Historically in-accurate. But  not as bad as it could have been.

I'd herd rumour's of this film existing. But only recently have I been able to watch it. Unfortunately the copy was in french with no sub-titles. But I was able to follow the movie with my limited french.

Firstly this movie isn't historically accurate and to be honest is a bit of a mess. It follows Williams rise from Bastard son constantly under threat of assassination to feared/hero Norman duke. As you would expect this film is pro William and tends to gloss over the more controversial aspects of his life and character.

The film portrayal of Harold's character is strange. Harold is shown as charismatic yet ruthless, with maybe a touch of bi-polar.

I must point out there is a good scene where Harold fights a Norman champion. The Norman is on horse back with a spear,sword and shield and Harold uses just a large piece wooden railing to defeat him. This scene works because it dose illustrate the differing fighting styles. Its a shame that this isn't shown battles that follow later.

The battles shown in the film are not accurate. Stamford bridge is very badly staged being decided with champions. Stamford bridge was in-fact one of the bloodiest battles ever fought on English soil.

Hastings comes off slightly better. Unfortunately lack of budget in costumes and extras really shows. But we must remember that this was a low budget movie made in Romania before CGI. 

The acting in the film isn't bad with a good performance from John(Hawk the Slayer) Terry.

All in all William the Conquer is not the best of films. But it is the first to try to tackle this story and it dose have a certain European charm that may make me want to see it again.

French-language cinema, whether in France, Québec, or other Francophone regions, explores cultural identity, social change, and the tension between the individual and society. French cinema is not only celebrated for its intellectual experimentation and auteur traditions, but also its success in mainstream comedy, romance, and commercial entertainment. In Québec, films often focus on questions of language, belonging, and community within a distinct cultural landscape.

Jean-Pierre Léaud in The 400 Blows (1959)

The action genre features fast-paced, thrilling, and intense sequences of physical feats, combat, and excitement. The characters of these stories are involved in daring and often dangerous situations, requiring them to rely on their physical prowess, skills, and quick thinking to overcome challenges and adversaries.

The history genre features recounting and analyzing past events, societies, cultures, and historical figures. This genre aims to provide insights into the development of civilizations, the causes and consequences of historical events, and the impact of individuals and ideas on the course of history.

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Streaming Stars, Then and Now

Guillaume, la jeunesse du conquérant (2015)

Blood Royal: William the Conqueror (1990)

Grigore Vasiliu-Birlic in Doua lozuri (1957)

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and James Norton in King & Conqueror (2025)

William the Conqueror

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