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Sean Connery, F Murray Abraham, Christian Slater, Michel Lonsdale, Elya Baskin ... see more see more... , William Hickey , Feodor Chaliapin Jr. , Ron Perlman , Valentina Vargas , Volker Prechtel , Helmut Qualtinger , Franco Adducci , Urs Althaus , Peter Berling , Carlo Bianchino , Franco Diogene , Vernon Dobtcheff , Michael Habeck , Maurizio Merli , Gianni Rizzo , Kim Rossi Stuart , Leopoldo Trieste , Dwight Weist , Vittorio Zarfati , Andrew Birkin , Francesco Maselli , Armando Marra , Donal O'Brien , Mark Bellinghaus , Lucien Bodard , Lars Bodin-Jorgensen , Eugenio Bonardi , Alberto Capone , Pietro Ceccarelli , Mario Diano , Emil Feist , David Furtwaengler , Valerio Isidori , Patrick Kreuzer , Pete Lancaster , Ennio Lollainni , Franco Marino , Renato Nebolini , Gina Poli , Francesco Scali , Hans Schoedel , Franco Valobra , Peter Welz , Ludger Pistor , Michael Lonsdale , Volker Prechtl , Feodor Chaliapin

Adapted from Umberto Eco's best-selling novel, director Jean-Jacques Annaud's The Name of the Rose is a 14th century murder-mystery thriller starring Sean Connery as a Sherlock Holmes-esque Franciscan... read more read more... monk called William of Baskerville. When a murder occurs at a secluded Benedictine Abbey, William is called in to investigate. As he and his apprentice, Adson von Melk (Christian Slater), delve deeper and deeper into the case, more dead bodies begin to turn up. Eventually, Bernardo Gui, an inquisitor played by F. Murray Abraham gets involved, but he may not have the best intentions. Sean Connery's performance earned him the award for Best Actor at the 1988 British Academy Awards. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

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82% liked it

38,516 ratings

Critics

76% liked it

21 critics

R, 2 hr. 10 min.

Directed by: Jean-Jacques Annaud

Release Date: September 24, 1986

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DVD Release Date: July 6, 2004

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Stats: 1,521 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,521)

