Absolutely the worst movie.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

Copyright 1955 by Loew's Inc. An M-G-M picture. U.S. release: 21 October 1955. New York opening at the Mayfair: 23 November 1955. U.K. release: 26 March 1956. Australian release: 11 April 1956. Sydney opening at the St James. 9,011 feet. 100 minutes. SYNOPSIS: Refusing to marry her aged suitor, a duke's ward flees to the king.NOTES: M-G-M embarked on a movie version of Sir Walter Scott's "Ivanhoe" in 1952. This marked the first time any Scott novel had been filmed since way back in 1923. The enormous box-office success of the new "Ivanhoe: prompted M-G-M to follow up with "Quentin Durward". Both these films were directed by super-fast, economy- conscious Richard Thorpe, who also turned his hand to M-G-M's first CinemaScope production, "Knights of the Round Table" (1953). These three movies all share two other features — they were all lensed in England and all starred Robert Taylor.COMMENT: Knighthood is indeed in full flower in this handsomely produced, energetically directed adaptation of Sir Walter Scott's classic novel of a Scottish swordsman's adventures at the French court. Mind you, Robert Taylor is certainly no Scot, but he plays the role with such dash and finesse, it really doesn't matter that his accent is all wrong for the part. And he's helped out by a truly wonderful support cast, including the lovely, high-spirited yet suitably vulnerable Kay Kendall in an ideal role, and Robert Morley perfectly at home as the crafty king. Except for one unfortunate scene (the rape of the monastery), director Richard Thorpe and screenwriter Robert Ardrey keep a nice balance between adventure and comedy. With the exception of this one scene, the film maintains the right flavor of derring-do and then comes to a fine action climax in a blazing bell-tower. The sets and color 'Scope photography are also most attractive.

In swashbuckling 1465, poor iron-clan Robert Taylor (as Quentin Durward) of Scotland agrees to fetch a bride for his elderly uncle. Meanwhile, targeted rich young Kay Kendall (as Isabelle) of France says she doesn't want to get married, and runs away. When Mr. Taylor catches up with Ms. Kendall, the obvious happens. They don't catch on fast, though. This film is strengthened by the beautiful European locations, carefully produced in colorful CinemaScope. The supporting cast is nicely selected, with rascally Robert Morley (as Louis XI) most obviously in his element. And, George Cole (as Hayraddin) goes gypsy. Otherwise, it's a little long in the tooth.***** Quentin Durward (11/23/55) Richard Thorpe ~ Robert Taylor, Kay Kendall, Robert Morley, George Cole

Around the time that Kay Kendall was awarded her role in this MGM costumer, Grace Kelly, who had first been considered for the role, said, in an interview in which she admitted declining the role, "All I would have had to do was clutch my jewel box and flee!" Along with her ceding the title role to Tippie Hedren in Hitchcock's "Marnie" (filmed after her ascension to the Grimaldi throne), Grace seemed to have had her sights set upon the real royalty of Monaco, rather than continuing her reign as one of cinema's loveliest princesses!

You know a movie is in trouble when the worst parts are the action sequences. The cast does the best they can with the material, particularly Robert Morley as the scheming Louis XI, but the movie lacks originality and can't overcome comparisons to much better historical action films of this era.