This movie is the proof that the world is becoming a sick and dumb place

One of my all time favorites.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

It's not exactly Errol Flynn's classic "Robin Hood" but it's far better than the critics would have you believe. The sets are wonderful, and a majority of (at least the exteriors) were shot at real English-Scottish castles instead of matte paintings. Good stuntwork and a rousing musical score which even reminds me of "Robin Hood" in the way it punctuates the action scenes. The costume design is pretty good, but oh that bad hair! The "page boy" wigs that Robert Wagner (and the other squires) had to wear! Did they borrow them from Doris Day? The swords look a bit "flimsy" and oversized. The horns on the Vikings are wrong, but the pageantry is still all there. The jousting match is every bit as much fun as the tournament in "Robin Hood". Outstanding cinematography and luscious Technicolor. The story is relatively easy to follow, but as a kid, I couldn't understand the difference between the "bad" and "good" Vikings (which all looked the same). As always, it's the Heathens vs. the Christians, isn't it? The princesses are both gorgeous too. Love those push-up bras and their perfect wigs! Like "Robin Hood", there is a climactic "duel to the death" between good and evil. Some awkward dialog and unintentional accents, but I enjoy this film in spite of it's faults. One of the first films I ever saw on a "Really Big Screen" in the 1950's. It's a lot of fun-to-watch and doesn't drag on forever like most Medieval adventures. If you still don't like this movie, then consider that the lead of "Valiant" was first offered to Tony Curtis, who did "The Black Shield of Falworth" instead. The video transfer is disappointing. Weak colors (especially the blue skies), some replacement footage and "video shimmer". (Due to "MacroVision CP") Practically "blood-free" and therefore suitable for most audiences. Note: There was a bad remake in 1997, which was quickly forgotten.

Poor film dealing with King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. Believe me, the table could have been square here as that's exactly what the movie is.What kind of hairdo was that for Robert Wagner? It looked worse than a mop.Sterling Hayden was terribly cast as one of the knights. James Mason, who gave such a brilliant performance that same year of 1954 in "A Star is Born," is given relatively little to do here. He is totally not give the script to personify his evil, especially his plot to wrestle the throne from Arthur.The film literally burns up.

Fifty years ago moviegoers found that Fox's PRINCE VALIENT was much better than expected, thanks to Henry Hathaway's fine direction and a wealth of good sense from 20th Century-Fox. Fox was still well-taken with their new CinemaScope process that just begged for action and beautiful, colorful settings. This movie excels at all, but it's mostly the rock-solid story of King Arthur and the Vikings that makes it.Screen beauties Janet Leigh and Debra Paget almost never showed any leg in any movie, and herein (sorry) are fully covered as usual. Anyway, it's the men who dominate this story. Robert Wagner is perfect as Valient, and Sterling Hayden is at the top of his form, as is James Mason.Truth is that in the age of comic book movies (2000-2008) Hollywood's cocaine sniffers have no clue how to craft this genre with any classic quality. The secret is to focus on (1) story, (2) character development, (3) spectacular sets and scenery, (4) challenge, redemption, faith, patriotism. The religion and honor in Prince Valient would make today's godless movie industry cringe.These days the focus (if any) would be on animation, choppy editing, almost no dialog, and the usual/identical musical score: vim, vim, vim, vim on a violin while a chorus belts out wordless chants. Boring! Thus films like Jerry Bruckheimer's "King Arthur" -- to name just one, is no longer even a memory, let alone a classic.Treat yourself! Rent "Prince Valient" on DVD.

This film is one of those inane market deals. In the tradition of today's teenage driven film market this movie preceded today's SFX B-flick bonanzas with the same formula to grab young people's money.One of Robert Wagner's early roles sees him miscast (and in this way appropriately cast) as a civilized pagan Norseman, with altruistic ideals, but little experience to back up his high minded values.Comically over-sized swords are counterweighted by some of the battle scenes, but nearly no research went into this film, which isn't too surprising as its sights were aimed all that high in the first place.It's an interesting window at what 1950s Hollywood considered fluff action drama, and it's worth a look for that alone. Otherwise give it a pass.