The Ride of the Rohirrim

"Arise, arise, Riders of Theoden!
Fell deeds awake: fire and slaughter!
spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered,
a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises!
Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!"
- King Theoden as quoted from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Chapter V "The Ride of the Rohirrim"


This is by far my favorite scene of the Lord of the Rings film trilogy, and one of my favorite parts of J.R.R. Tolkiens works.

[MTStingray]

Go peacefully to the halls of your forefathers, Theoden King.

RIP, Bernard Hill. 1944-2024

[ciprianepuras]

Farewell Theoden, son of Thengel, King of Rohan!
Peace be with you!

[detectivefoxley]

Suddenly the king cried to Snowmane and the horse sprang away. Behind him his banner blew in the wind, white horse upon a field of green, but he outpaced it. After him thundered the knights of his house, but he was ever before them. Éomer rode there, the white horsetail on his helm floating in his speed, and the front of the first éored roared like a breaker foaming to the shore, but Théoden could not be overtaken. Fey he seemed, or the battle-fury of his fathers ran like new fire in his veins, and he was borne up on Snowmane like a god of old, even as Oromë the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young.

[TheKornheaD]

Words can't explain the feeling of seeing this in the cinema 2003 at the age of 15.

[OldSchoolHollywood]

I wanted to hear him say One... Last... Time... Let the Symblemyne grown upon your grave great King ❤

[blogovitchxyz]

1:02: What an actor. His expression captured that moment of desperation so perfectly. Theoden had no hope of success, and was looking at both his own death and the death of his entire people. Yet he knew what had to be done, to fulfill his oaths, and his people's honor. What a god-damned MAN.

[clippedwings]

Rarely does a film make you feel so much like this does.

[TheJimicus]

As amazing as Theoden's speach is, the line that always get me is "courage for our friends."

[bobbybinns]

Peter Jackson is an incredible director, but I imagine even he was in awe of what he helped create. Everything - every character, shot and musical score is perfect.

[ironfromicey]

I cried. Im 22 now, watched this like 40 times.

[Koko-qlfg]

i wish the battle of five armies had look half as real as this.

[gediminaspuskorius]

best moment in film history. hands down

[JD_Phoenix]

One of the only times in a story where they charged not chanting victory or glory but an honorable death. So powerful after all these years.

[Rubinsotelo]

THIS IS HOW HUMANITY SHOULD STAND AGAINST ALL EVIL.

[MrDeengels]

Duty, fealty, and honor is what the LOTR is all about. This scene encapsulates all of those things. One of the single greatest scene ls in film.

[dessertstorm]

Theoden understands the power of a speech. Éowyn's expression when hearing the battlecry is "death" sums up the gut-wrenching fear and apprehension of facing down your own likely (painful) death, something most of us wont experience, and even for those who serve, not a normal scenario in modern warfare. But by the 3rd cry they are both "bought-in" and the power of the rallying call and the group mentality is filling them with courage.

[krischan]

The greatest cavalry charge in movie history. And what a speech!

[nogmaffer]

You know, every time I watch those movies I always forget this part is there, I see gandalf lose out against the witch king and lose all hope and then there's the horns, I always bloody forget about the horns, I think: shit, what's coming now, and then I see this, there's no feeling like this

[SheaClayFarms]

Arise! Arise, Riders of Théoden! Spears shall be shaken, shields shall be splintered! A sword day... a red day... and the sun rises! Ride now... Ride now... Ride! Ride for ruin and the world's ending! Death!"

[gonerimsrbc]

I need a horse and a spear everytime I see this scene. Epic on every word, on every tone of the music... Magic!