Prince Valiant

Starring:James Mason, Janet Leigh, Robert Wagner, Debra Paget, Sterling Hayden, Victor McLaglen, Donald Crisp, Brian Aherne, Barry Jones, Mary Philips, Howard Wendell, Tom Conway, Sammy Ogg, Neville Brand, Ben Wright, Jarma Lewis, Robert Adler, Ray Spiker, Primo Carnera, Basil Ruysdael
Director: Henry Hathaway
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Product Type: DVD

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

Description

Overthrown and driven into exile, the king of Scandia has fled to Britain with his wife and son, Prince Valiant (Wagner). As a young man, Val hoes to King Arthur's court, where he is befriended by Sir Gawain (sterling Hayden) and trains to be become a knight of the round table. Val also falls in love with a beautiful princess (Leigh) and faces the treachery of the mysterious Black Knight, who is scheming to betray Val's family.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointment.......2007-05-23

This movie cannot be playd in Norway, and should not have been sold abroad.

Prince Valiant was a Viking!.......2007-05-13

Yep, that's what I said, one of the future knights of the round table is the son of an exiled viking king. Who would have thought it? But then again I think Lancelot was French. Oh well, I reckon Arthur had to search high and low to get enough real men to fill up the table.

As I have said with several other movie types (movies with big monsters, movies about Sinbad the Sailor, etc.) I've never seen one of these older movies about Knights I didn't like--naturally I'm talking about the older ones.

Valiant was the star of the show but I feel Sir Gawain had the best part. James Masion played his part just fine. The cutie Janet Leigh had her moments of acting. King Arthur did a fine job of looking and acting saintly and wise. I noticed his queen wasn't making eyes at Lancelot any. Just as well, the movie was about Prince Valiant, not Arthur, the singing sword, or any of the rest. Camelot looked fine. So here we go.

PROS:

1. Ok acting by most--Gawain acted great, so did Masion.
2. Neat idea.
3. Some full size castles and a viking ship.
4. A really hot scene when the viking castle was being taken by storm. It's a surprise they didn't burn it down.
5. You get to see someof the Knights in training...I always did like a fine movie with background type detail.
six. A really fine sword fight scene between Wagner (Valiant) and James Masion.
7. They have some real jousting at the beginning--interesting.

CONS:

There is not really a down side to this movie but allow me to pick at it a little so I can be even handed about it;

1. Vikings are wearing the horned helmets.
2. I'm not sure if Vikings had castles built of stone...sorry.
3. Is everyone of those guys over weight?
4. In the viking's castle, nary a female or kids!
5. When they capture Wagner and Janet Leigh they toss them into a dungeon...I don't think they did that to cuties that looked like her, but just as well, it's a clean movie not really a historic movie.

Ah...why tell any more cons. It's an epic movie, nicely colored. It doesn't have the passion and intensity of Excalibur but it's a fine shot and Excalibur isn't a family film. By the way, besides Valiant, the movie is about a traitor Knight at the round table whos' made a deal with the vikings. Give him Prince Valiant and the vikings will give him one thousand viking warriors to attack Camelot. I can't really say get out the popcorn because this type of old classic is a cut above such things...order pizza! Bye.

So So.......2007-02-09

I love the King Arthur Era movies, but was not thrilled with this one. I found it to be a bit slow, and the characters were not very engaging.There are plenty of other movies like this that are much more enjoyable

The ..."Singing Sword"...overcomes all obstacles.......2007-02-08

There is a certain spiritual quality to this movie, which i first saw as a youth at the Starr Theater in Bushwick, a theater that i considered my second home on the weekends as i paid my 50 cent and immersed myself in the timeless tales of heroes and honor and redemption. The purity and the innocence of Prince Valiant was what struck me the most about this movie... how he saved his father's honor and that of king arthur.. the villans never do get the message... that god can defend the right ..and often does, not only in this movie but in others such as ..The Black Shield of Falworth. (Fidus Et Audax) Faith and Daring.

I just love this movie!.......2007-01-12

Henry Hathaway's 'Prince Valiant'is an epic adventure story set in the Golden Age of Chivalry... It is the story of a Viking Prince who challenge a kingdom...

'Prince Valiant' is about the 'Singing Sword' which has been sullied with pagan hands...

'Prince Valiant' is about a Viking Prince who pledge to go to Camelot and there strive with honor and diligence to become a Knight at King Arthur's Round Table...

'Prince Valiant' is about a young prince with little knowledge of what knighthood means...

'Prince Valiant' is about a ghost who plots treason, a black-armored knight who appears and vanishes at will...

'Prince Valiant' is about a deadly Black Knight, who uses his disguise to make a pact with a Viking traitor to overthrow a great king...

