Alfred the Great

Film

Period and swashbuckler films

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Time Out says

Anglo-Saxons vs the Danes in 9th century England. Much derided at the time, Donner's shot at an intelligent epic is a little more sympathetic three decades on. The model was evidently Lawrence of Arabia, with Alfred (Hemmings) the flawed hero, wanting to be a good Christian but dismayed by his propensity for violence, while in mirror image, Guthrum the 'savage pagan' (York) finds love undermining his rape 'n' pillage ethos. Alex Thomson's photography has texture and Leppard's score is important sounding without becoming strident. But Donner should have taken a broadsword to the reams of duff dialogue ('Now look, Ethelred...'), an insurmountable obstacle to taking the thing seriously. A curiosity, all the same.

Author: BBa

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Release details

UK release:

1969

Duration:

125 mins

Cast and crew

Director:

Clive Donner

Cast:

Vivien Merchant, Peter Vaughan, Ian McKellen, Julian Glover, Colin Blakely, Prunella Ransome, Michael York, David Hemmings, Sinead Cusack

Music:

Raymond Leppard

Production Designer:

Michael Stringer

Editor:

Fergus McDonell

Cinematography:

Alex Thomson

Screenwriter:

James R Webb, Ken Taylor

Producer:

Bernard Smith

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  • My grandfather, James O'Grady, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary worked on a film in Loughrea, called Alred the Great, - this was the last film made in Loughrea studio in Ireland - does anyone know anything about the film business in Loughrea in the 1960's. He used to work on films in London - Pinewood Studios, Ealing Studios - he was a carpenter by trade but built film sets. He came home to Ireland from London to work on the making of this film.

    Teresa Ryan-Feehan Mon Apr 1
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