Lady Godiva of Coventry

Interesting movie but it has its history all jumbled up. This film makes the conflict between the Saxon and Normans the centerpiece of the movie. William the Conqueror conquered England at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. So it seems strange that the film featured a Saxon defeat of a Norman gradual takeover of England when the Normans were set to take over in 1066 by force of arms.

Yes, the history surrounding the legend of Lady Godiva (whose famous ride is given a different reason here) should not be taken seriously, but after all it is a myth and a 1950s studio historical flick. It was a relatively painless quick moving affair with stock situations and characters.  A bare modicum of actual history is involved (the timing of events is a bit unclear but it appears the Saxons beat the Normans about when in real life the former was about to invade England in 1066) and nothing too interesting happens.  It's good to have a cheat sheet though since a decent amount of exposition and characters are involved and you might lose track a bit. 

Maureen O'Hara (still alive) played the heroine as a fiery redhead who seemed pretty colorful (lipstick and all) for a 11th Century Saxon noble.  She played the sister of a sheriff (then forgotten about), her brother commanded to seize her husband to be when the noble refused to take part in a marriage arraigned by the king.  Godiva is one independent woman and is involved in a good amount of intrigue here up to the final ride that in effect provide a test of Saxon loyalty. The original idea was she did it as a relief of oppressive taxes inflicted by her husband. Godiva earlier by her own stubbornness convinces her husband to settle with a rival and showed support of the local peasants. The pettiness of rivals here potentially leading to harm to the people and their protest is the most interesting part of the plot.  The original myth tied the ride to something like this, but Godiva's feisty and sympathetic character was enough to save the day here. 

This being the 1950s, don't expect to see anything regarding the ride itself -- her hair covers her body and the bodysuit she wore for the ride. I'd imagine if Lady Godiva actually road nude, it would not be very comfortable.  One can imagine trying to ride even a house being walked by a nun while nude.  The hair leads me to wonder if Lady Godiva was actually Rapunzel.  Anyway, the whole point is that her purity will be protected because no one would watch -- "Peeping" Tom comes from this, in this film having something of a nasty fate (though we don't see it). 

Anyway, wouldn't exactly call it "interesting," but decent time waster. Clint Eastwood has a cameo as "First Saxon."  Missed him.  Saw another bit part in a "revenge of the creature" sequel on a recent episode of Svengoolie on Me TV.  (Late entries here were kinda boring but still like Mr. S.) There he was easier to catch as a lab technician.  Saw this one on VHS.