'Prince Valiant' is about a desperate squire who dares to wear the armor and identity of a chivalrous Knight of the Round Table...

'Prince Valiant' is about a loyal squire who crowns a mighty knight with a rock, and tries to win a beautiful princess for himself...

'Prince Valiant' is about a traitor who would pay any price to get his hands on a Christian King and his family...

'Prince Valiant' is about the son of an exiled king who seeks King Arthur's help against the usurper, and becomes involved in a court plot...

'Prince Valiant' is about a courageous lad who faces the treachery of a mysterious Black Knight, who is scheming betrayal and murder...

'Prince Valiant' is about a breathtaking duel, one of the best you will ever seen...

James Mason portrays the shining knight Sir Brack who suffers the indignity of being challenged on the field of honor by a squire in the guise of a knight...

Janet Leigh plays the lovely damsel with one purpose, to answer love fully...

Robert Wagner plays the young hothead with one vow to fulfill before he can think of anything else...

Debra Paget plays the shy and charming dark-haired princess with a secret wish...

Sterling Hayden plays Sir Gawain, the perfect knight who knows that his duty is to find the Black Knight and destroy him before his treason ripens...

Victor McLaglen plays the Christian Viking hiding behind a red curtain with a long knife in his hand...

Donald Crisp plays the King of Scandia who was overthrown by a Viking traitor and escapes with his wife and son across the North Sea to Britain...

Brian Aherne plays Arthur, King of the Britons, who assures Valiant that 'knighthood cannot be had for the asking...' It must be won!

Barry Jones plays the father of two princesses who suffers to get the best knight for one of his daughters...

Well... I just love this movie! Its good old magic moves me to some of the most cherished memories stored in my mind... It is an agreeable historical piece that has prowess, romance, and grace, and a final lavish sword fight, one of the best of its kind...

The Legend of Prince Valiant: The Complete Series, Vol. 2

Average customer rating:

Fantastic series
A real Knight

The Legend of Prince Valiant: The Complete Series, Vol. 2
Starring: Legend of Prince Valiant
Manufacturer: Bci / Eclipse
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video

( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Legend of Prince Valiant - The Complete Series, Vol. 1
Defenders of the Earth - The Complete Series, Vol. 2
Justice League Unlimited - Season Two (DC Comics Classic Collection)
Defenders Of The Earth - The Complete Series, Vol. 1
Batman Beyond - Season Three (DC Comics Classic Collection)

ASIN: B000K4X5TE
Release Date: 2007-01-16

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic series.......2007-06-01

This show was on an odd channel when I was growing up and I always struggled to cath it when it aired. It is a very will written and animated series.

A real Knight.......2007-03-08

I grew up reading Prince Valiant, both in English and Portuguese. I never knew it was turned into a action Cartoon...This is great stuff

The Legend of Prince Valiant - The Complete Series, Vol. 1

Average customer rating:

Highly Recommend
Prince Valiant
Legend of Prince Valiant, Volume one
Great Show Now on DVD
Great Show with Great Plots

The Legend of Prince Valiant - The Complete Series, Vol. 1
Starring: Stephen Wolfe Smith , Dorian Harewood , and Patty Duke
Manufacturer: Bci / Eclipse
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Animation | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Kids & Family | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

( L ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Legend of Prince Valiant: The Complete Series, Vol. 2
The New Adventures of Flash Gordon - The Complete Series
Defenders Of The Earth - The Complete Series, Vol. 1
Space Sentinels: The Complete Series & The Freedom Force: The Complete Series
Blackstar - The Complete Series

ASIN: B000FFJ8GW
Release Date: 2006-07-04

Customer Reviews:

Highly Recommend.......2007-03-10

What my family likes about the Prince Valiant Series is that they are fun to watch and are a good mixture of action, humor and a good story line. The animation is not Disney quality but it is as good if not better than most animated shows on tv these days. We like that there is always a moral. The voice of Prince Valiant is the voice of the Beast in Beauty and the Beast, Robbie Benson. This is especially good for boys, but my daughter loves it and is the one who asked that we buy it. Get these dvds and watch as a family.

Prince Valiant.......2007-01-11

I brought this product as I watched the TV series as a kid and remember it being pretty good. Overall the series is pretty good although I got tired of it after about half way through.

The series promotes very good values and is definately something kids will enjoy. The actual packaging and the quality of the dvds are also very good.

Legend of Prince Valiant, Volume one.......2006-10-15

This series is a blend of a realistic 6th century England and the legend of King Arthur and Prince Valiant with Camelot and the Knights of the Round table. The adventure begins with Prince Valaint as a squire in King Arthurs court. The animation is excellent.

