Ivanhoe (1913)

In the days when the Christian knights were fighting for the cross in the Holy Land, Prince John held the reins of government in England. John's greed was greater than his fraternal affection and he sought every means to support his claim on the crown against the time his brother, the rightful king, should return. There lived at this time also at Rotherwood, not many miles from where Sheffield now stands, a Saxon nobleman named Cedric. He was of the fast dwindling ancient Saxon race, but had refused the yoke of the invading Normans, at least in spirit. Wilfred, his son, rather favored the Court of King Richard, and Coeur de Lion rewarded him with the manor "Ivanhoe." Dwelling with Cedric was a beautiful Saxon girl of the blood royal named Rowena and it was Ivanhoe's lot that he should fall in love with his adopted sister, though the father objected on the ground that he had knelt to his enemies. Ivanhoe had subsequently Joined Richard the Lionheart in the Holy Land and the years passed on without news of him. Prince John bestowed Ivanhoe's barony on Reginald de Boen, a licentious Norman. Rowena is sought by Athelstane in marriage with the approval of Cedric. She refuses. Ivanhoe has returned from his adventures, and, disguised as a holy man, approaches his father and sweetheart in order to learn of their present feelings towards him. Still in disguise he meets Rowena and hands her a scroll in his own handwriting, and the girl is much pleased, for she has never forgotten her childhood companion. From here the scene changes to a forest where are seen two weary travelers trying to gain shelter before sunset. These are the wealthy Jewish moneylender, Isaac of York, and his daughter, Rebecca. The former is disguised as a poor peddler, the better to ply his trade of usury, without revealing evidence of his wealth. They are admitted to Cedric's mansion, though everyone shrinks from the old man, who is forced to eat his food by the fireside. Rebecca, a beauty, however, attracts the attention of de Bois Guilbert to the extent that he seats her beside him at the table and showers insulting attentions upon her. Ivanhoe, still in his disguise, comes forward to lend protection. Suspecting that the Jew has money the knights retire to complete plans to capture. Ivanhoe overhears, and, rushing to the Jew and his daughter, conducts them out of the castle. Immediately after they have passed out, the knight finds himself attacked on all sides by the conspirators, and though he makes a brave struggle to cut off the pursuit, he is finally left stunned and weakened by loss of blood. On recovering consciousness he observes his father and sweetheart, Rowena, being borne off captive, and too weak to succor them he drags himself into the forest and falls fainting again at the feet of Isaac. When he again regains consciousness it is to find that his new friends have vanished. Father and daughter, seeking water in the woods, have been captured as Ivanhoe's father and sweetheart had been. We are next taken into the camp of Robin Hood. A stranger has come into their midst and revealed himself to the leader as Richard the Lionheart, alone and sad, for while he is still the King of England he has yet to regain his throne. Robin and the Friar revive his moody spirits and it was the boisterous laughter of the Black Knight that attracted the faint Ivanhoe in the woods nearby. The meeting of these two characters is picturesque. Ivanhoe tells of his troubles and enlists the aid not alone of the King and Robin, but all his followers. There is a blast of the horn and from the hillsides a great army swarm down. The march is rapid, followed by a vicious attack upon the Torquilstone Castle, where the four are held prisoners. De Bois Guilbert is forced to leave off his attentions to the women and the torture of the miserable Jew to lead in the defense. In the press of the bloody battle is seen the stalwart form of Ivanhoe, while almost equal in prowess are the feats of the Black Knight. The Normans are forced back into their castle. Believing the odds are against him the villain throws the Jewish maiden upon his horse and escapes; he takes her to the tribunal of the Order of Good Templars on a charge of sorcery out of revenge for his defeat. There remained but one chance for her to escape with her life and that was to find some knight to establish her innocence by defeating in mortal combat her accuser. News of this is brought to Ivanhoe by Gurth and he does not hesitate to champion her cause. The day of doom arrives; Rebecca is bound to the stake and the faggots are piled round her feet. The trumpet is blown once as a signal for the champion. There is no response. It is blown again, and, as the flames lick upward, there comes through the amazed crowd a knight. What follows is a merciless fight between de Bois and Ivanhoe. As the latter is declared the victor the Black Knight arrives on the scene, casts off his disguise and discloses himself as the King. Ivanhoe is reconciled to his father and is married, later, by the Duke of York. Rebecca, aching for the love of the gallant knight, joins her hand to that of Rowena and then departs with her father. In the last scene of the film we have Isaac embracing his daughter. She, however, seems not to notice his caresses; her eyes are turned toward the sunset. Before her arises a vision of the knight in the arms of his bride and she reflects on the happiness that will be his in the love of Rowena and thus, in that bitter-sweet joy which only self-sacrifice can give, we leave her.