The War Lord

source: The War Lord

I was a little kid seeing this in the theatres for the first time and I remember that before the credits ran Heston and Forsyth did a little introductory summary about the middle ages speaking directly to the audience. I can't remember exactly, but I think they also addressed the issue of the violence in the movie - which by today's standards is pretty mellow. It seems to me they talked about it as adding credibility to the film in terms of historical content. When does that happen anymore? I don't know if it's included in the DVD but it would be cool. I also think Franklin Shaffner was a wonderful director. No slop. No unnecessary scenes. And as good as Heston is, the performance that blew me away was given by Guy Stockwell. Oh my god. How was his brother Dean more visible in the industry? I don't know. And of course Richard Boone was terrific - especially in his last tender scene comforting Heston - the son he never had. I usually hesitate watching movies that I saw as a child because I don't want to lose the special feeling they gave me as a child, but this one certainly retains the romanticism and excitement found in a few other movies such as Journey to the Centre of the Earth, Samson and Delilah, and Demetrius and the Gladiators. Definitely an "A".

I love this movie for two reasons: First, even with the cheapjack production values, the over-the-top acting, the stilted dialogue, the 42 different ways Paul Frees' voice is dubbed, the teasing, almost nudity of Rosemary Forsyth (oh, if this movie had only been made in 1970, not '65--vavavoom!), the moronic wigs the baddies wear, and the veneer of cheese whiz, it's good story-telling and entertaining to boot. The second reason I love this flick is that I can use it to teach Medieval times to 9th graders; there's enough stuff in the movie to talk about and research that, with crackers for the cheese, my kiddies actually learn important stuff! Then again, if this movie had been made in 1970, I would have to look for a TV version and still send home a permission slip. Let's keep Rosemary's undies on!

Oh dear , take a look at the production values in the opening scene of THE WAR LORD . We see location long shots of the characters with their backs to camera so we can`t see their faces then cut to a medium shot of Charlton Heston and co standing against back projection . This happens throughout the movie with shots of characters in long shot ( And who are obvious stand ins for the big name actors ) to jarring cuts of Chuck and company standing in front of studio sets or back projection or indeed stock footage of wild life. It`s very annoying and oh so obvious There`s several things that don`t go together . One is Arabs and nuclear reactors , another is Steven Seagal and celluloid , but perhaps the two things that should never combine is American accents and ye olde world dialogue . Richard Boone especially is totally unconvincing as an 11th century warrior while Chuck is ... well he`s Charlton Heston , a man who shouts and has a strange looking hairstyle . I don`t believe people looked or spoke like this in Normandy But what the hell , this is a Hollywood movie and Hollywood shows us what it`s been doing best for decades : ignoring historical facts , giving us good guys and bad guys , a bit of romance and most of all - action . Despite the rather pondering nature of the script and the patchey production values the last third of the movie is taken up with some very impressive battle scenes as the bad guys try to storm the good guys castle . Okay we`ve been spoiled rotten recently by Peter Jackson`s LORD OF THE RINGS and THE WAR LORD battle scenes might not seem that good in comparison but please remember this was made in 1965 have must have seemed quite breath taking at the time . Did anyone else feel watching the Vikings trying to burn down the doors that it gave Peter Jackson some inspiration for the battle of Helm`s Deep ? As a footnote to the fight scenes I remember as a young child watching a movie that featured Vikings running about engulfed in flames after attacking a castle . It wasn`t until last week at the grand old age of 37 that I realised while watching it again that the movie that impressed me all those distant years ago was THE WAR LORD , and I wasn`t disappointed seeing the battle sequences again

This movie portrays feudalism in Europe in a very unglamorous light. Nobody is happy, from the lord in the castle (Crisagon, played by Charlton Heston sporting a dark-ages soup-bowl haircut) to the peasants he governs. Even Crisagon's exercise of his feudal rights when a peasant girl marries doesn't cheer him up very much or very long, since it leads to lots of trouble. The movie has lots of little touches that seem realistic: Crisagon's dedication to the duke who enfoeffed him and his simple faith; the peasants' mix of Christianity and Druidism, the motley armor and gear Crisagon's men have, and many others. The end of the movie was out of sync with these other bits, because I don't see how catapults could have been moved cross-country so fast, or why anyone thought catapults would be useful against the beseigers instead of against the besieged tower.

THE WAR LORD is somewhat typical of the Hollywood historical adventure film in that the period it depicts looks nothing like it would have looked in real life. It's the odd haircuts and the silly armour that helps to spoil this one, although it's not a bad little film when it gets going and at least the storyline is rather atypical. The film pairs director Franklin J. Schaffner and stars Charlton Heston and Maurice Evans just before they had a big hit with PLANET OF THE APES. THE WAR LORD isn't in the same league, and for a long time in the middle of the film it's rather stodgy, bogged down by endless romance scenes between an autopilot Heston and an insipid Rosemary Forsyth. However, the film is book-ended with action sequences, and in particular the large-scale siege warfare at the climax is well worth the wait and one of the better Hollywood depictions of medieval combat. At all times, THE WAR LORD is a very obviously artificial viewing experience. Let's just say that California looks little like France, no matter how much they try to dress it up. Heston is oddly subdued and the likes of Richard Boone and James Farentino don't fit in the era at all, although Niall MacGinnis is reliably fluid. Still, I'm a sucker for a siege film, and at least the last half an hour is a lot of fun, almost making up for the problems found elsewhere.

