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. Tho about a famous english king the movie was shot largely on. 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. David hemmings man candy monday alfred the great star david pirate treasure action film my heritage historical costume great movies. David hemmings michael york prunella ransome colin blakely ian mckellen peter vaughan alan dobie julian glover. David hemmings, one of the great english cinema icons of the 1960s, was born in guildford, surrey. 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. Still no legitimate cd release for raymond leppards magnificent score for the david hemmings michael york movie, alfred the great. Alfred the great 1969 clive donner cast and crew allmovie. David hemmings full list of movies and tv shows in theaters, in production and upcoming films. English actor david hemmings on the set of epic film.
Alfred the great came into the theatres in 1969 when epic films had already lost their appeal to larger audiences. Sep 19, 2010 alfred the great king alfred s struggle. 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. Alfred the great film wikipedia republished wiki 2.
Alfred david hemmings is about to become a priest but a viking army led by guthrum michael york has taken east anglia, and threatens. Wenzel to promote the 1969 clive donner film alfred the great starring david hemmings as alfred, based on story by james r. Alfred the great dvd 1969 david hemmings actor michael york actor format. Neither film did well at the box office, with alfred the great being a notable flop. Moments before taking his priestly vows, prince alfred of wessex.
While olde england is being ransacked by roving danes in the 9th century, alfred david hemmings is commencing to join the priesthood. Hemmings came out here four months ago to play mordred, king arthurs. Find movie and film cast and crew information for alfred the great 1969 clive donner on allmovie. 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 alfred the great galway alfred the great. 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. The two leads are convincing but the part of the queen is too underwritten. Alfred the great film from wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Probably michael yorks greatest performance as a viking king. Epic film of alfred the greats struggle to rid wessex of the invading danes, in the 870s. David hemmings of recent blow up fame is an unlikely warrior king. Alfred the great soundtrack raymond leppard 1969 youtube.
To the best of my knowledge, this is the only film about alfred the great, and it is a disappointment. English actor david hemmings on the set of epic film alfred. The film was shot in different parts of county galway. 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. 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. Alfred the great 1969 clive donner, david hemmings, michael. Alfred the great manufactured on demand on tcm shop. Alfred the great 1969, david hemmings, michael york. 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.
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. 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. 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 david hemmings gives up the priesthood to become king of wessex in 849 ad after the death of his brother.
The late david hemmings starred in the role of alfred, with the late prunella. Kind of a dumb movie, but this scene was excellent. David hemmings list of movies and tv shows tv guide. 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 1969 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. Jun 09, 2014 clip from 1969 movie, alfred the great.
An unbelievably young michael york, is convincing as the viking antagonist. David hemmings stars as alfred, who defeats the predatory. Alfred the great alfred 1969 barbarella dildano 1968. Alfred soundly defeats the danes and becomes a hero. 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. While old england is being ransacked by roving danes in the 9th century, alfred david hemmings is planning to join the priesthood. Alfred the great 1969 david hemmings as alfred imdb. Michael york is guthrum, the viking leader of the invaders.
The staring role of alfred the great was played by david hemmings. Alfred the great original lobby card set david hemmings. Making its warner archive dvd debut, alfred the great isnt an unheralded classic, though it has some fascinating elements. Alfred the great david hemmings changes his plans to becomes a priest and aspires to political greatness. 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.
When the invading danes kidnap his wife aelthswith prunella ransome, he goes to battle. Starring david hemmings in the title role and michael york as guthram, a brutal viking with a prince valiant bob, its a visually striking epic with inventive battle scenes, and a jumble of a script with lines that even seem to baffle the stars. While old england is being ransacked by roving danes in the ninth century, alfred is planning to join the priesthood. 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. 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. Undeterred, i eventually found a website prepared to supply me with this rare delicacy, albeit at a premium price. But observing the rape of his motherland, he puts aside his religious vows to take up arms against the invaders. 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. While old england is being ransacked by roving danes in the 9th century, alfred is planning to join the priesthood. Mar 12, 2003 david hemmings full list of movies and tv shows in theaters, in production and upcoming films.
When the invading danes kidnap his wife aelthswith prunella ransome, he goes. By 870 the danes had overthrown the kingdoms of east anglia, northumbria, and mercia, and were preparing to do the same to wessex. All i can say, if this is the true story of alfred the great, ill be a monkeys uncle. 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. 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. 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. Movie info alfred the great david hemmings changes his plans to becomes a priest and aspires to political greatness. Jan 19, 2015 alfred the great 1969 david hemmings danish onesheet. Alfred the great 1969 david hemmings danish onesheet. The screenplay distorts history for dramatic impact. In 1968 mgm came to galway to make a swords and sandals epic film called alfred the great. David hemmings is alfred the great in the epic story of the legendary saxon king.
With david hemmings, michael york, prunella ransome, colin blakely. Alfred the great is a film directed by clive donner with david hemmings, michael york, prunella ransome, colin blakely, year. Alfred the great by clive donner clive donner, david. The first scenes between david hemmings and prunella ransome are good though. 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. Cast and crew credits for alfred the great, 1969, directed by clive donner, with david hemmings, michael york, prunella ransome, at turner classic movies. In 9th century england the danes were marauding and ransacking the country, so alfred abandons plans. Alfred the great is an entertaining film with perhaps too much battle scenes. 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.
Using his older brother king aethelred alan doble as bait, the danes are lured into a trap. 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 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. Alfred the great 1969 david hemmings and prunella ransome in alfred the great. Alfred the great 1969 clive donner, david hemmings.
Alfred the great english actor david hemmings 1941 2003 on the set of epic film alfred the great, ireland, 22nd july 1968. David hemmings the perennial sixties youthful dude is an adequate alfred. The movie shows the times when some of the english kingdoms were ruled by danish vikings danelaw. Apparently, alfred the great was originally meant to be a roadshow, though this was quickly altered as soon as it became quite clear it was not as effective a film. 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. 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. 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. 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 directed by clive donner available on. An innovative tactician, he earns the nickname alfred the great for his show of bravery on the battlefield his renown also.
Michael york is more convincing as danish war lord guthram. 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. This film, despite its flaws and its abysmal box office performance, remains a.
Alfred david hemmings gives up the priesthood to become king. But the film has no claim on using that adjective to describe itself. 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. But observing the rape of his land, he puts away his religious vows.
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