Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe (Robert Taylor), a returning crusader, wanders Europe looking for his lost king. King Richard is held prisoner in an Austrian castle, and when he hears a singing Ivanhoe wandering by, Richard throws his knight a message. He’s being held for ransom, which brother Prince John is refusing to pay. Prince John conspires with “certain Norman knights” to seize Richard’s throne.
Ivanhoe returns to England – Sherwood Forest – where he encounters the “certain Norman knights”, Sir Brian De Bois-Guilbert (George Sanders) and Sir Hugh De Bracy (Robert Douglas). Ivanhoe leads them to the castle of his estranged father Cedric of Rotherwood (Finlay Currie). In Rotherwood, Ivanhoe reunites with both his jester Wamba (Emlyn) and Cedric’s ward Lady Rowena (Joan Fontaine), who Ivanhoe loves.
Ivanhoe hides his identity during the banquet. The castle is also visited by a Jewish traveller, Isaac of York (Felix Aylmer). And the Normans are most eager to meet Rowena. But Rowena taunts the Normans with her knowledge tha t Saxons (including Ivanhoe) won the tournaments in the Holy Land. Bois-Guilbert accuses Ivanhoe of cowardice.
Rowena throws a glove at Bois-Guilbert to challenge him. Then she bids the Normans and the reluctant Cedric to drink to his honour. As they do so, the family dog comes to Ivanhoe’s side and barks. Ivanhoe smiles as his identity has been revealed to his father.
Ivanhoe meets secretly with his father, but it is not a happy reunion. The proud Saxon Cedric refuses to help raise the ransom for the Norman King Richard. So, Ivanhoe and the jester Wamba leave Rotherwood. Much to Wamba's delight, Ivanhoe makes the jester his squire and frees him from his bondage.
They rescue Isaac of York and accompany him to Sheffield. Ivanhoe convinces Isaac to use his connections in the Jewish community to raise Richard's ransom.
From a distance, Isaac's daughter Rebecca (Elizabeth Taylor) watches Ivanhoe.
Later she sneaks into the tavern and gives Ivanhoe her family jewels -- allowing him to buy equipment to face the Normans at the tournament in Ashby.
The Normans are triumphing at the Ashby tournament when a mysterious Saxon knight turns up and challenges all five Normans. After his first victory the Black Knight pays homage to Rebecca which scandalizes the onlookers. Bois-Guilbert has also been watching how the disguised Ivanhoe handles his lance. But he has also been watching Rebecca.
Ivanhoe continues to vanquish his foes. Cedric has guessed the knight's identity and allows himself a moment of fatherly pride in his son. The Saxon outlaws Locksley (Harold Warrender) and the Clerk of Copmanhurst (Sebastian Cabot) -- who we glimpsed earlier in the film -- are also impressed and pledge to assist Ivanhoe.
Wilfred of Ivanhoe continues to vanquish his foes, but at a cost as he takes a wound to the shoulder.
Prince John gives the Black Knight a chance to crown a lady Queen of Love and Beauty, and this time Ivanhoe chooses Rowena -- much to the delight of the Saxons.
Although Ivanhoe unhorses Bois-Guilbert, he succumbs to his wound. Both Rebecca and Rowena run to Ivanhoe's tent, but it is Rebecca with her knowledge of healing who can assist.
Then begins a series of captures and daring escapes. Most of our heroes are captured by the Normans and taken to the Norman castle at Torquilstone. Ivanhoe surrenders himself in a failed prisoner trade. As Locksley's outlaws siege the castle, Ivanhoe fights his way out.
With the aid of Isaac's allies and Locksley's off-screen robberies, the heroes have raised to pay the money for King Richard's ransom.
But there's a complication. Bois-Guilbert has also escaped with Rebecca. She is tried for witchcraft before Prince John.......
Here my BDSM fantasy start because as convicted of witchcraft this is the usual way Rebecca should be tried.
-....I saw your honor, this beautiful woman bewitched the gentleman Brian De Bois Gilbert.
- We have already heard the witnesses, do you confess your crimes? sorceress.
- No, I am innocent of the accusations, I am not a witch.
- Very well, since you refuse to confess, you will be subjected to torment. Executioner!
- One moment, gentlemen.
A warrior glove was thrown into the middle of the court.
- I, Wilfrid of Ivanhoe demand the judgment of God for the accused, I challenge the knight you choose to a tournament to prove Rebeca's innocence, you cannot refuse.
- Can the court refuse, learned judge?
- Of course, if the witch confesses her crime there is no reason to resort to God's judgment. Otherwise, the knight Ivanhoe will be able to fight for the prisoner's innocence.
- Very well, retire gentleman. Brian de Bois Gilbert, you are in charge of making the witch confess her crimes, you have three days and three nights to achieve it.
- As I dreamed of this moment, beautiful Rebeca, you will be in my clutches and in those of my expert executioners for three days and three nights. You will regret having despised me. Take her immediately to the torture chamber!.
to be continued
