Set in late 12th century England, this silent adventure is filled with pageantry and excitement as it chronicles the star-crossed love between a dashing knight and a beautiful Jewish maiden.
Wilfred of Ivanhoe (played by King Baggot), son of Sir Cedric (played by Wallace Bosco), returns to England from the Crusades in the Holy Land. As Ivanhoe, disguised, discovers that his beloved Lady Rowena (played by Evelyn Hope) has remained faithful, two weary travelers, Isaac of York (played by Herbert Brenon) and his pretty daughter Rebecca (played by Leah Baird), are admitted to Sir Cedric's castle, but after the knights learn that Isaac has money they abduct the visitors to the Norman stronghold of Torquilstone Castle.
When Ivanhoe realizes that Sir Cedric and Rowena have also been captured, he enters the forest, where he meets Robin Hood (played by Walter Thomas) and the Black Knight, actually King Richard, the Lion-Hearted (played by Walter Craven). Their band defeats de Bois in battle, but the villain escapes with Rebecca, later charging her with sorcery.
As Ivanhoe defeats de Bois in single combat, King Richard arrives, revealing his identity and reclaiming the crown from his traitorous brother, Prince John (played by George Courtenay).
Sadly, Rebecca must undergo a period of suffering, as well as come to terms with the loss of the man she loves, and witness the nuptials of her gallant Ivanhoe and the beautiful Rowena.
Filming
Filming was undertaken in and around Chepstow Castle in Monmouthshire, in June and July 1913. It was said at the time to be "the biggest venture of the kind ever attempted in England" [sic]. Many of the residents of Chepstow were accustomed to wearing costume as participants in local historical reenactments, and rates of payment for extras were higher than earnings at the local shipyard. It was reported that, for three or four weeks during filming, residents of the town went about their daily work in costume, and the town took on "a state of festival and fancy raiment". Several local residents were injured during the filming. The film was released in September 1913, and was shown four times a day in the local picture hall.[1]
^Anne Rainsbury and Rick Turner, "The Victorian Period and the 20th Century", in Chepstow Castle: Its History and Buildings, edited by Rick Turner and Andy Johnson, Logaston Press, 2006, ISBN 1-904396-52-6, pp.261-262
