IVANHOE: FREEING THE SERFS {SERIES PREMIERE} (TV)
Summary
The series premiere in this action/adventure television series loosely adapted from Sir Walter Scott's novel of the same name. In this episode, Ivanhoe, recently returned from The Crusades, is "invited" to a meeting with one Sir Maurice, who explains that criminals are running amok throughout the leaderless country. He states that he intends to support Prince John's attempts to ascend the throne in place of his missing brother – but Ivanhoe remains steadfastly loyal to King Richard, declaring that he will surely return from war to rule England once again. Ivanhoe then rescues a young serf boy, Bart, from a would-be whipping as punishment for owning an exotic pet bird. When Maurice declares that he has no right to intervene, Ivanhoe challenges him to combat, demanding freedom for Bart and his father Gurth as his "prize." Ivanhoe wins the joust handily, but Maurice attempts to cheat him and Ivanhoe, Gurth and Bart quickly ride off to freedom and arrive at Rotherwood, Ivanhoe's former home. Once there, steward Geoffrey explains that Ivanhoe's father Sir Cedric and his ward Rowena have departed for Prince John's castle, regretfully adding that Cedric disowned Ivanhoe after his ill-advised departure to the wars.
Undeterred, Ivanhoe heads off to confront John with only Gurth and Bart as his posse, while elsewhere Prince John addresses "his" subjects and points out that while many soldiers have returned, King Richard is still missing and is therefore presumably dead, making John his rightful heir. Sir Cedric, shocked to hear that Ivanhoe too has returned, denounces John's treachery and declares his undying loyalty to Richard before storming out with Rowena, and John sends Maurice after them, promising him Rotherwood as a reward. Bart witnesses Cedric and Rowena's capture and reports back to Ivanhoe, and Ivanhoe gathers a small band of men and surprises Maurice and his knights on the road, using a felled tree to break up their group. After a fierce battle, Ivanhoe successfully rescues Cedric and Rowena, and Cedric abandons his anger at his son and greets him warmly. Ivanhoe, however, states that he cannot remain at Rotherwood while John is still at large, and heads off with Gurth and Bart to continue fighting for the one true king. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ITV (United Kingdom)
- DATE: November 30, 1957
- RUNNING TIME: 0:26:10
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: B:77317
- GENRE: Drama, action/adventure
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, action/adventure; Literature - Adaptations
- SERIES RUN: ITV - TV series, 1958-1959
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Peter Rogers … Executive Producer
- Seymour Friedman … Producer
- Benedict Berenberg … Associate Producer, Writer
- David MacDonald … Director
- Walter Scott … Based on the novel by
- Albert Elms … Music by
- Benedict Berenberg … Theme Music by
- Roger Moore … Cast, Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe
- Robert Brown … Cast, Gurth
- John Pike … Cast, Bart
- Anthony Dawson … Cast, Sir Maurice
- Norah Gorsen … Cast, Lady Rowena
- Henry Vidon … Cast, Sir Cedric
- Jack Lambert … Cast, Geoffrey
- Andrew Keir … Cast, Prince John
- Robert Cawdron … Cast, Bailiff