User reviews

Richard Thorpe managed a few amusing moments in "The Adventures of Quentin Durward" which has a trapped Kay Kendall, whose only hard way to escape was to get rid from the evil black villain William De La Marck (Ducan Lamont).

Robert Taylor (Quentin Durward) engaged with De La Marck a rare but extremely exciting duel to-the-death with ax and dagger in the burning bell tower, swinging on the bell ropes in a rhythmic motion, getting from side to side with the sound of the ringing bells, until the destruction of the vile Count...

The best part of the film is the performance of the delicious heroine, Kay Kendall, 'one of the Cinema's few outstanding Comediennes,'whose beauty and artistic talent flourished the story, set in the 15th-Century France...

Kay Kendall (1926-59) went away much too young of leukemia...

Kay performed the maiden in distress, the medieval heroine fitting well into a motion picture which caught beautifully Scott's novel... The plot was simple: an elderly English Lord (Ernest Thesiger) sends his nephew (Robert Taylor) to seek in marriage a French Lady (Kay Kendall) on his behalf... He falls in love with her himself..

Sir Walter Scott wrote the novel in 1823... His 'Ivanhoe, 'The Talisman' and 'Rob Roy' have received most attention from filmmakers...

Another quality of "The Adventures of Quentin Durward" is the good acting of Robert Morley as the cunning, outrageous, very winding King, a characterization so different to his great performance as the weak-minded Louis XVI in "Marie-Antoinette" opposite Norma Shearer... This delightful British actor played excellent supporting roles in good-humored or pretentious roles...

Robert Taylor was the perfect cavalier, the man of word and sword, the romantic adventurer who appeared to relieve a charming Lady..

1955 classic movie directed by Richard Thorpe with a good cast and mighty spectacle about Medieval knights and the famed romance in color magnificence . Spectacular and above average adaptation derived from Sir Walter Scott classic novel. This MGM Cinemascope production from the company and producers (Pandro S Berman) that gave you Quo Vadis, Ivanhoe, among others and only this Production Company could bring it so magnificently to the screen. The classic story of romantic adventure come to life enriched in Technicolor and with such great stars as Robert Taylor, Robert Morley, Duncan Lamont and Kay Kendall. Nice family fare with romance and great action scenes. Film which proved to be notable success in this lively rendition about chivalry and knighthood in century XV, France. Knights battle each other and woo maidens on this chivalrous epic romance. This splendid version , in superb Technicolor, of Sir Walter Scott's classic epic tale starts in 15th century, 1465 , when a man of honour , Knight Quentin Duward , a suitable noble wielding a sword and courage is assigned by his uncle to travel to France to meet Isabelle (Kay Kendall) and for political reasons to marry her. But Charles (Clunes) the Duke of Burgund has other plans and she is utilized as pawn in a deadly game . Meanwhile the young countess renounces the marriage proposition and flees, when is suddenly attached by the De La Marck's devious underlings , being saved by Duward . In order to regain his freedom , he protects her but Durward finds they're being double-crossed by the King Louis XI who has a likable confidant , a barber named Oliver (Wilfrid Hyde White). But Quentin will stop at nothing to assume his mission. Quentin join forces with Hayraddin (George Cole) against William De La Marck (Duncan Lamont)-the Beast of Ardenas- and his hoodlums who attack the stronghold.

Sir Walter Scott's story of romance and chivalry in Medieval France is faithfully brought to life in this awesome film in which Robert Taylor stars as Quentin Durward who fights the evil William De La Marck and his hoodlums in an attempt to restore Louis XI to the throne facing Charles the Reckless . This enjoyable film displays romance, chivalry, knighthood , daring adventures and lots of action with spectacular castle attack and overwhelming final that includes a breathtaking confrontation in a bell tower at its climax. The fighting , brawls , duels and other action sequences with a plethora of sword-fights involving maces, axes and lances are magnificently handled. The authentic fight images are among the most spectacular ever shot, so the ending duel between the dastardly William De La Marck excellently played by Duncan Lamont and Quentin is impressive. This one proved notable hit as well as the former adventure movies starred by Robert Taylor. This is an overwhelming tale with adventures, villainy,romance and heroism in the grandeur of Cinemascope although in television set lost splendor. Luscious costumes and gowns specially suited for Kay Kendall . The film packs a glamorous and luminous cinematography by Christopher Challis and evocative musical score by Bronislou Kaper . This is the third on a magnificent trilogy of movies realized by M. G. M. In Great Britain with Robert Taylor , produced by Pandro S Berman and directed by Richard Thorpe , the other were : ¨Ivanhoe and Kights of the Round Table¨. The picture is excellently handled by Thorpe, an expert on adventure movie as proved in ¨All the brothers were valiant, Prisoner of Zenda, The prodigal and many others ¨. The picture will appeal to aficionados with chivalric ideals and historic movies fans.