Great Show Now on DVD.......2006-07-18

The animated series Prince Valiant The Complete Series Volume One arrived on DVD July 4th. The series was a favorite with kids and teens in the early 90's. The show originally aired between 1991-1993. In the series, the fabled young Prince Valiant is on a quest to find Camelot. He wants to become a Knight of the Round Table. Accompanying him on his mission are Arn and maiden Rowanne. Prince Valiant will eventually have to defend Camelot and many adventures ensue. The shows writing is excellent and it's a very engaging series.

Prince Valiant is an entertaining series that teens and pre-teens will enjoy--especially teens who enjoy reading comic books. The show was based on the comic strip by Hal Foster. This is the first time the critically acclaimed series has arrived on DVD in any type of home media format.

The DVD set is really nice. Included with the set is a full color booklet that includes a complete episode guide. Also included are cool inserts about upcoming animated releases. The set includes 33 episodes of the series.

Special Features Include-
Interviews
Commentary
Storyboard Gallery
Slideshow
Selected Scripts in PDF Format

Great Show with Great Plots.......2006-07-16

This is a GREAT SHOW with GREAT PLOTS that are interesting and well written for an animated series that was done 15 YEARS ago. The picture quality and sound are pretty good they are not perfect but pretty good. The Menus are nicely done, overall this is a very nice set , you really can't beat it for the PRICE. The show itself is done very well with GREAT PLOTS and ADVENTURES, King Arthur, Merlin, Valiant, Arn and Rowanne are all great characters. Once you start watching you wont be able to stop, this show has you addicted from the very start. I was very pleased with this set, they also put a nice booklet in the set that lists every episode with a brief description and picture of each episode, again nicely done. This set is a must buy and I am looking forward for the 2nd volume to complete this GREAT SERIES!!!!!!!!!!

Average customer rating:

A unique magical adventure
For the ten year old Knight.
B Movieness At Its Finest
Fun and Light
More people should see this movie!

Prince Valiant [Region 2]

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

( P ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Side Effects
Prince Valiant
Author! Author!
Paradise Uncut [Import Version]
Roar - The Complete Series

ASIN: B00005NUF0

Customer Reviews:

A unique magical adventure .......2006-01-31

While at Camelot the knights are jousting for the appreciation of the beautiful Princess Ilene (Katherine Heigl), viking raiders led by Thagnar (Thomas Kretschman), disguised as Scotsmen, storm the round table room and steal Excalibur. Together with Merlin's spellbook, which the witch Morgane Le Fey (Joanna Lumley) exhumed from the wizard's grave, Excalibur should allow Thagnar's brother Sligon (Udo Kier) to reign over Camelot supreme. Meanwhile King Arthur (Edward Fox), mistakenly worried that an attack by Scotland would be imminent, entrusts the unknown squire Valiant (Stephen Moyer) with the task of escorting Princess Ilene to safety, and an incredible adventure is about to begin .... Comic strips at the scene transitions remind of the origins of the story of "Prince Valiant" who was invented by Harold R. Foster in 1937. This is the most touching, lovingly and lively produced version of this theme, proving a fine sense of humor, which is greatly due to the original skript of Michael Frost Beckner and the efforts of director Anthony Hickox as well as the fresh, tough, moving and extraordinarily charming performance of as always enchanting Stephen Moyer. A further highlight underlining the surrealistic character of the film is the playful, half futuristic half historic-folcloristic soundtrack composed by David Bergeaud and performed by the Munich Symphony Orchestra.

For the ten year old Knight........2005-01-19

Villainy, jousting, swordplay, a princess in peril, an unknowing prince on a quest, and all in the shadow of Excalibur: what more could the average ten year old would-be Knight ask for?

Set in the days of Round Table chivalry, this is the comic book tale of the orphan and page Valiant (stephen Moyer) who, due to a case of mistaken identity, is escorting a princess (Katherine Heigl) to her fiancée when Excalibur is stolen from King Arthur (Edward Fox) by his evil stepsister Morgan Le Fey (Joanne Lumley) and two warring brothers (Udo Kier, Thomas Kretchsmann) from an enemy Kingdom. Valiant and the princess become part of the struggle of "he who holds the sword rules the world" which leads them both to love and Valiant to his princely destiny.

This is an okay rainy afternoon movie that is definitely geared toward a young audience. The acting is decent enough, the jousting is done well, and the swordplay isn't bad. Occasionally a scene will fade into a cartoon comic book sequence with voice over. Stunt work is kind of lame and there is this dumb armored alligator effect. Over all, kids will get a kick out of it (and adults will groan-laugh).

Ron Perlman has the supporting role of Boltar, who at first appears to be a lecherous ogre but turns out to be the key to Valiant's past and future, and he does his usual fine job.

Worth a rent/buy used for the kids.

