MGM didn’t hold back on Ivanhoe, making it the most expensive movie ever filmed in England at that point—though the fact that so much studio money ended up in English banks probably says more about their investment than any real passion for the project. Richard Thorpe directed, with Pandro S. Berman producing. The film stars Robert Taylor, Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Fontaine, George Sanders, Emlyn Williams, Finlay Currie and Felix Aylmer. Æneas MacKenzie, Marguerite Roberts, and Noel Langley wrote the screenplay, adapting Sir Walter Scott’s novel. Miklós Rózsa composed the score, and Freddie Young handled the Technicolor cinematography, with exterior scenes shot at Doune Castle in Stirling, Scotland. Despite some uneven pacing and a few weak spots in the writing, Ivanhoe stands out as one of MGM's best historical epics, even if it’s not always recognized as such. As is typical for adaptations, there are changes from Scott’s book, but Thorpe and his team did well with what they had and created an exciting film. The visuals are stunning thanks to Young’s cinematography, which really showcases Roger Furse's costumes and Alfred Junge's impressive sets. Taylor (R), Fontaine and Taylor (E) all look great; Elizabeth Taylor in particular is captivating and her beauty can easily draw you into the movie. The romantic relationships between them provide a consistently interesting spectacle. The action sequences are well-done, with the attack on Front de Boeuf’s castle handled skillfully and given enough time to play out properly. The jousting tournament feels very real (Ivanhoe is so confident he challenges all five knights!), and the fight between Taylor's Ivanhoe and Sanders’ De Bois-Guilbert is brutal and intense—the sound design really adds to the impact. It’s also important to note that the film addresses the anti-Semitic elements present in Scott’s novel, thankfully not omitting this aspect of the story. Williams provides excellent support for the three leading men, while Sanders, Robert Douglas, and Guy Wolfe as the villainous Prince John all deliver satisfyingly despicable performances. The movie was a huge financial success for MGM, breaking studio records at the time. It’s easy to see why; it's a beautiful production overall, and despite its flaws, it remains engaging and exciting for fans of historical epics. What a year 1952 was for MGM! 8/10

Source on TMDB