A knight comes to a coastal village where people try to rebuilt castle. He fulfills a plan to help the duke's authority to earn money and suddenly he falls in love with a local women.
The rituals of pagan mythology are well observed - cabalistic idols, sacrifices - as is Heston's disintegration in the face of a mental force that he can't understand.
The sure-handed direction of Schaffner and the credible performances of Heston et al are well complemented by Morross's driving, Stravinsky-like score.
There is plenty of bow-and-arrow shooting and throwing spears and pouring boiling oil and battering-ramming the great oak doorway and assaulting the fortress with a scaling-tower.
TV Guide
April 23, 2011
An intelligent historical drama, exciting and atmospheric while never losing sight of the human passions that are its driving force.