This is a film to be watched with a wide and affectionate grin. Outstanding are Robert Morley as Louis XI, the infamous and wily 'Spider' of France, and Robert Taylor as the eponymous Durward, a would-be chivalrous hero born out of his time who is none too sure of himself. The necessary, and highly satisfactory, heroics are spiced with a rich leavening of humour and some genuine moral questions - how much should a man sacrifice for his country's sake? His love? His life? His honour?

But above all it is a joyous and thrilling romp that doesn't take itself too seriously. Durward wants to be a knight in shining armour, but circumstances tend to conspire against him, and his lady is definitely the stronger-willed of the two; though like the audience, she cannot resist his puppydog charm. And ambiguous, cynical, cowardly Louis is often in danger of stealing the show outright, as he sits at the centre of his web and pulls the strings that manipulate all the other characters - a far-from-two-dimensional villain after my own heart!

Definitely a superior swashbuckler, with a saving vein of humour.

For a French viewer,it is always much fun to see how Hollywood treats our history.For sure,Louis the Eleventh would be amazed if he saw the Château de Chambord in his kingdom whereas this castle (400 chimneys)was built more than thirty years after his death.But on the other hand his castle of Plessis -Lès-Tours (Lès doesn't mean 'the' but "next to" ) was his favorite residence:it's here that he kept his Fillettes (=girlies) where he imprisoned his enemies.Unfortunately these cages do not appear in the movie.

However,Hollywood shows the historical figures as French conventions do in cinema:Robert Morley's shrewd smart king and Charles Le Téméraire (Charles the Bold)are depicted in the same way as in "Le Miracle Des Loups" a French classic swashbuckler which was filmed twice ,the first version by Raymond Bernard in the silent age.

"Quentin Durward" is entertaining stuff,suitable for the whole family but it is not as exciting as "Knights of the Round Table "-which featured a more beautiful leading lady in the shape of Ava Gardner- or mainly "the prisoner of Zenda" ,my favorite Thorpe movie.Besides,the part of the villain is too underwritten (remember James Mason in "Zenda").Best moment:the duel among the bells .

The Adventures of Quentin Durward is directed by Richard Thorpe and adapted to screenplay by Robert Ardrey and George Froeschel from the Walter Scott novel. It stars Robert Taylor, Kay Kendall, Robert Morley, George Cole and Alec Clunes.Music is by Bronislau Kaper and Eastman cinematography by Christopher Challis.

"Our story begins in Scotland in 1465~~when knighthood was a drooping blossom~~but the Scot, as usual, was poor in naught but cash."

So it begins, the tale of Quentin Durward (Taylor), who travels to France to find out if the Countess of Marcroy (Kendall) will make for a suitable bride for his aging uncle. Once there, though, Durward gets wrapped up in the political shenanigans of King Louis XI (Morley) and the Duke of Burgundy (Clunes). More pressing, mind, is that the Countess and Durward are attracted to each other.

The third part of an unofficial swashbuckling trilogy made by Richard Thorpe and Robert Taylor, Quentin Durward comes out after Ivanhoe (1952) & Knights of the Round Table (1953). Out of MGM's British studio at Elstree, film is delightful in period flavours and potent as a costume romance, but sadly lacking in vigorous wonders. The weakest of the three Thorpe/Taylor swashers, picture often has tongue planted firmly in cheek as it unfolds its story amongst some marvellous French and English locales. Cast are good value, especially the likes of Morley & Clunes, but Taylor at 44 is a bit long in the tooth to be entirely convincing in the derring-do department.

