Rating:

As a film, “Prince Valiant” works rather well on several fronts, although there are a couple of minor drawbacks. One is the casting of Sterling Hayden as Sir Gawain, a role that should have brought more of a combination of heroic ego and a bit of comic relief. Another bit of questionable casting is that of Victor McLaglen as the leader of the Christian Vikings. He’s barely recognizable behind that beard, but the moment when he first opens his mouth – and that Irish brogue spills forth – will lift a few eyebrows. The Vikings are all stereotypes, of course, complete with horned helmets and burly beards. In fact, when shown as a group, they look like a cattle call for mascot auditions at a Minnesota football game.

But the positive aspects of this movie rule the day. James Mason makes a fine villain, just the kind everyone would “love to hate”. My guess is that 1954 must have been Mason’s year. Besides “Prince Valiant”, he starred opposite Judy Garland in “A Star is Born”, and created perhaps his greatest role, that of Captain Nemo in Disney’s “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”. Robert Wagner as Valiant is on shaky ground at the film’s start, but he proves himself at the end. The late Janet Leigh makes a most beautiful “damsel in distress”, and the almost overlooked Debra Paget matches Leigh’s beauty in the role of her sister. The final, climactic sword duel must rank in excitement with the ones in “The Adventures of Robin Hood” and the more recent “Rob Roy”.

Franz Waxman’s score is one of his finest in a long career, full of melody and swagger. If the exhuberant opening main title music doesn’t positively lift you out of your seat, I suggest you make an appointment for an MRI.

The print is fine, with lively color to go with the always slightly defocused Cinemascope image (Technirama and Panavision would later prove to be far better in both picture and sound). Overall, a very good piece of entertainment, guaranteed to send a rush.

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A very young Robert Wagner stars as “Prince Valiant”, a Viking who wishes to become a knight in the court of King Arthur–he certainly cuts a dashing figure, once you get used to a rather outlandish, but compulsory, Prince Valiant wig ! Valiant soon finds himself involved in a treacherous plan to oust his own father, King Aguar ( laid-back, avuncular Donald Crisp ), and–zounds !–King Arthur himself ( laid-back, avuncular Brian Aherne ). Of course, our hero still finds time to fall in love with Princess Aleta ( gorgeous Janet Leigh )–not enough romance ?–well, Aleta’s handmaiden, Ilene ( sultry Debra Paget ) is “smitten” with Valiant’s mentor, Sir Gawain ( a bluff and hearty Sterling Hayden ). Stirring up the whole pot is the ambitious, unscrupulous Sir Brack ( James Mason, stealing scenes with ease ). We have a very lively jousting scene, plenty of battles, narrow escapes and other feats of “derring do”. There is, in fact, never a dull moment ! There are more than a few “camp” aspects to this movie, not the least of which are those strong American accents of Mr.Wagner and, especially, Mr.Hayden. Remember “The Black Shield of Falworth” when Tony Curtis, in heavy Bronx accent, says ” take me to da castle of my fadda ” ? There are a few smiles like that here.

The DVD is beautiful–you will be hard pressed to find many films more colourful than this lovely Cinemascope gem from Fox. Extras are sparse–a few trailers and a brief promotional clip from the fifties. Some comments from Robert Wagner would have been fun–fifty years later, and he still looks great–I wonder what he eats for breakfast ? !

While it may not be in the same class as “The Adventures of Robin Hood”, “Prince Valiant” remains a fine example of Hollywood swashbuckling hokum that will not wear out its welcome with repeated viewings. Recommended.

Rating:

Certainly, one would be hard-pressed to assemble a finer cast; in addition to Wagner, Hayden, McLaglen, and Crisp, you have James Mason as the villain, Sir Brack, dazzling, and far more believable than he had been as Rupert of Hentzau in MGM’s remake of THE PRISONER OF ZENDA; Janet Leigh and Debra Paget, both ethereally beautiful as the sisters, Aleta and Ilene; and Brian Aherne, as King Arthur, so perfect in the role that you wish his part had been larger.

In the early 1950s, there was a resurgence of swashbuckling films in Hollywood, and a new sub-category appeared, ‘Knights in Training’, with Fox’s PRINCE VALIANT, and Universal’s THE BLACK SHIELD OF FALWORTH (starring Tony Curtis) both devoting ample screen time to the education of squires in the knightly skills of jousting and sword fighting. These scenes are great fun to watch, particularly for children (knights had to go to school, too!), and paint a far more accurate picture of the difficult work involved in mastering the required talents than did the recent film, A KNIGHT’s TALE.

As we follow the adventures of the Viking Prince as he restores his kingdom, finds love, and wins a place at the Round Table, special credit must be given to Franz Waxman’s spectacular music. One of the most memorable scores ever produced for a film, the theme has become a staple at the Hollywood Bowl, and for the Boston Pops. Once heard, it is not forgotten!

While the magical elements of the story are downplayed (the mystical powers of the ‘Singing Sword’ are more implied than actually shown), the story itself has such a sense of wonder that it isn’t missed. The heroes of Camelot are all present (Arthur, Lancelot, Guinevere, Gawain, and Galahad), and the Round Table scenes are as majestic as any film has ever accomplished.

PRINCE VALIANT may not be in a league with EXCALIBUR, but it certainly holds it’s own against KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE, CAMELOT, and FIRST KNIGHT, and as a family film it can’t be beat!