B Movieness At Its Finest.......2004-10-06

It often seems that the genre of the B movie is a lost art in this age of CGI and massively budgeted films. Yet out of the digital free for all comes Prince Valiant, a movie which harkens back to movies like Excalibur in its style and never takes itself seriously in its substance.

Valiant is a young knight who is in charge of protecting a lovely princess. To complicate matters, Excalibur has been stolen by vikings and Morgan Le Fey needs someone of royal birth to dislodge it from the stone it has become trapped in, making Valiant the best candidate, unbeknownst to him. Add to this a dwarf, a viking harem, and some really cheesy effects and you have Prince Valiant.

Perhaps what keeps this movie from being a waste of celluloid is the fact that it's fun to watch. Some of the plot devices are laughable, such as a dwarf being catapulted over a tower, a feministic princess, and Chinese fireworks in the viking palace for some reason. Yet in spite of everything, the movie is able to be cheesy and entertaining at the same time. Stephen Moyer actually isn't a bad prince, though his accent comes and goes while Katherine Heigel doesn't even bother with the accent at all.

While it's laughable, it's still entertaining, which is something that makes Prince Valiant memorable in the normally bland mix of sword and armor movies.

Fun and Light.......2004-06-16

My wife and I were in the mood for a good adventure film so we watched Prince Valiant. This movie is a sort of prequel to the popular comic strip that has been running since my father was young.

The movie begins with Valiant being the squire of Sir Gawain during a tournament at Camelot. When Gawain is unseated and knocked out Valiant disguises himself in Gawain's armor and all but wins the tournament. he would have won except that Vikings had entered Camelot and stolen Excalibur. The Vikings have left evidence to make it look like the Scotts have committed the crime. Thus most of Britain's armies proceed North while Valiant, still disguised as Gawain, escorts a princess back to Wales.

Morgan Le Fey, who is behind the Viking raid on Camelot, uses her magic to discover who can pull Excalibur from a stone in which it has found itself. She sees a vision of Valiant in Gawain's armor and a raid is planned to capture Gawain. When Gawain fails at pulling the sword he is killed. It is now up to Valiant to regain Excalibur. It turns out that Valiant is heir to the Viking throne as he is the last surviving member of the Red Stallion Clan. Valiant gets Excalibur, rescues the princess (who dies and is brought back to life by Excalibur), returns Excalibur to Arthur and asks for the princess's hand in marriage. Valiant then joins Arthur as a knight of the Round Table. This then sets the stage for the comic strip.

What is strange is that Prince Valiant never knew he was a prince. When he learns of his heritage, he is actually a king. It all means that he never actually gets to be known as "Prince" Valiant (although he is called "Prince" by the other knights even though he is a king). Also, when the princess is dying, Valiant challenges God to save her or make a new enemy. It is Excalibur, powered by the gods of Avalon, that responds. Prince Valiant is a fun adventure movie but one that really makes no sense whatsoever. However, if you are looking for adventure, this movie will fit the bill.

More people should see this movie!.......2003-03-07

This is a pretty good modern take on the Prince Valiant comics. I have to say that the cast, scenery, and story are terrific! Only the special effects are a little low-grade. But on the whole, a very enjoyable lighthearted medieval movie.

Prince Valiant [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Spain ]

Average customer rating:

Prince Valiant [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Spain ]
Director: Anthony Hickox
Manufacturer: Aurum
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000GHUP4S

Product Description

Spain released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. LANGUAGES: English (Dolby Digital 2.0), Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0), English (Subtitles), SYNOPSIS: In a time now lost in the mists of memory, the great King Arthur ('Edward Fox (I)') rules in the legendary citadel that is Camelot. His Knights of the Round Table commit acts of derring-do and spend their spare time jousting, much to the delight of the local citizens and especially to Princess Ilene (Katherine Heigl SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, Deleted Scenes, Cast/Crew Interview(s), Behind the scenes,

Average customer rating:

A unique magical adventure
For the ten year old Knight.
B Movieness At Its Finest
Fun and Light
More people should see this movie!

Prince Valiant [Region 2]

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

( P ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Side Effects
Prince Valiant
Author! Author!
Paradise Uncut [Import Version]
Roar - The Complete Series

ASIN: B00004RYCK

Customer Reviews:

A unique magical adventure .......2006-01-31

For the ten year old Knight........2005-01-19

B Movieness At Its Finest.......2004-10-06

Fun and Light.......2004-06-16

My wife and I were in the mood for a good adventure film so we watched Prince Valiant. This movie is a sort of prequel to the popular comic strip that has been running since my father was young.

More people should see this movie!.......2003-03-07

DVD:

DVD List

DVD

DVD

Curse of the Vampires

The Fairy King Of Ar

Demon Summer (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: Requiem for Murder

Gay Bar