Good honest fun in the main, if a little too plodding in patches, but a climatic bell tower duel played out on swinging ropes is alone worth viewing the film for. 6/10

During the early 1950's Hollywood had a magnificent obsession with what they called historical films. ' Ivanhoe ' arguably started them, and they were set in a mythical ' Middle Ages ' which must have helped many children of that era with their history lessons. ' Quentin Durward ' appeared reasonably late in this cycle, and Robert Taylor who had appeared in a few of them was paired with Kay Kendall, and as far as I could see there was little chemistry between them. In my opinion Kay Kendall with her great sense of humour steals the film, and with her wonderful voice shows how absurd this whole genre is. The story begins in Scotland with Taylor being sent to a troubled France to get a bride for his very old uncle, and to keep the story going he lands himself in a mess of politics that must have baffled many who saw the film. No spoilers except to say that there is a unique fighting scene where two men have a sword fight hanging from bell ropes in a burning castle. It is well worth waiting for because it is a fantastically good bit of film making. I love these films because of their delusional freedom to play fast and loose with historical fantasies. ' Quentin Durward' is not in my opinion the best, but it is highly enjoyable and Kay Kendall is worth seeing in any film.

One of the best sword and pageantry epics of the 1950s is MGM's "Ivanhoe". It's exciting, well acted and simply fun. However, despite "Quentin Durward" also starring Robert Taylor in yet another Sir Walter Scott novel, the experience is not nearly as satisfying. In fact, while the film isn't bad, it is a bit long and tedious at times.

When the story begins in the late 15th century, Quentin's elderly uncle is planning on marrying. While he is far from a great catch when you see him, he is a minor nobleman whose title would make a decent match back in the day. But before this old goat marries, he wants Quentin to leave their beloved Scotland and go to see the woman in France. He wants to be assured she's beautiful AND rich! Unfortunately, she's both....and Durward himself is smitten with her. There's a lot more to the film, involving Quentin going into the service of the very duplicitous King Louis...but essentially all this is subserviant to the romance.

The film looks good and was filmed on location. The castles are real and the costumes very nice. But the story itself and dialog...sluggish and hard to love. I found myself feeling tired throughout the film...and that normally means the film is a bit of a bore.

By the way, the portrayal of the Gypsies/Romani in this film is far from being politically correct. Deal with it or just skip the film.

The fifth team-up of Robert Taylor and Richard Thorpe is a pretty good movie... I only have one complaint. Robert Taylor is supposed to be playing a Scot in France but he has a very American accent and even uses modern American slang. Couldn't he have at least spoken articulate, non-modern English, and maybe attempt a Scottish accent? Also odd is all of the English accents, surrounded with one or two people who use French or American accents. I don't care what accent they use, but they should have all settled on just one. Also, every time they say the name "Durward" it sounds like "Durwood" and I think of Agatha from Bewitched. Otherwise, the movie is slow-moving but saved by a good basic story and nice sets. 7 out of 10.

It isn't until the end that the movie turns into a spectacular and true swashbuckler. In between there are too many long moments in which basically nothing is happening. Also often the action just seems to drop out of nowhere and the movie features some awkward and forced humor, that perhaps even is a bit embarrassing to watch. But hey, everyone knows that the greatest swashbucklers were not made in the '50's.

The story is just a great one. It's an absolutely top-class and solidly constructed story. It had lots of potential in it and interesting characters and motivations. The movie however never really fully uses all this potential You can't help when looking at this movie thinking how much better it all could had been, or at least more entertaining, if it just went that one step further. The movie gets obviously restrained by its low budget but that's no excuses in my opinion. The directing is rather bland and imaging-less. Strange though, since Richard Thorpe is obviously a capable director.

The love-story feels forced, as if it was simply a needed ingredient. It of course always has been a part of the swashbuckler genre but in this particular case they would had been better off skipping it, since it's simply not believable in the story and there is no chemistry between the two lovers, played by Robert Taylor and Kay Kendall.

The end still makes up a lot for the movie, when the main hero and villain are clashing their weapons, while swinging in a bell tower. Great swashbuckling stuff.

The movie has some great characters in it but non of them quite work out, since they are being portrayed too formulaic. You know this is the sort of movie in which the villains all wear black and the good guys are all colorful and stuff. A shame, since it again, showed some real good potential.

Robert Taylor did a good job, although he really ain't no Errol Flynn. He also was perhaps a little bit too old for his role already. He was 44 at the time and he really looked like it. It's also not hard to see why Kay Kendall nothing really had a sparkling career, though her early dead in 1959 also of course contributed to this.

Not a that bad movie but the Sir Walter Scott novel deserved a better treatment.

