QUENTIN DURWARD (THE ADVENTURES OF QUENTIN DURWARD)

US, 1955, 103 minutes, Colour.
Robert Taylor, Kay Kendall, Robert Morley, George Cole, Alec Clunes, Marius Goring, Wilfrid Hyde White.
Directed by Richard Thorpe.

Quentin Durward was released In 1955, It was made In the same vain an the 1953 Ivanhoe. Once again a story by Sir Walter Scott@ Robert Taylor as the hero, Richard Thorpe an the director. However this film was not so popular an Ivanhoe and not so well made, Perhaps one of the differences was that the screenplay this time was by Robert Ardrey, ano author who was later to philosophize about atmosphere and environment especially in his book the Territorial Imperative. The screenplay of Quentin Durward is not an straightforwardly serious as that of Ivanhoe, there In a re-creation of the medieval period but much satire on the customs and the manners of the time. This is especially evident In the character of King Louts played by Robert Morley. This time Kay Kendall is the attractive heroine. However Quentin Durward does combine the best elements of MGM epic adventure and satire.

1. The success of the film as a costume melodrama? The appeal of period films? The enjoyment? The serious undertones of costume dramas?

2. The M.G.M. lavish style? Cinemascope? Location photography, the stars? Audience expectations from period melodrama?

3. The irony inherent in the presentation of the costume drama? The tradition of Sir Walter Scott's novels? Yet the opening caption about knighthood and its drooping flower? The film as a mock-heroic exercise on knighthood and the Middle Ages? The humour and irony of the dialogue, the comedy of the situations? Upsetting audience expectations for sheer
heroism?

4. The importance of the historical and political comment? The idealizing of chivalry, the regret for its passing? The ironic presentation of the more modern world of guns and diplomacy and betrayal? How much regret for the noble ideals? How much realistic facing up to the cynical attitudes? How much regret for these attitudes?

5. How well did the film set the political situation? The Scottish involvement in France in the fifteenth century? The clash between Burgundy and France? The roles of the leaders, their plots and double-crossing? The Scottish alliance? The tradition of the war with England?

6. The situating of Quentin Durward in this setting? As a flowering knight, contrasting with the drooping blossom? His qualities and strengths as a hero? His background of being a Scot and penniless, his dependence on his uncle? The mission and his encounter with his uncle and the plans for the marriage and the Scottish alliance? His sense of honour, his involvement, his love for Isabel, nobility, and chivalrous heroics?

7. Isabel as the heroine of this film? A charming woman? A political pawn for the King of France and Burgundy? A victim of each? The planned marriages? Her love and dependence on Quentin Durward? Her involvement in the fights and the heroics? The justice of the happy ending and the marriage?

8. The presentation of King Louis? A more modern king? His skill in smooth talk and treachery? His style, reliance on his advisers, his discussion with his barber? His challenge of Burgundy, its almost failing? His attitude towards Isabel and Quentin Durward?

9. The similarity of Louis and the Duke of Burgundy? Burgundy relying on the manoeuvrings of his envoy?

10. The contributions of the gypsies? The humour of the character of Hayradden? His comic speech on being a spy, money? His loyalty? The sadness of his death?


11. De la Mare being the villain? The rebel in the forest? Cruelty? The characteristics of a villain? The contrast with the chivalrous hero?

12. The importance of the pageantry of the Courts? Of riding through the countryside?

13. The detailed presentation of the Courts of France, their intrigues, the plans for a united France?

14. The world of the forests, the fights, the Inns and their danger?

15. How effective was the climactic duel in the bell-tower? The way it was visualized, the sounds, the acrobatics, the suspense?

16. The suspense, the climax, the escapes? Louis' final diplomacy with Burgundy and providing a happy ending for Quentin and Isabel?

17. How enjoyable and successful a historical epic?