Ivanhoe (1958 TV series)

Infobox television
show_name = Ivanhoe


caption = Roger Moore as Ivanhoe
format = Adventure
runtime = 30 minutes
creator =
producer = Herbert Smith
Bernard Coote
supervising_producer = Peter Rogers
opentheme=Edwin Astley
story_editor=
starring = Roger Moore
country = UK
network = ITV
first_aired = (Dates for UK airing)
January 5, 1958
last_aired = 1959
num_episodes = 39

"Ivanhoe" was a British television series first shown on ITV in 1958-59. It featured Roger Moore, in his first starring role, as Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe, in a series of adventures aimed at a children's audience. It used characters drawn loosely from Sir Walter Scott's 1819 novel.

Plot

The series was set in England during the 12th century reign of King Richard the Lionheart, who had gone to fight in the Crusades and failed to return. In his absence, power had been taken by his younger brother, the ambitious and wicked Prince John, who sought to strip the people of their rights and land. The dashing and heroic knight Ivanhoe, with his father-and-son companions Gurth and Bart whom he had freed from servitude, attempted to right wrongs, secure justice, help those in need, and thwart John and his allies. [http://www.angelfire.com/retro/cta/UK/Ivanhoe.htm "Ivanhoe" at Classic TV Archive] ]

Making of the series

Swashbuckling adventures for a younger audience, such as "The Scarlet Pimpernel", "The Adventures of Robin Hood" and "The Adventures of Sir Lancelot", were a mainstay of television programming in Britain in the mid-1950s. In December 1956, Columbia Pictures signed up Roger Moore, then working with limited success in Hollywood, to play the title role in an intended series for transmission in both America and the UK. [http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/1137405/ "Ivanhoe" at Screen Online] ] The series was a co-production between Columbia subsidiary Screen Gems and British producer Sydney Box.

Filming started in early 1957, mostly at the Elstree Studios and on location around Buckinghamshire in England, but with some shooting also taking place in California. The series premiered on ITV in January 1958, while filming continued to complete all 39 episodes through to June 1958. Although a pilot episode was filmed in colour, the series was shot in black and white. The executive producer was Peter Rogers, who shortly afterwards began producing the "Carry On" films. Guest stars on the series included Christopher Lee and John Schlesinger. Other supporting actors included Jon Pertwee, Paul Eddington, Leonard Sachs, Kenneth Cope and Adrienne Corri.

Moore insisted on undertaking much of the stunt work himself, resulting in several injuries including three cracked ribs from a fight scene and being knocked unconscious when a battleaxe hit his helmeted skull. Moore later commented: "I felt a complete Charlie riding around in all that armour and damned stupid plumed helmet. I felt like a medieval fireman." [http://www.televisionheaven.co.uk/ivanhoe.htm "Ivanhoe" at Television Heaven] ]

The series finished when Moore returned to Hollywood after Warner Brothers offered him a movie role in "The Miracle".

Cast

:Roger Moore - Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe:Robert Brown - Gurth:Peter Gilmore - Waldo Ivanhoe:Andrew Keir - Prince John:John Pike - Bart:Bruce Seton - King Richard:Paul Whitsun-Jones - Sir Maverick

References