6/10

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In swashbuckling 1465, poor iron-clan Robert Taylor (as Quentin Durward) of Scotland agrees to fetch a bride for his elderly uncle. Meanwhile, targeted rich young Kay Kendall (as Isabelle) of France says she doesn't want to get married, and runs away. When Mr. Taylor catches up with Ms. Kendall, the obvious happens. They don't catch on fast, though. This film is strengthened by the beautiful European locations, carefully produced in colorful CinemaScope. The supporting cast is nicely selected, with rascally Robert Morley (as Louis XI) most obviously in his element. And, George Cole (as Hayraddin) goes gypsy. Otherwise, it's a little long in the tooth.

***** Quentin Durward (11/23/55) Richard Thorpe ~ Robert Taylor, Kay Kendall, Robert Morley, George Cole

Mid-point in his career Robert Taylor was given Quo Vadis and was such a success in it that MGM then gave him Ivanhoe and Knights of the Round Table and finally Quentin Durward. Taylor did not like these films, he referred to them as his "iron jockstrap roles." He much preferred westerns and modern pictures. But he went with the flow so they say.

The stream flowed well for him in Quentin Durward. What Walter Scott was trying to do in the novel and succeeds on the screen is juxtapose the lives of noble knight Quentin Durward and the scheming spider king Louis XI of France played superbly by Robert Morley. Louis XI is modern man, stripped of all pretenses, surviving on his wits. Durward is a figure from antiquity even in the 15th century.

Louis XI is one of the most fascinating monarchs in history and we've seen him as a supporting character both in If I Were King and in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. He was a guy who if one scheme didn't work, he had a backup plan, in fact about 5 or 6 backups. Most of us are lucky if we have 2 in any situation. But he had to rule that way. When he took the throne of France in 1461 they had ended the Hundred Years War and France was a devastated country. He couldn't afford to be starting any wars or he wouldn't have a country left. He had to rule by wile and stratagem and he succeeded. Too bad Robert Morley didn't make a film just about Louis XI. Great story, hope someone does it some day.

One of the most exciting action sequences in film history is done here with Quentin Durward battling the villainous Walter DeLa Marck in a burning bell tower while they are both swinging on ropes holding bell clappers. You should see the film for that alone.

This is probably my favourite Sir Walter Scott story. In this rendition, Robert Taylor is the valiant "Quentin Durward" sent by his impoverished Scottish uncle to assess the suitability of the fabulously wealthy Kay Kendall "Isabelle" as a potential wife. Along the way he becomes involved in the political intrigues of Louis XI (Robert Morley) and his cousin, the Duke of Burgundy (Alec Clunes) as they vie for control of France. It is a great adventure story, lots of twists and turns and plenty of action; even some humour from Morley and an excellent George Cole as "Hayraddin" and the acrobatic campanology at the end is great. Maybe the acting lacks any depth but the photography captures the splendour of the French court perfectly, and all-in-all it is a fun film to watch.

An entertaining adaptation of Sir Walter Scott's novel, with Robert Taylor in the title role, as a Scotsman in the days of Louis XI, traveling to France to check out the prospective young bride for his elderly uncle, (Isabelle, Countess of Macroy, played by kay Kendall) only to fall for her himself.

Robert Taylor is a favorite of mine and does a great job here. I really can't say the same for Kay Kendall (maybe because she's not one of my favorites), who seems a poor imitation of Deborah Kerr.

There's a lot of action and adventure, including an exciting (and most original) duel in a bell tower that's caught fire. A good movie for those just hanging around the house days.

This movie stinks! Although I have always liked Robert Taylor to some degree I do not find him believable in any period piece I have ever seen him in, including "Quo Vadis." He was a very handsome man and he did, at times, command your attention in some roles but I find his vocal inflections simply too American to be real. Taylor did come to stardom through the studio system and I have always thought they should have insisted he work with a dialect coach for these types of roles. Despite a cast that included Robert Morley, this film simply did not hit the mark. In my opinion the best movie I've ever seen him is was "Waterloo Bridge" where he co-stars with Vivien Leigh.

A peripheral pleasure was the sight of those great English character actors, the backbone of so many heroic films. Alec Clunes for example, whose son, Martin, is such a favourite today. Wilfred Hyde White, usually an elegant toff, was here a barber with a delightful wig shaving Robert Morley. He of course was in danger of stealing the show, a villain with a winning smile and wonderful accent. I relished the sight of a Kay Kendall in what appeared to be a white nightdress; but even more more striking was the speed with which she added a robe, whilst running round the castle with Taylor. We so easily take the music for granted; here it was expertly matched to the action, wonderfully orchestrated and brilliantly played and conducted - but by whom? The composer Bronislaw Kaper? Was it recorded in London or Hollywood? The professional skill that these musicians displayed deserves far more attention. Too often today the score is synthesised, or inanely repetitious regardless of the scene and the action.

