Jan 19, 2015 alfred the great 1969 david hemmings danish onesheet. Tho about a famous english king the movie was shot largely on. The movie shows the times when some of the english kingdoms were ruled by danish vikings danelaw. English actor david hemmings on the set of epic film. Alfred the great soundtrack raymond leppard 1969 youtube. Using his older brother king aethelred alan doble as bait, the danes are lured into a trap. David hemmings the perennial sixties youthful dude is an adequate alfred. Alfred is preparing to join the priesthood, but, angered by the invasion his country by the danes, he puts aside his religious vows to lead the west saxon english. The ninthcentury tale of alfred the great 849 899 taking over as king of wessex 871 899 and overlord of england from his feeble older brother ethelred alan dobie is turned into a wobbly historical epic by director clive donner in his 1969 british film alfred the great. It is all original with and features a great images a shirtless michael york, cast and david hemmings as king alfred to promote the 1969 drama history ward drama, alfred the great while old england is being ransacked by roving danes in the 9th century, alfred is planning to join the priesthood. Drama history war uk english colour 122min w david hemmings, michael york, prunella ransome, ian mckellen ninth century english nobleman alfred david hemmings puts his plans to become a priest on hold, because his country has been invaded by vikings. The two leads are convincing but the part of the queen is too underwritten. In this film alfred the great it is the superb actor david hemmings who plays alfred with much conviction against the danish king guthrum played by another notable actor michael york.
Alfred the great is an entertaining film with perhaps too much battle scenes. Sep 19, 2010 alfred the great king alfred s struggle. Alfred the great is a 1969 epic film which portrayed alfred the great s struggle to rid wessex of the invading danes, in the 870s ad. David hemmings of recent blow up fame is an unlikely warrior king. Kind of a dumb movie, but this scene was excellent. With david hemmings, michael york, prunella ransome, colin blakely. Alfred the great 1969 clive donner, david hemmings, michael york, prunella ransome, drama, history, war september 4, 2017 while old england is being ransacked by roving danes in the ninth century, alfred is planning to join the priesthood. Alfred the great by clive donner clive donner, david. Alfred the great film from wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. David hemmings michael york prunella ransome colin blakely ian mckellen peter vaughan alan dobie julian glover.
But observing the rape of his motherland, he puts aside his religious vows to take up arms against the invaders, leading the english christians to fight for their country. English actor david hemmings on the set of epic film alfred. Alfred david hemmings is about to become a priest but a viking army led by guthrum michael york has taken east anglia, and threatens wessex. But the film has no claim on using that adjective to describe itself. Wenzel to promote the 1969 clive donner film alfred the great starring david hemmings as alfred, based on story by james r. An unbelievably young michael york, is convincing as the viking antagonist.
The score did have a brief, limited release on the mgm label and certainly in the uk, became one of the most sought after and expensive lps ever. An innovative tactician, he earns the nickname alfred the great for his show of bravery on the battlefield his renown also wins him a marriage to princess aelhswith. David hemmings man candy monday alfred the great star david pirate treasure action film my heritage historical costume great movies. Mar 12, 2003 david hemmings full list of movies and tv shows in theaters, in production and upcoming films.
Alfred the great 1969 ninth century english nobleman alfred david hemmings puts his plans to become a priest on hold, because his country has been invaded by vikings. Shot in expansive galway county locales by alex thomson excalibur, hamlet, the film also stars colin blakely, vivien merchant and, in only his second film role. Neither film did well at the box office, with alfred the great being a notable flop. The screenplay distorts history for dramatic impact. And, of course, david hemmings in the lead, after his breakout role in the hit blowup, though he was later more or less lost in the gargantuan hollywood version of camelot 1967. When the invading danes kidnap his wife aelthswith prunella ransome, he goes to battle. Moments before taking his priestly vows, prince alfred of wessex. All i can say, if this is the true story of alfred the great, ill be a monkeys uncle. Alfred the great 1969 david hemmings and prunella ransome in alfred the great. Alfred the great original lobby card set david hemmings. Probably michael yorks greatest performance as a viking king.
Imdb later informed me that the film was alfred the great 1969, starring david hemmings and michael york, but to my grief, it had never been rereleased on dvd. Alfred the great dvd 1969 david hemmings actor michael york actor format. Alfred the great is a 1969 epic film which portrays alfred the greats struggle to defend the anglosaxon kingdom of wessex from a danish viking invasion in the 9th century. Alfred the great is a film directed by clive donner with david hemmings, michael york, prunella ransome, colin blakely, year.
It is all original with and features a great images a shirtless michael york, cast and david hemmings as king alfred to promote the 1969 drama history ward drama. Find movie and film cast and crew information for alfred the great 1969 clive donner on allmovie. In 1968 mgm came to galway to make a swords and sandals epic film called alfred the great. Alfred the great 1969 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. But observing the rape of his land, he puts away his religious vows. Alfred david hemmings gives up the priesthood to become king. David hemmings stars as alfred, who defeats the predatory. Alfred david hemmings gives up the priesthood to become king of wessex in 849 ad after the death of his brother. Alfred the great 1969, david hemmings, michael york. David hemmings full list of movies and tv shows in theaters, in production and upcoming films. Alfred the great 1969 clive donner cast and crew allmovie. A vast amount of money was spent on the exact replication of every aspect of the ninth century it depicted, turning some corners of county galway into.