Let's see, our "hero" is a rapist...a fratricide...AND a traitor, to the Duke who elevated him...and all for the sake of getting his rocks off with the only available hot box in the boondocks. Please don't tell me he did it for LOVE. That chick does have a smokin' bod, but she also has the personality of a sack of rocks...if a sack of rocks could quiver like a timid girl and pout. Ugh. As for the cinematic qualities, it is hard to imagine anyone too young to have been to a drive-in movie sitting through this. I suspect most of the viewers who rate this film highly are at least 50, and saw it when they were boys. I'm glad it reminds them of their carefree barefoot days playing sword-fight in the back yard, but don't hold your breath waiting for the remake. One interesting footnote: I bet this is the movie dwarf who inspired that dwarf in Game of Thrones. He's a dead ringer! And George R.R.Martin is old enough to have seen The War Lord at the local drive-in when he was a boy.

THE WAR LORD is one of those maddening films with many epic elements compromised by a miserly studio. Like SPARTACUS (also made by Universal), production values very from sumptuous to horrible (looks like the same fake forest set as used in SPARTACUS). Director Franklin Schaffner(PATTON) simply lacks the panache to capture the romance on display, and Rosemary Forsythe has the physical assets but nothing else to pull off the female lead. One wonders what THE WAR LORD would have been had Kathryn Ross, another Universal ingenue, been cast. Fine performances by Charleton Heston, Richard Boone and Maurice Evans, but a slightly hammy one by Guy Stockwell. For all its realism, action, drama and mystical trappings THE WAR LORD simply does not add up to much. In only six years, Heston had fallen from BEN-HUR and EL CID to this claptrap. Sad.

XI century, the powerful Duke William of Ganthe sends his main knight Chrysagon (Charlton Heston) and some warriors to defend coastal villages in Normandy against continuous Frisios attacks that sack, ravage, rampage and pillage. Meanwhile , war-hardened Chrysagonn falls in love with a peasant girl named Bronwyn (Rosemary Forsyth) , adopted daughter of the old Odin (Nial MacGuinnis), though she is unfortunately engaged to someone else (James Farentino). The nobleman uses an old law which allows knights his feudal right of first night called ¨Ius Primae Noctis¨ after the wedding celebration. Nevertheless Chrysagon and Bronwyn become enamored and vow to never apart . This mood piece is an interesting story set in the 11th century with impressive production values full of scenes like ancient prints, pulsating action in the keep attack and excellent performances. Splendid evocation of medieval time based on the play ¨The lovers¨ by Leslie Stevens (Outer limits) and well-adapted by John Collier (Silvia Scarlett) and Millard Kaufman (Bad day at Black Rock). Top-notch Charlton Heston as Norman noble who invokes his right and steals a bride, Guy Stockwell as embittered, deranged and ambitious brother. And gorgeous, sensitive Rosemary Forsyth who never bettered her role as frail and enamored peasant , in addition Richard Boone does a sincere portrayal as a veteran warrior . The aces in the hole of this stunning movie are the evocative musical score by Jerome Moross and colorful cinematography by Russell Metty with wonderful images of all kind of skies and turquoise interiors. Furhermore appropriate costumes fitting to Middle Age by Vitti Nino Novarese. The motion picture picture is finely directed by Franklin J. Schaffner in the first collaboration to Heston who later directed him in ¨Planet of apes¨ and as co-protagonist Maurice Evans who in ¨War lord¨ plays a likable priest. Schaffner filmed several hits as ¨Papillon¨, ¨Boys from Brazil¨ and of course ¨Patton¨ and some flops as ¨Nicholas and Alexandra¨, ¨Day of dolphin¨ and ¨Lionheart¨. Although had studio interference ¨War lord¨ is one of the most impressive pieces of Middle Age that Hollywood ever realized. Rating : Better than average, well worth watching.

Captures a harsh flavor of medieval life in a way few other movies have -- the fervent Christianity at odds with superstition, the uncomfortable living conditions, the rigid barrier between ruler and ruled, the messy practicalities of medieval warfare, the absence of anything like personal "freedom". Also great to see portrayed a specific period of the 11th century that is not often depicted--around the time of William the Conqueror (one wonders if "The Duke" talked about in the story is meant to be William). Worth seeing too for the striking, brutally poetic dialog and Heston's performance. The over-romantic score is distracting and often inappropriate. The female lead seems mis-directed--one feels she could do more, but is not being given the opportunity.