The Richard Thorpe 'Chivalry Trilogy' is hardly brilliant but highly watchable: Knights of the Round Table, Ivanhoe, and Quentin Durward. They sum up the lovely tales of (i) the height of Chivalry and Knighthood (Ivanhoe); (ii) its romantic-yet-tragic beginnings (Knights) and (iii) finally its bitter end (Durward, which is an underrated swashbuckler that climaxes with a sword-fight on bell ropes over a raging fire!)

I can say that Metro Goldwyn Mayer studios were the best in terms of movies of this kind, costume adventure films, more than any other studios: KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE, IVANHOE, QUENTIN DURWARD, KING'S THIEF, SCARAMOUCHE, PRISONER OF ZENDA...Just admire the casts, settings, production design, plots.... Amazing, enchanting, just as Universal Studios were the best in Arabic, One Thousand And One Nights plots with the likes of Maria Montez and Jon Hall. This Richard Thorpe's feature enchanted my childhood in France and still continues. I can't get tired to watch it over and over, and such a shame that the beautiful Kay Kendall died not so long after this movie.

You know a movie is in trouble when the worst parts are the action sequences. The cast does the best they can with the material, particularly Robert Morley as the scheming Louis XI, but the movie lacks originality and can't overcome comparisons to much better historical action films of this era.

Anyone looking for insightful commentary on the human condition in a movie should avoid "Quentin Durward." Robert Taylor plays Durward, a poor knight out of place in his time, as he acknowledges to his uncle at the movie's start. Once the story preliminaries are over, Taylor goes on his mission to France, where everyone is against him, including Count de la Mark, the Beast of the Ardennes.

"Quentin Durward" has great castle background shots, great photography and pretty good action. Robert Morley's well fed appearance softens his role, a king who cheerfully sells everyone out, causing death and terror. In "Quentin Durward", life is cheap and death often comes in a grim manner. Without giving away the plot, there are a lot of peripheral characters who get messed up along the way. There are no big scale castle sieges like Ivanhoe, just the aftermath after de la Mark takes over the castle of the Bishop of Liege. The costumed characters in "Quentin Durward" have real problems, such as Kay Kendall's character, who is being forced into a marriage she doesn't want. Money, land and power are the driving forces of the bad guys (which would include de la Mark, Morley's Louis XI and even Durward's uncle).

In 1955, if MGM made a movie about crooked real estate speculators trying to rob a young woman of her inheritance, no one would pay to see the movie. Instead, MGM brings out the costumes, the great production values and a script tailored for Robert Taylor, including some snippy remarks, set in 15th century France.

Moviegoers in 1955 waiting for Robert Taylor to appear in his next MGM costume action movie were like the character in "Waiting for Godot." "Quentin Durward" was the end of a line of historical movies that MGM started 30 years earlier, with "Ben-Hur."

By all accounts Robert Taylor was a thoroughly amenable chap who was grateful for his success and never made waves. MGM certainly kept him gainfully employed and this film based on the novel by Sir Walter Scott is the third of three costume films he made between 1951 and 1955 and all directed by Richard 'one take' Thorpe. This is undeniably the weakest of the three and fared worst at the box office but there is much to recommend it. The lush score is by Bronislau Kaper, standing in for Miklos Rozsa, whilst everyone and everything looks fabulous courtesy of cinematographers Christopher Challis and Desmond Dickinson. Robert Morley is excellent but totally miscast as Louis X1 although if you can believe Taylor as a Scotsman you can certainly believe Morley as the 'Spider King'! Ably supported by Alec Clunes, Marius Goring and an outrageous Duncan Lamont as the 'Beast of the Ardennes' whose fight with Durward on bell ropes is the films highlight. Taylor of course is personable, unpretentious and impossible not to like. His best scenes are with Kay Kendall. Indeed how could any actor not shine opposite this divine, delectable actress so cruelly taken by Leukaemia at the age of thirty-three. Producer Pandro S. Berman freely admitted that his films were designed solely to entertain and this one certainly fulfils that criterion.