'Fiat voluntas tua'James Mason is outstanding as Isaac of York, and Olivia Hussey's Rebecca is authentic. One of the strengths of this film was, to my mind, the triumvirate of villains Bois-Guilbert, de Bracy, and Front de Boeuf. Sam Neill is brilliant as the knight torn between his order and his obsession with a "Jewess heathen", and Stuart Wilson shines in the supporting role of the besotted de Bracy.Scott, writing 700 years after the time of his story, is not afflicted by the same prejudices as his characters; at least part of his project with Ivanhoe is to present a sympathetic portrait of his Jewish characters. Rebecca, in particular, is one of the most sympathetic and nuanced characters in the novel, and has often been a favorite of readers, many of whom wish that Ivanhoe could marry Rebecca at the end of the novel instead of Rowena. This was true even during Scott's own lifetime; Scott actually issued a statement defending the plot of his novel as he wrote it, saying that, because of medieval social prejudice, it would have been impossible for a Christian knight to marry a Jew. He also acknowledged that Rebecca was the character most deserving of Ivanhoe's love, but wrote that in life, the people who deserve the most do not always get what they deserve. Interestingly, it is thought that the character of Rebecca is based on a real woman, Rebecca Gratz, who lived in Philadelphia, and whom Scott learned of from his literary acquaintance Washington Irving. SCENE DIFFERENCES FROM BOOK:In the book, Ivanhoe does not pierce his templar adversary exactly as shown in the scene - when Bois looks up to see Rebecca's face.Here's what Sir Walter Scott wrote ...[Ivanhoe, extricating himself from his fallen horse, was soon on foot, hastening to mend his fortune with his sword; but hisantagonist arose not. Wilfred, placing his foot on his breast,and the sword's point to his throat, commanded him to yield him,or die on the spot. Bois-Guilbert returned no answer. "Slay him not, Sir Knight," cried the Grand Master, "unshriven and unabsolved---kill not body and soul! We allow him vanquished."He descended into the lists, and commanded them to unhelm the conquered champion. His eyes were closed---the dark red flush was still on his brow. As they looked on him in astonishment, the eyes opened---but they were fixed and glazed. The flush passed from his brow, and gave way to the pallid hue of death.Unscathed by the lance of his enemy, he had died a victim to the violence of his own contending passions."This is indeed the judgment of God," said the Grand Master, looking upwards---"'Fiat voluntas tua!'"]
