Lady Godiva of Coventry is a 1955 American Technicolor historical drama film, directed by Arthur Lubin. It starred Maureen O’Hara in the title role.
The film is set in 11th century England. King Edward the Confessor wants the Saxon Lord Leofric, who rules Coventry, to marry a Norman woman, Yolanda. When he refuses, he is sentenced to jail, where he meets Godiva, the sheriff’s sister. The two fall in love and soon they are wed. The times are turbulent and Godiva proves a militant bride; unhistorically, unrest between the Anglo-Saxon populace and the increasingly influential Norman French led to her famous ride.
The plot is quite notable by the striking leadership qualities of the Maureen O’Hara role. She filmed the famous ride wearing a leotard, with her long hair covering the rest of her body. Arthur Lubin said he was inspired by the painting of Landseer. The sequence was shot on a closed set.
Below are some amazing behind the scenes photographs on the famous set of the film Lady Godiva of Coventry.
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