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starring: James Mason, Janet Leigh, Robert Wagner, Debra Paget, Sterling Haydendirected by: Henry Hathaway
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9786302098440
Format: Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
ISBN: 6302098440
Label: 20th Century Fox
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: January 01, 1998
Running Time: 100 minutes
Sales Rank: 18646
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Theatrical Release Date: April 05, 1954
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Editorial Review:
Amazon.com: Cartoonist Hal Foster's medieval hero, the Scandinavian Prince Valiant, comes to the screen in all his Dutch-bob-haircut glory in this 1954 film directed by Henry Hathaway (Kiss of Death). Robert Wagner plays the title role and does a bang-up job of it, convincingly portraying the heroic prince as he enters the court of King Arthur (Brian Aherne) in England and becomes (with some tutelage from Sir Gawain, played by Sterling Hayden) a Knight of the Round Table. Determined to restore his dethroned family to their proper seat back home, Valiant takes on the Black Knight (James Mason), who plans to do away with Arthur and then finish his misdeeds back in Scandia. Under such pressure, the prince, quite understandably, falls in love with Princess Aleta (Janet Leigh). Hathaway proves to be the perfect director for this material, as his fluid skill, moderate forcefulness, and adaptability to genre necessities keep the film from teetering too far in the direction of pulp--or self-seriousness. --Tom Keogh
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating: - Prince Valiant
Robert Wagner's performance in this story is very weak and forced, one could even say "sappy." This could have been a classic movie, but there's a reason you probably didn't know a movie version of this classic story existed--there are very poor elements to this movie. James Mason is strong as usual, but Janet Leigh's performance is also weaker than any film I've ever seen her in. The cinematography is good. I can only guess that it must have been a poor directing job to get such contrived performances ... Read More
Rating: - Could have been so much better . . .
The "Prince Valiant" series (taken from the comics section of the newspaper) could be the basis for a great action movie. This version, starring a young Robert Wagner in a "really" bad page boy wig, is not that movie.
The plot is straight forward. Valiant's father lost his kingdom to the evil pagan Vikings. He and his family are in hiding in King Arthur's England. Valiant is sent to court to become a knight. He befriends and becomes the squire of Sir Gawain. Through his own pig headed stupidity ... Read More
Rating: - High expectations, low talent
I have always been a sucker for a knight-in-shining armour movie, but with this film, even as a child, I had to draw the line. Robert Wagner is a bad actor, always has been, always will be. His Aleta, Janet Leigh is beautiful, graceful, and eager, but even she cannot arouse from our Sir Valiant more than his open-mouthed, handsome, vacant stare. James Mason, the consumate actor, must have wondered what he had done to deserve working with such amateurs. Still, as a child, I was enthralled and thrilled by the sets, ... Read More
Rating: - Prince Valiant
Such an enjoyable,action-packed movie. I uaed to have this movie on VHS. I jumped at the change to get it on DVD. If you like action packed movies, based on comic book characters you will like this movie. This is the earlier version. It is not the new cable version.
Rating: - A great film.
A great film.
Huge scenes.
The best adaptation of that comics.
It is films that it wins with the years.
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