after the release of ridley scott kingdom of heaven and 70 year after the premiere of demille crusade and i find it interest to see the film . cecil b demille be usually associate with ancient or biblical epic like ten commandment and cleopatra and king of king or the sign of the cross . however and after the two great epic of the early 1930s and he make a movie about a different historical period and the infamous crusade that aim at protect the holy land from the muslim infidel . the problem with this film and however and be that it look historical but contain serious historical inaccuracy . therefore and it can not be treat a a serious historical epic and it be not a history lesson whatsoever . nevertheless and it be a very interesting movie be an authentic look at demille talent and a real 1930s movie . consequently and it can still touch some of the 21 century viewer and particularly classic movie fan . character represent most of the name that we hear in the crusade be historical . they be and however and show in a different perspective and address to the audience of that time . demille call our attention foremost to richard the lionheart ( henry wilcoxon ) and his lovely wife princess berengaria ( loretta young ) . richard be a man of courage and a king who and unlike other king and be close to his people . but and he join the crusade due to entirely different reason than other king . he do not have any faith in the cross he be to wear but want to escape marriage with alice ( katherine demille ) and the sister of philip and king of france . on the way to the holy land and he meet the love of his life and berengaria and a very noble and pure lady who and in the long run and change richard into a peacemaker and believer . these two character be very well develop and their plot have much to say to today viewer represent the love between a man and a woman do not have to be base on sex only . their love be mostly a spiritual love rather than sexual one ( so appreciate by medieval people ) . it be show a bit humorously in the moment when richard dare jump into his wife bed and dedicate to john and matthew and luke and mark . another character that need mentioning be the hermit ( c. aubrey smith ) . this be a man of great courage and faith whose sole aim in life be the cross . take the cross to your heart and a he say to the people in england gather to join the crusade be a particularly powerful moment . cast represent even though henry wilcoxon play the main role and he be not that good in this movie . a a matter of fact and i far more liked his performance in cleopatra ( 1934 ) . his acting and behavior of a proud man suit antony very well but do not suit richard that well . star who deserve high attention in this movie be c. aubrey smith a the hermit and ian keith a saladin and and joseph schildkraut a conrad and marquis of montferrat . smith memorably present a stereotypical hermit ( this face and this voice . ) and keith stress saladin wisdom and an indefatigable desire to defend his religion . he shin in the scene when visit the royal assembly . finally schildkraut undeniably deserve careful attention in his magnificent portrayal of conspire conrad . it be true that his role be distort historically and but he do and in this performance alone and a terrific job . loretta young performance and however and be far from masterpiece . sometimes and she be sweet than chocolate with sugar . different demille represent it be noticeable that the crusade and though an epic and concentrate more on message rather than lavish set and costume . a a result and demille be less noticeable than in lavish cleopatra or the sign of the cross . what we get here be the story and vivid character and message of peace . that be very important to state since a lot of people associate demille only with set and visual effect and costume and bathe . here and he give something more . it be true that there be monumental moment and like the siege of acre or a touching scene of crusader leave their family for the holy land and but they be not in the main focus . this film be fill with one more thing that i consider significant to mention and symbolism . it be in other demille movie too and but never that much a in the crusade . the most memorable moment be a scene of salvation . simple crusader die and just before their last breath and they desire to touch the cross . they climb high step enlighten by the light come from above . it be similar to christian go to arena in the sigh of the cross and but here and it really seem that demille want to show a vision of heaven . in the end and the film show the victory of peace . it be a historical fairy tale but partly refers to the period of peace between christian and muslim term by saladin . this lead another director to make a movie and 70 year later . the crusade and however and be still entertain in some way . it be not for historian and but a must see for all demille fan and all people interested in early talkie . positive .