Subtitle The War Lord -

Adapted by John Collier and Millard Kaufman from the 1956 stage play The Lovers by Leslie Stevens. Themes & Historical Realism

In the 11th century, Norman knight (Heston) is dispatched by the Duke of Ghent to defend a coastal region from Frisian raiders. Upon arrival, he encounters a village of pagan peasants who still practice ancient Druidic traditions despite being nominally Christian. subtitle The War Lord

Unlike many Hollywood epics of the time, The War Lord depicts the Middle Ages as a "gritty and grubby" period where human behavior is often driven by base instincts rather than chivalry. Adapted by John Collier and Millard Kaufman from