Madame de Coventry

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.

It feels rushed, but I kinda do like 'Lady Godiva of Coventry'.

The film, in my opinion, is at its best with Maureen O'Hara and George Nader alongside the trio of would-be prisoners, spearheaded by Victor McLaglen. The stuff with that quintet was really enjoyable to me; the main story isn't even to do with them.

The plot of this 1955 involves the characters of O'Hara and Nader, but with Leslie Bradley & Co. Those parts of the film aren't the strongest and don't really leave a sizeable imprint. I would've preferred a production with those other five more, to be honest. It's all still watchable though. There's a couple of neat shots scattered in there, also.

I managed to spot Clint Eastwood in his uncredited minor role. Much bigger things to come for that man, I reckon...

If you like the comic spoof The Court Jester and want it to be even funnier the next time you watch it, rent The Vagabond King and Lady Godiva of Coventry. Both seem like they borrowed the sets and background actors from Danny Kaye's comedy. In Lady Godiva of Coventry, Maureen O'Hara gives the best performance in the film, and since she's a notorious over-actress, that's saying something. Her leading man is George Nader, and he's so contemporary, he kept reminding me of Christopher McDonald.

As you might be able to surmise from the title, this film focuses on Lady Godiva who famously rode a horse naked. Before you get excited, just remind yourself that this movie was made in 1955, so there's no nudity in the film, and the ride itself isn't a very long scene. Mostly, it's about her courtship and marriage to Lord Leofric, and their disagreements about political issues. The classic "woman behind the man" theory is on full display, so if you like Maureen O'Hara's strong-willed characters she usually plays, you'll probably like her in this movie. And she does look very pretty in Technicolor splendor. If you're just looking for a good movie, or at least one that won't have you running to the kitchen for more popcorn without pressing pause, stick with How Green Was My Valley.

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.