Ivanhoe

Ivanhoe (1952) is an MGM adventure epic you can watch online on iFILM. Robert Taylor plays Wilfred of Ivanhoe, a Saxon knight who slips back into England after the Third Crusade with one pressing task: raise the ransom to free King Richard the Lionheart from Austrian captivity before Prince John seizes the throne for good.

The road runs through a tournament at Ashby, a siege, and a clash between Norman lords loyal to John and the few who still hold for the rightful king. Elizabeth Taylor plays Rebecca and Joan Fontaine plays Rowena — both figures command Ivanhoe's attention in ways that have nothing to do with politics. George Sanders is the cold-blooded Norman knight Brian de Bois-Guilbert, making every scene with him feel like a threat.

Adapted from Sir Walter Scott's novel, the film picked up three Oscar nominations — for Best Picture, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Score. Lush, old-school studio adventure made when Hollywood still built castles on backlots. Watch Ivanhoe (1952) online on iFILM.