Alfred the Great ** (1969, David Hemmings, Michael York, Prunella Ransome, Colin Blakely, Julian Glover, Ian McKellen, Alan Dobie, Peter Vaughan) – Classic Movie Review 9004

The ninth-century 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.

David Hemmings stars as Alfred, who defeats the predatory invading Danes, led by King Guthrum (Michael York), while doing a spot of social good by encouraging writing in English and learning. Guthrum makes off with Alfred’s estranged queen, Aelhswith (Prunella Ransome), and Alfred has to go to the rescue.

Alfred the Great comes complete with violence, swearing and a bit of swashbuckling in a vain appeal to young audiences who shun history lessons, but they do not help to make Ken Taylor and James R Webb’s flat screenplay any more exciting.

It is an excellent cast, but these actors just cannot fill the huge Panavision screen, though the costly production does look handsome, with Alex Thomson’s beautiful, luscious cinematography, and there is just a hint of excitement in the imaginatively staged fighting.

Alfred the Great is an ambitious but misconceived failure of a movie and one of the MGM British Studios’ expensive British errors at its Borehamwood, London, studios that eventually led to their departure from the UK. Why were MGM British making costly flop historical epics like Alfred the Great at the height of the Swinging Sixties?

Also in the cast are Colin Blakely, Julian Glover, Ian McKellen, Alan Dobie, Peter Vaughan, Julian Chagrin, Vivien Merchant, Christopher Timothy, Michael Billington, Barry Jackson, John Rees, Jim Norton, Peter Blythe, Sinéad Cusack, Barry Evans, Barry Jackson, Henry Woolf, Andy Bradford, Keith Buckley, David Glaisyer, Robin Askwith, Eric Brooks, Alec Finn, Trevor Jones and Ralph Nossek.

Doesn’t Ian McKellen (as Roger) look different as young like this, in his second feature, after A Touch of Love (1969).

Alfred the Great is directed by Clive Donner, runs 122 minutes, is made by Bernard Smith Productions and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer British Studios, is released by MGM, is written by Ken Taylor (screenplay) and James R Webb (story and screenplay), is shot by Alex Thomson, is produced by Bernard Smith and James R Webb, is scored by Ray Leppard, and is designed by Michael Stringer.

Donner recasts Barry Evans (as Ingild) and Christopher Timothy (as Cerdic) from his earlier film Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush (1968).

Vivien Merchant (Freda) has a prominent role but no lines, after allegedly refusing to say her lines, claiming they were unspeakable.

Robin Askwith recalled on 9 November 2020: ‘Stabbed to death by a Viking in the first two minutes. But… A roll in the hay with the lovely Maggie Taylor. Met the lovely Ian McKellen. A drink with David Hemmings in his castle! Then flew home…’

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9004

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