This film, despite its flaws and its abysmal box office performance, remains a. The film was shot in different parts of county galway. Alfred the great is a 1969 epic film which portrayed alfred the greats struggle to rid wessex of the invading danes, in the 870s ad. An innovative tactician, he earns the nickname alfred the great for his show of bravery on the battlefield his renown also. The 9th century alfred david hemmings, prince of wessex, became the first and only british king to be called great after he united the country. Making its warner archive dvd debut, alfred the great isnt an unheralded classic, though it has some fascinating elements. By 870 the danes had overthrown the kingdoms of east anglia, northumbria, and mercia, and were preparing to do the same to wessex. Alfred the great film wikipedia republished wiki 2. But observing the rape of his land, he puts away his religious vows, to take up arms against the invaders, leading the english christians to fight for their country. Alfred soundly defeats the danes and becomes a hero. Movie info alfred the great david hemmings changes his plans to becomes a priest and aspires to political greatness.
Dec 05, 2003 david hemmings, who has died suddenly aged 62 following a heart attack while filming samanthas child in romania, had a long and varied screen career as an actor, director and producer. David hemmings list of movies and tv shows tv guide. The film opens as alfred is about to take his vows as a priest when the danes invade to pillage and rape their way across england. Alfred the great alfred the great galway alfred the great. British conductor raymond leppard produced a majestic score for this 1969 cliver donner directed account of the rise of the famous 9th century english. Alfred the great alfred 1969 barbarella dildano 1968. Epic film of alfred the greats struggle to rid wessex of the invading danes, in the 870s. Cast and crew credits for alfred the great, 1969, directed by clive donner, with david hemmings, michael york, prunella ransome, at turner classic movies.
But observing the rape of his land, he puts away his religious vows, to take up arms against the invaders, leading the english christians to fight for. The late david hemmings starred in the role of alfred, with the late prunella. Alfred the great 1969 david hemmings danish onesheet. Alfred the great idea was to show that alfred, prince of wessex, who became the first and only british king to be called great, was not just a guy who burned the cakes. A lot of preparatory work had gone into selecting three main locations in kilchreest, ross lake, and knockma, each of which encompassed 90 acres. Alfred the great english actor david hemmings 1941 2003 on the set of epic film alfred the great, ireland, 22nd july 1968. Still no legitimate cd release for raymond leppards magnificent score for the david hemmings michael york movie, alfred the great.
While old england is being ransacked by roving danes in the 9th century, alfred david hemmings is planning to join the priesthood. While olde england is being ransacked by roving danes in the 9th century, alfred david hemmings is commencing to join the priesthood. Alfred the great is a 1969 epic film which portrays alfred the great s struggle to defend the anglosaxon kingdom of wessex from a danish viking invasion in the 9th century. Hemmings came out here four months ago to play mordred, king arthurs. From the passages of english lore, alfred s legend lends itself to a few of the many deeds and innovations which shaped his country and its reforms.
Alfred the great manufactured on demand on tcm shop. Alfred the great came into the theatres in 1969 when epic films had already lost their appeal to larger audiences. While old england is being ransacked by roving danes in the 9th century, alfred is planning to join the priesthood. Alfred the great 1969 clive donner, david hemmings. Hollywood out in devils gulch on the back lot at warner brothers, where josh logan is making camelot with the whole studio hanging over his shoulders, david hemmings sits in his dressing room and waits. When the invading danes kidnap his wife aelthswith prunella ransome, he goes. Alfred the great david hemmings changes his plans to becomes a priest and aspires to political greatness. Jun 09, 2014 clip from 1969 movie, alfred the great. The first scenes between david hemmings and prunella ransome are good though. Alfred the great 1969 david hemmings as alfred imdb. David hemmings, one of the great english cinema icons of the 1960s, was born in guildford, surrey. Michael york is guthrum, the viking leader of the invaders.
Alfred the great directed by clive donner available on. Alfred david hemmings is about to become a priest but a viking army led by guthrum michael york has taken east anglia, and threatens. In 9th century england the danes were marauding and ransacking the country, so alfred abandons plans. David hemmings, who has died suddenly aged 62 following a heart attack while filming samanthas child in romania, had a long and varied screen career as an actor, director and producer.
While old england is being ransacked by roving danes in the ninth century, alfred is planning to join the priesthood. In 9thcentury britain, the 22yearold prince alfred david hemmings was on the cusp of entering the priesthood when fate forced him to assume the throne and guide the nations long and bloody battle to repulse the invading danes. David hemmings is alfred the great in the epic story of the legendary saxon king. But observing the rape of his land, he puts away his religious vows to take up arms against the invaders, leading the english christians to fight for their country. These tv and movie cast reunions have been the silver lining of. Michael york is more convincing as danish war lord guthram. To the best of my knowledge, this is the only film about alfred the great, and it is a disappointment. Alfred the great 1969 clive donner, david hemmings, michael. It is a good time of year for waiting, not too hot, 65 or 70, the sun falling lazily on the green hills of hollywood. But observing the rape of his motherland, he puts aside his religious vows to take up arms against the invaders. The staring role of alfred the great was played by david hemmings.
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