Inaccurate both historically and to the legend of Lady Godiva and her infamous nude ride through the streets of Coventry, this fictionalized version finds tensions high between the Saxons and Normans in 11th century England. A Saxon lord (George Nader) refuses the King's (Eduard Franz) wishes for a politically convenient marriage and instead opts to marry the sheriff's fiery daughter (Maureen O'Hara). But she becomes a militant Joan Of Arc heroine to the Saxon people, much to the disgruntlement of her husband. It's an innocuous film with very little to recommend it. Even the chance to see O'Hara
au naturel is ruined by showing the ride in long shots with O'Hara's long flaming tresses discreetly covering her up. But it's modestly enjoyable in a Saturday afternoon matinee kind of way. Directed by Arthur Lubin and with Victor McLaglen (not instigated by John Ford, so he's rather restrained here), Torin Thatcher, Rex Reason, Kathryn Givney and keep a sharp lookout for a young Clint Eastwood as a Saxon solider.
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