short, I have dedicated my life - among other things - seeking, searching, watching movies, especially the rarest one, under the condition the story interests me. For instance, I have never seen E. T, STAR WARS saga nor WEST SIDE STORY. I have all the dictionnaries of directors and their filmographies, and had never noticed this film. Never. Only when it was programmed on a French cable channel, I at last knew of its existence. So, that's done now, and I realize that if I had missed it, I would not have missed much. Nothing terrific in this feature, a rare movie is not necessarily a masterpiece. But it belongs to the Universal Studios costume adventure romance films which they produced during the late forties and fifties. This time, there was nor Tony Curtis nor Jeff Chandler, but George Nader. I had the same feeling in this stuff that I had with Robert Z Leonard's KING'S THIEF, for MGM and made on the same year. Maureen O'Hara was the best choice of a strong - in every way, physical and minded - woman; she was like this in real life. She was the only woman belonging to the John Ford's gang: John Wayne, Victor McLaglen - her co sar here - Ward Bond, Harry Carey, Ben Johnson. The Irish Gang. A weak female would have never been accepted among such rough men.

An 11th-century , King Edward the Confessor (Arthur Franz) wants Saxon Lord Leofric (George Nader) to marry a despised Norman woman, and has him jailed when he refuses. In prison , he meets Godiva (Maureen O'Hara) , the Sheriff's sister, and soon they fall in love and get married . The times are tumultuous and Godiva proves to be a militant wife . Unrest between the Anglo-Saxon populace and the increasingly influential Norman French lead to her famous ride.

Typical Universal adventure movie with all the usual ingredients , including glowing colour and distinctive photography in Cinemascope . Set in England , including nasty rulers , turbulent deeds , sword-play , fights , intriguing events , and many other things . Maureen O'Hara gives a passable acting as the married heroine who's soon involved in the action and plots at the royal court . O'Hara managed to spring from this ridiculous camp Oriental Adventure outing to stardom . Maureen played brave females in several Adventure/Pirate movies during the 40s and 50s in Universal Pictures , similar to Yvonne DeCarlo . In fact , the latter had recently been ill and lost a lot of weight, so much that the producers decided to replace her with Maureen O'Hara . Maureen interpreted various Muslim girls in Simbad the Sailor , Flame of Araby and Bagdad . She also performed the daughter of a powerful lord in The Black Swain , a valiant aristocrat in The Spanish Main , a feared pirate woman called Spitfire in Against All Flags and a French countess in Trípoli . Later on , in 1952 she starred At Sword point as Musketeer Athos' daughter , an untamed Australian girl in Kangaroo and finally the known Lady Godiva as the noblewoman who opens her Saxon husband's eyes by riding bareback through town. There's also the ordinary good-looking , handsome partenaire , the Californian George Nader who starred a lot of Noir , adventure , thriller and action movies , as well . Adding a good support cast , such as Victor McLaglen , Rex Reason , Torin Thatcher , Eduard Franz , Leslie Bradley , Henry Brandon , Arthur Shields , Robert Warwick , Grant Withers , among others .Colorfully produced by Robert Arthur and Universal International , being accompanied by brilliant and glimmering cinematography carried out by director of photography Carl E. Guthrie . As well as thrilling as well as moving musical score by Frank Skinner and Hans J. Salter . The motion picture was regular but professionally directed by Arthur Lubin.

If the film doesn't have too much historical perspective , however appearing some actual and important roles and essential happenings developed until the famous Hastings Battle (1066) in which William of Normandy ¨the Conqueror¨ defeated the Anglo-Saxons . As Edward the Confessor (1003 -1066) , was one of the last Anglo-Saxon kings of England. Usually considered the last king of the House of Wessex, he ruled from 1042 to 1066. Edward was the son of Canuto Hardeknut, hijo de Canuto the Great ,and Emma of Normandy. He restored the rule of the House of Wessex after the period of Danish rule since Cnut conquered England in 1016. When Edward died in 1066, he was succeeded by Harold Godwinson, who was defeated and killed in the same year by the Normans under William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings. Edward's young great-nephew Edgar II of the House of Wessex was proclaimed king after the Battle of Hastings in 1066 but was never crowned and was peacefully deposed after about eight weeks. Historians disagree about Edward's fairly long 24-year reign. His nickname reflects the traditional image of him as unworldly and pious. Confessor reflects his reputation as a saint who did not suffer martyrdom as opposed to his uncle, King Edward the Martyr. Some portray Edward the Confessor's reign as leading to the disintegration of royal power in England and the advance in power of the House of Godwin, because of the infighting that began after his death with no heirs to the throne. Biographers Frank Barlow and Peter Rex, on the other hand, portray Edward as a successful king, one who was energetic, resourceful and sometimes ruthless; they argue that the Norman conquest shortly after his death tarnished his image. However, Richard Mortimer argues that the return of the Godwins from exile in 1052 "meant the effective end of his exercise of power", citing Edward's reduced activity as implying "a withdrawal from affairs". About a century later, in 1161, Pope Alexander III canonised the king. Edward was one of England's national saints until King Edward III adopted George of Lydda as the national patron saint in about 1350. Saint Edward's feast day is 13 October, celebrated by both the Church of England and the Catholic Church.

for many viewers, the basic motif to see this film is an one expected scene. who, unfortunately, is far to be to close by the desires. but., in same measure, the virtue of film remains to not be very different by others from same period and genre. love, conflicts, recreated Medieval fresco, the reasonable performances and Maureen O Hara as a nice Godiva. it is enough for a nostalgic trip around a legendary episode. and the respect for the recipes of genre, with few nice nuances, is a real good point.

The screenplay is often confused and muddled ,and one sometimes find it hard to tell the traitors from the good guys ,but it does not matter.

"I wanted a wife ,not a political advisor" the macho husband (George Nader)moans .But this wife is a feminist before the time and she 's as good at political intrigues as she is as the so called ill king's doctor:blood-letting weakens the monarch ,all he needs is good food and fresh air.In internal affairs ,she shows more flair than her hubby.

Maureen O'Hara 's flaming red hair is shown to good advantage in her naked ride ,and she displays plenty of go , not really supported by the rest of the cast .She had always been a female musketeer in a curious adaptation of Alexandre Dumas "at sword's point" ;feminist she said.