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Lady Godiva of Coventry
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Wikipedia article
'Lady Godiva of Coventry' is a 1955 American Technicolor historical drama film, directed by Arthur Lubin. It starred Maureen O'Hara in the title role. Alec Harford, the English actor who portrayed Tom the Tailor, died eight months before the film's release.
Plot
The film is set in 11th-century England. King Edward the Confessor (Eduard Franz) wants the Saxon Lord Leofric (George Nader), who rules Coventry, to marry a Norman woman, Yolanda. When he refuses, he is sentenced to jail, where he meets Godiva (Maureen O'Hara), the sheriff's sister. The two fall in love and soon they are wed. The times are turbulent and Godiva proves a militant bride; unhistorically, unrest between the Anglo-Saxon populace and the increasingly influential Norman French lead to her famous ride.
Cast
* Maureen O'Hara as Lady Godiva
* George Nader as Lord Leofric
* Victor McLaglen as Grimald
* Rex Reason as Harold
* Torin Thatcher as Lord Godwin
* Eduard Franz as King Edward
* Leslie Bradley as Comte Eustace
* Arthur Shields as Innkeeper
* Robert Warwick as Humbert
* Arthur Gould-Porter as Thorold
* Grant Withers as Pendar
* Anthony Eustrel as Prior
* Kathryn Givney as An Abbess
* Sim Iness as Oswin
* Thayer Roberts as William, Duke of Normandy
*Alec Harford as Tom the Tailor
*Clint Eastwood as First Saxon
Production
In early 1954, it was announced that Maureen O'Hara would star in the film based on a script by Oscar Brodney produced by Robert Arthur. It was made at Universal, where O'Hara had a one-film-a-year contract. The script was described as "semi-historical".
Lex Barker was reportedly going to play the male lead but O'Hara objected, claiming audiences would only see him as Tarzan. Jeff Chandler was signed instead. Victor McLaglen joined the cast as Chandler's helper.
Shortly before filming began, however, Chandler was replaced by a Universal contractee, George Nader. Chandler was still making 'Foxfire' which would finish only a day before 'Godiva' was scheduled to start and wanted a break. (Nader had previously replaced Chandler on 'Five Rivers to Cross' after the star was suspended by the studio due to a contract dispute.)
Arthur Lubin was assigned to direct. He said he did not want to but the studio would put him under suspension if he refused. He later called it "a bad picture".
Filming started on 30 August 1954.
Rex Reason joined the cast. He had previously been acting for Universal under the name "Bart Roberts" but for this film the studio allowed him to use his real name.
Maureen O'Hara filmed the famous ride wearing a leotard, with her long hair covering the rest of her body. Arthur Lubin said he was inspired by the painting of Landseer. The sequence was shot on a closed set.
Reception
'Diabolique' magazine later wrote "Why this movie tanked compared to other colourful costume periods of the time is a mystery its bright and cheerful and stars Maureen OHara in all her red haired glory (she does the final ride in a body stocking, in case youre wondering). Maybe more screen time should have been devoted to her rather than her leading man, Universals back up Jeff Chandler, George Nader, but Ive always liked this movie like so much of Lubins output, it was perfect Saturday afternoon TV fodder when I was growing up."
See also
* Godiva
* List of historical drama films
See also
*List of American films of 1955
References
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