I'll have to say that some parts of Alfred the Great were not so great, but it was a pretty good film, and the scenic shots take you back in time, as well as the fighting, which was all too realistic. (I could have done without the torture for fun, particularly raping a convent of nuns, but I guess that's unfortunately the way things happened then.)
Some of history is tampered with. For instance, Alfred (played by David Hemmings) married Aelhswyth (Prunella Ransome), without knowing that his brother, King Aethelred (Alan Dobie) was dying, and that he was about to become the King. Whereas in real life, Alfred and Aelhswith married in 868 and Aethelred didn't die until three years later. This tampering with history was set up to emphasize how Alfred was torn by his duty and his inclination for the priesthood, for which he had been studying. Already guilty for having forsaken duty for desire (his reluctant love and sexual attraction for Aelhswith), his behavior goes way over the top, as he at first resolves not to consummate his marriage, then does an about face and viciously rapes his bride. She determines to keep her distance from him until he begs her forgiveness. Later, she keeps her pregnancy to herself.
For all his supposed pious aspirations, in many ways Alfred was no better than the Danish Vikings he fights against, their leader Guthrum in particular. Played by Michael York, he shrewdly offers to put an end to hostilities for the time being, if Alfred gives him Aelhswith for a hostage. To Alfred's surprise, she agrees to this. Later, after her son (the future King Edward) is born, she and Guthrum become lovers, though she can't forget Alfred.
There's no historical evidence that anything like this actually happened, so I'm guessing they wanted to lure more women into seeing what would otherwise be more of a man's picture, by throwing in a bit of romance, though it was all hardly romantic.
There's a lot of battle scenes (and a battle cry from the Danes that goes on and on and on), death and brutality, with some softer moments thrown in, like when Alfred finally meets his now four-year-old, son (whom he forcibly takes from his mother) and his heart is touched from the start. For all his fierceness in battle and hard living ways, Guthrum really does seem to care for Aelhswith, and later seems on the verge of accepting Christianity over all those Norse pagan gods.
Much of the conflict is within Alfred's conscience, as he wants to be a good king, but he can't forget his earlier religious calling. (Ironically, his brother had no wish to be king either and their father intended Aethelred for the church, but after his elder brother died, he had to take the throne in his place, just like Alfred did after his death. Duty before inclination.)
Whether this movie is more fiction than fact, or more accurate than not, it's worth watching, but I recommend skipping over some parts.
Some of history is tampered with. For instance, Alfred (played by David Hemmings) married Aelhswyth (Prunella Ransome), without knowing that his brother, King Aethelred (Alan Dobie) was dying, and that he was about to become the King. Whereas in real life, Alfred and Aelhswith married in 868 and Aethelred didn't die until three years later. This tampering with history was set up to emphasize how Alfred was torn by his duty and his inclination for the priesthood, for which he had been studying. Already guilty for having forsaken duty for desire (his reluctant love and sexual attraction for Aelhswith), his behavior goes way over the top, as he at first resolves not to consummate his marriage, then does an about face and viciously rapes his bride. She determines to keep her distance from him until he begs her forgiveness. Later, she keeps her pregnancy to herself.
For all his supposed pious aspirations, in many ways Alfred was no better than the Danish Vikings he fights against, their leader Guthrum in particular. Played by Michael York, he shrewdly offers to put an end to hostilities for the time being, if Alfred gives him Aelhswith for a hostage. To Alfred's surprise, she agrees to this. Later, after her son (the future King Edward) is born, she and Guthrum become lovers, though she can't forget Alfred.
There's no historical evidence that anything like this actually happened, so I'm guessing they wanted to lure more women into seeing what would otherwise be more of a man's picture, by throwing in a bit of romance, though it was all hardly romantic.
There's a lot of battle scenes (and a battle cry from the Danes that goes on and on and on), death and brutality, with some softer moments thrown in, like when Alfred finally meets his now four-year-old, son (whom he forcibly takes from his mother) and his heart is touched from the start. For all his fierceness in battle and hard living ways, Guthrum really does seem to care for Aelhswith, and later seems on the verge of accepting Christianity over all those Norse pagan gods.
Much of the conflict is within Alfred's conscience, as he wants to be a good king, but he can't forget his earlier religious calling. (Ironically, his brother had no wish to be king either and their father intended Aethelred for the church, but after his elder brother died, he had to take the throne in his place, just like Alfred did after his death. Duty before inclination.)
Whether this movie is more fiction than fact, or more accurate than not, it's worth watching, but I recommend skipping over some parts.