  • garyX
    July 12, 2011
    garyX
    In this adaptation of Umberto Eco's celebrated novel, Franciscan friar Sean Connery investigates a series of bizarre murders in a monastery in the 14th century. Aside from the rather unusual subject matter, this is a unique film in that it does not feature the usual starlets and ... read morepretty boy actors populating a glossy Hollywood-ized version of history; it actually looks and feels like a working Medieval abbey. And as such, the monks will win no beauty competitions! Most of them would look perfectly at home adorning the abbey walls with the rest of the gargoyles! This just adds to the already potent atmosphere, and in one of his best roles, Sean Connery commands the screen as well as the able supporting cast including the ever reliable Ron Perlman as the demented hunchback. The story explores the theme of religious intolerance and climate of hysteria in which a reasonable minded man of learning can find it impossible to function within; "justice" is doled out by self-appointed prophets who dare not be opposed on pain of death, and blind faith and superstition replace logic and reason. Let's face it, things haven't changed much over the centuries. Add some wonderfully literary and witty dialogue and fascinating historical insights, and you have a film that works both as an excellent adaptation and a satisfying murder mystery.
  • kenstachnik
    July 10, 2011
    kenstachnik
    Great atmosphere and mood. An inspiration for Fincher's Alien 3.
  • ironclad1609
    May 18, 2011
    ironclad1609
    This extremely atmospheric and engrossing story set in a 14th century monastery in Northern Italy is a murder mystery and commentary on medieval church and inquisition at the same time. It perfectly intertwines these two aspects of the plot, carried by an outstanding Sean Connery... read more and the wonderfully odd faces of the monks he is encountering. Following his investigations of the murders is fun and spooky at the same time, James Horner's score makes sure of the latter. The second half may be a bit simplistic in its depiction of good and bad, but that doesn't lessen the deeply satisfying solution to the mystery.
  • ajv2688
    January 24, 2011
    ajv2688
    A great thriller, very unique, and the cast is really good, I highly recommend this movie
  • deano
    May 16, 2010
    deano
    Sean Connery's character, Franciscan friar William of Baskerville, should be alludes to the fictional sleuth Sherlock Holmes. He lends dignity, intelligence as the acute and prudent monk who has knowledge, both of the human spirit and the wiles of the evil one.
    The film is very r... read moreealistic in every way - the cold, uncomfortable monastery; the graphic murders; grotesque and disfigured characters; a startlingly explicit sex scene; authentic-sounding dialogue; excellent indoor and outdoor locations; and well-researched costume designs.
    Based on the novel by Italian author Umberto Eco in 1980, but it appeared in 1983, in an English translation.
  • SirPant
    September 25, 2009
    SirPant
    A brilliant murder mystery set in a very grim 14th-century Benedictine monastery. It?s a classic!
  • harrycaul
    April 29, 2008
    harrycaul
    Although Sean Connery's Franciscan sleuth is called William of Baskerville, and he's prone to declaring his feats of reasoning as 'elementary' to an intellectually inferior companion, he is not a worthy, Medieval precursor to Sherlock Holmes - at least not in this 'Palimpsest' of... read more Umberto Eco's novel, which I haven't read - for the following reason: too many of Baskerville's leaps in understanding are intuitive rather than deductive. Furthermore, instead of being detected, too many of the facts of the mystery are simply volunteered by the supporting characters, especially by Michael Lonsdale's Abbot and Ron Perlman's hunchback, Salvatore. However, even if "The Name of the Rose" fails to satisfy as a detective story, it still has much to recommend itself. The photography and use of location are splendid, the supporting cast of monks are unforgettably grotesque, especially Perlman, and the film is powerfully atmospheric, with a fine period feel. Along with "The Untouchables" and "Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade", this was one of the last great roles Connery had, before he got a little too old for Hollywood to know what to do with him and slid into an embarrassing decline.
  • thmtsang
    April 15, 2008
    thmtsang
    Good cast. This is like a dectective murder investigation in a monstery.
  • TheGame90
    February 13, 2008
    TheGame90
    Sucks big time
  • ceWEBrity
    October 30, 2007
    ceWEBrity
    I started out really enjoying this movie, but about an hour in, I realized that it was leaving me cold. I was appreciating what I was seeing and hearing, but not really giving a shit either way. The characters feel almost cursory, which I think is the main problem, but I really c... read morean't put my finger on why The Name of the Rose didn't draw me in like it should have.

    In terms of the actual filming, it's a really entertaining movie. You can tell that it's a lot different than the source material; there are obvious suggestions of literacy tucked into the screenplay, but it's interlaced with moments that are brutal almost to the point of trashiness. And yet there's an odd sort of reserve to the direction...the film is cloaked in mist, and seems appropriately mysterious in presentation. Bizarre.

    I am really interested in reading the book, but the movie did little else for me. It is a perfectly competent mystery thriller and nothing more.

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Critic Reviews

Peter Canavese
August 2, 2011
Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews

For labyrinth-lovers...a thoughtful and entertaining murder mystery predicated on intellectual debate. [Blu-ray] Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
May 26, 2006
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

It's really a decent exploitation film disguised as a proper art film. Full Review

Michael A. Smith
April 22, 2005
Michael A. Smith, Nolan's Pop Culture Review

A great mystery until the end. Connery and Abraham throw sparks each time they meet.

Aaron Lazenby
July 23, 2004
Aaron Lazenby, Filmcritic.com

the window dressing is not enough to buoy the principle acting Full Review

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
July 1, 2004
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

A spiritual thriller that holds up thanks to its rich themes and great acting Full Review

John J. Puccio
July 1, 2004
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

How you accept an English monk with a Scottish accent and the mind of a Sherlock Holmes is the question. Full Review

Rob Vaux
January 24, 2003
Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium

A well-played medieval murder mystery, featuring a lot of good-looking men with really bad haircuts.

Michael Drakulich
November 29, 2002
Michael Drakulich, Star Newspapers (Chicago, IL)

Marvelous adaptation of a complex Umberto Eco novel. Christian Slater's first feature role.

Dennis Schwartz
January 1, 2000
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

This real monastery looks as if it were designed by the artist M. C. Escher. Full Review

February 23, 2012
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

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The Name of the Rose (Der Name der Rose) Trivia

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  • In wich movie Christian Slater act as a young catholic monk during the Inquisition?  Answer »
  • In which film did Sean Connery play a monk at the centre of a murder investigation?  Answer »
  • Name the 1986 film starring Sean Connery and Christian Slater?  Answer »
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