Sean Connery

F. Murray Abraham

Christian Slater

Helmut Qualtinger

Elya Baskin

Michael Lonsdale

Volker Prechtel

Feodor Chaliapin Jr.

William Hickey

Michael Habeck

Urs Althaus

Valentina Vargas

Ron Perlman

Leopoldo Trieste

Lars Bodin-Jorgensen

Giordano Falzoni

Franco Valobra

Vernon Dobtcheff

Donald O'Brien

Andrew Birkin

Lucien Bodard

Peter Berling

Pete Lancaster

Franco Adducci

Niko Brücher

Aristide Caporale

Fabio Carfora

Francesco Scali

Peter Clös

Mario Diano

Franco Pistoni

Maria Tedeschi

Valerio Isidori

Luigi Leoni

Armando Marra

Ludger Pistor

Franco Diogene

Dwight Weist

Franco Marino

Kim Rossi Stuart

Gérard Brach

Jane Seitz

Alexandre Mnouchkine

Frank Jahn

Jean-Jacques Annaud

Bernd Eichinger

Tonino Delli Colli

Howard Franklin

Jake Eberts

James Horner

Dante Ferretti

Alain Godard

Thomas Schühly

Franco Cristaldi

Sabine Schroth

Celestia Fox

Dominique Besnehard

Bernd Schaefers

Gianni Arduini

David Rubin

Gabriella Pescucci

Umberto Eco

Francesca Lo Schiavo

Norbert Herzner

Rainer Schaper

Gerhard Reitinger

Angela Anzimani

Giorgio Giovannini

Esther Walz

Ilona Herman

Adriano Pischiutta

Friederike Mirus

Margrit Guthmann

Hans Jürgen Schmelzle

Alberto Spiazzi

Richard Lindl

Aldo Galigani

Giorgio Palermi

Antonio Scaramuzza

Marco Di Salvo

Cesare Emidi

Piero Quaglietti

Eraldo Barbona

Bruno Colanzi

Alberto Emidi

Marco Sperduti

Günther Bauer

Vasco Benucci

Franco Caporale

Guido Tosi

Vittorio Contino

Umberto Leurini

Giovanni Fiore Coltellacci

Wolfgang Dell

Umberto Dessena

Mali Finn

Mario Tursi

Drama

Thriller

Mystery

The Name of the Rose

Cristaldifilm

Les Films Ariane

Constantin Film

France

Germany

Italy

English

Deutsch

Italiano

Latin

based on novel or book

library

christianity

inquisition

monk

poison

secret passage

religion

labyrinth

rich

middle ages (476-1453)

persecution

medieval

franciscan

burned at the stake

poor

murder mystery

grotesque

theological debate

14th century

master disciple relationship

umberto eco

Gimly

At first I was like "Hah, this is some kind of Sherlock Holmes but a priest thing!", and then I was like "Oh, this **is** some kind of Sherlock Holmes but a priest thing!"

_Final rating:★★★ - I liked it. Would personally recommend you give it a go._

Bookish or Boorish?

The Name of the Rose is directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud and based on the novel of the same name written by Umberto Eco. It stars Sean Connery, Christian Slater, F. Murray Abraham, Helmut Qualtinger, Elya Baskin & Michael Lonsdale. Music is scored by James Horner and cinematography by Tonino Delli Colli.

Sean does Sherlock the Monk.

It's one of those film's that I just can't get into, three times I have tried but it's now consigned to the recycle bin, never to be unearthed again. I see there is great artistry there, it's very literate and the mystery element is strong, but it saps my strength to the very last. Connery is miscast because he plays it as nudge nudge wink wink detective fare, and film strains too hard to be some intellectual medieval musing on inquisitional power, berserker religion and the search for truth. Now I like gloomy moods, especially when part of some Gothic architecture, but even with the delightful weirdness of this monastery and the even weirder haircuts, I find it hard to sit still, such is the haphazard directing of the plot. In all honesty, the makers really would have been better off just making another Sherlock Holmes movie and setting it in a monastery. Now that would be fun...

