Cinema: Norman Nights

The War Lord is a costume epic with an unusual theme. Its hero, quite as usual, is Charlton Heston, playing a misspent 11th-century knight who falls heir to a small and dreary Norman fief on the coast of the North Sea. "There's a strangeness in this place," Heston remarks. And his servant Richard Boone nods sagely, like a man who knows a godforsaken frontier town when he sees one. Heston's castle is a tacky stronghold, one lone tower surrounded by sullen villagers and under constant threat of attack by swarms of large blond barbarians wearing identical wigs.

Unhappily—and here's the twist—milord's lust...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!