The father of the historical novel, Sir Walter Scott invented a literary form that has remained popular for over one hundred and fifty years. Infusing his works with romance, action, and suspense, he brought long-gone eras back to life with splendor and spectacle.Set in England just after the Third Crusade, Ivanhoe is the tale of Wilfrid, a young Saxon knight, and his love for the royal princess Rowena. With his father against their union, Wilfrid embarks on a series of adventures to prove his worth, finding himself in conflict against the Normans and the Templars, and allied with such larger-than-life figures as Robin Hood and Richard the Lion Hearted. A timeless story of courage, chivalry, and courtly love, Ivanhoe is a grand epic, and its place in classical literature is assured.
Adaptations (10)
Ivanhoe has been adapted 10 times, across film, television series, and television film, from 1913 to 2000. The most recent is Dark Knight (2000).
Ivanhoe1913 · film · dir. Leedham Bantock · IMDb ↗IMDb4.3A disowned knight rescues an heiress and a Jewish woman from a charge of sorcery.
Ivanhoe1952 · film · 106 min · dir. Richard Thorpe · IMDb ↗Sir Walter Scott's classic story of the chivalrous Ivanhoe who joins with Robin of Locksley in the fight against Prince John and for the return of King Richard the Lionheart.
Ivanhoe1958 · television series · 30 min · IMDb ↗IMDb7.1Ivanhoe is a British television series first shown on ITV in 1958-59. The show features Roger Moore in his first starring role, as Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe, in a series of adventures aimed at a children's audience. The characters were drawn loosely from Sir Walter Scott's 1819 novel.
Ivanhoe1970 · television series · 250 min · IMDb ↗IMDb7.8Ivanhoe was a BBC television series from 1970. The script was by Alexander Baron, based on Sir Walter Scott's novel of the same name. The director was David Maloney. It was shown on the Sunday tea-time slot on BBC1, which for several years showed fairly faithful adaptations of classic novels aimed at a family audience. It was later shown on US television. It consisted of five 50-minute episodes. It is not widely remembered nowadays, but is remembered favourably by some who do remember it, as one of the better BBC Sunday adaptations, and possibly more accessible to a late 20th-century audience than Scott's original novel.
Ivanhoe1982 · television film · 142 min · dir. Douglas Camfield · IMDb ↗IMDb6.7Ivanhoe, a worthy and noble knight, the champion of justice returns to England after the holy wars, and finds England under the reign of Prince John and his henchmen and finds himself being involved in the power-struggle for the throne of England.
The Ballad of the Valiant Knight Ivanhoe1983 · film · 92 min · dir. Sergey Tarasov · IMDb ↗IMDb6.9Ivanhoe is the story of one of the remaining Saxon noble families at a time when the nobility in England was overwhelmingly Norman. It follows the Saxon protagonist, Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe, who is out of favor with his father for his allegiance to the Norman king Richard the Lionheart. The story is set in 1194, after the failure of the Third Crusade, when many of the Crusaders were still returning to their homes in Europe. King Richard, who had been captured by Leopold of Austria on his return journey to England, was believed to still be in captivity.
Ivanhoe1986 · film · 55 min · IMDb ↗IMDb6.7Based on the novel by Sir Walter Scott, Ivanhoe's 12th-century England comes to life in Burbank Film's classic animated film.
Ivanhoe1997 · television series · 270 min · IMDb ↗IMDb7.3The epic tale of the idealistic young knight Ivanhoe and his battle against the evil Templar Bois-Guilbert. Caught between the rivalries and religious struggles are Ivanhoe's betrothed Rowena and the brave, beautiful Jewess healer Rebecca, who wins Ivanhoe's heart with her courage. This grand six-part adaptation of Sir Walter Scott's rousing adventure of the Middle Ages is set against the historical backdrop of a Britain straining under the corrupt rule of Prince John while Richard the Lionhearted fights in the Crusades.
Young Ivanhoe1999 · television film · 93 min · dir. Ralph L. Thomas · IMDb ↗IMDb4.8Ivanhoe is learning his way while having dealing with his father, Sir Cedric. The Normans are threatening England so he must quickly develop under the tutelage of the Black Knight, secretly King Richard, and followers of Robin Hood.
Dark Knight2000 · television series · IMDb ↗IMDb5.1"Dark Knight" is a TV series, based very loosely on Sir Walter Scott's novel "Ivanhoe". This joint New Zealand/England production attempted to capitalize on the same sword and sorcery market successfully mined by "Xena: Warrior Princess". Ancient evil is about to be unleashed on the land and the only hope is the sharp sword, the pure heart and the mysterious force that protects the 'Chosen One' Ivanhoe.