This wants to be a paean to Arthur Conan Doyle, a brain teaser and an observation on some tricky subjects, but the mix doesn't work, sadly, for me anyway. Because I don't like it doesn't mean it's a bad film, clearly it is loved by many and has things of value to a discerning viewer. But to me, no, leaves me cold and frustrated. 5/10

**_Murder mystery at a gloomy abbey during the Dark Ages with Sean Connery_** 

In 1327, a Franciscan monk and his pupil (Connery and Christian Slater) arrive at a monastery in northern Italy to attend an important theological Roman Church conference. When monks are found dead in mysterious ways, William (Connery) winds up being the Medieval version of Sherlock Holmes. While he seems to figure the mystery out due to the evidence, a mirthless inquisitor is called in and sees things differently (F. Murray Abraham). Ron Perlman plays a hunchback and Michael Lonsdale the Abbot.

Based on Umberto Eco’s 1980 book, “The Name of the Rose” (1986) is outstanding as far as locations, sets, costumes and make-up go. Anyone interested in a shadowy drama with the dreary Gothic ambiance of the Middle Ages, this is the film to see. It’s helped by Connery’s towering performance, marked by his nonchalant confidence. Slater is also excellent as the inquisitive novice. Meanwhile Valentina Vargas as the feral peasant girl is yet another highlight (there’s some nudity, just a heads up).

The murder mystery is decent enough and there are interesting theological debates, but this is mostly a commentary on the good, the bad and the ugly of Medieval Catholicism. Remember, there was good reason for the Protestant Reformation that started less than 200 years later. I advise using the subtitles, as this is a dialogue-driven piece filled with mumbled Latin words and unusual names; it will help you understand the convoluted goings-on.

Speaking of which, the film seems weighed down and needed a rewrite to make the story more compelling. Yet it’s still well worth checking out for those interested and it influenced many movies, like “Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves” (1991). Fans of "Black Death" (2010) should appreciate it, although it’s not on that level of greatness; the contemporaneous “Season of the Witch” too. Those films, however, are more conventionally entertaining. This one’s more along the weighty lines of “The Bridge of San Luis Rey" (2004), which most people hated, but I appreciated.       

The flick runs 2 hours, 11 minutes, and was shot at a replica of the monastery on a hilltop outside Rome (exteriors and some interiors) while most interiors were done at Eberbach Abbey, Germany, over 700 miles to the north; the mountain scenes were shot nearby in Taunus Mountains, Hessen, Germany.

GRADE: B-

CinemaSerf

Recently I saw a restored version of "The Black Pirate" - made in 1926 and that was in far better condition that the print I saw of this 1986 iteration of the cracking Umberto Eco novel. Set amidst the fear that beset the Christian world during the Holy Inquisition, we find ourselves at a remote abbey run by Michael Lonsdale. There is to be a gathering to facilitate a theological debate between the Franciscans and the Vatican. To that end, "William of Baskerville" (Sean Connery) and his novice "Adso" (Christian Slater) have travelled to this rather bleak location. Their arrival is tainted with sadness and mystery, though: a young monk has mysteriously died. "Baskerville" asks permission to look into it and is soon inveigled in a complex investigation that is proving distinctly perilous for almost all at this abbey. What is the secret? Can they deduce that before the arrival of the dreaded "Bernardo Gui" (F. Murray Abraham), the powerful instrument of the church who thinks nothing of burnings at the stake? This is a great story of medieval intrigue that is well enhanced here by a strong supporting cast - notably an almost unrecognisable Ron Perlman as "Salvatore"; Feodor Chaliapin Jr. is really quite intimidating as the Venerable "Jorge" and Michael Habeck's "Brother Berengar" has something creepy and distinctly un-Christian about him. As the story progresses we realise that this is actually a story about not just fear of the Inquisitors - but of the very power of the written word. Of the power of education and enlightenment - and the lengths some will go to keep the poor - potently exemplified here by Valentina Vargas - in their place. The cinematography of this dark, cold and unforgiving place adds richness and a malevolence to this film that really does resonates an effective eeriness - an evil, almost. Connery and Slater? Well perhaps not my first choice here - but they are not terrible and the former does bring a little gravitas to the role that just about works. Given all the dross that's getting 4K upgrades these days, surely this one has to merit a bit of TLC.

The Name of the Rose Official Trailer #1 - Sean Connery Movie (1986) HD

The Name of the Rose( 1986)

Who, in the name of God, is getting away with murder?

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A review by Gimly

Written by Gimly on Sun Jan 20 2019

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