Camelot (1967)

Director:

Joshua Logan

Writers:

Alan Jay Lerner (play)
Alan Jay Lerner (screenplay)

Release Date:

25 October 1967 (USA)

Genre:

Musical | Romance | Comedy | Drama | Fantasy

Tagline:

The Most Beautiful Love Story Ever!

Plot:

The story of the marriage of England's King Arthur to Guinevere is played out amid the pagentry of Camelot...

Plot Keywords:

Broadway Musical | Based On Musical | Adultery | Camelot | Knight

Awards:

Won 3 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Richard Harris	...	King Arthur
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Guenevere
Franco Nero	...	Lancelot Du Lac
David Hemmings	...	Mordred
Lionel Jeffries	...	King Pellinore
Laurence Naismith	...	Merlyn
Pierre Olaf	...	Dap
Estelle Winwood	...	Lady Clarinda
Gary Marshal	...	Sir Lionel
Anthony Rogers	...	Sir Dinadan
Peter Bromilow	...	Sir Sagramore
Sue Casey	...	Lady Sybil
Gary Marsh	...	Tom of Warwick
Nicolas Beauvy	...	King Arthur as a Boy

Runtime:

179 min | Canada:175 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (35 mm prints) | 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Certification:

UK:U | Finland:K-8 | Sweden:11 | USA:G | Singapore:PG | Australia:G | Canada:G

Filming Locations:

Alcázar de Segovia, Segovia, Segovia, Castilla y León, Spain

Company:

Warner Brothers/Seven Arts

Trivia:

Two separate Medieval castles in Segovia, Spain, were used in this motion picture; one as Sir Lancelot's Castle in France and the other as Camelot itself in various long shots. The Alcazar de Segovia, with its mansard roofs and numerous turrets reminiscent of Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty's castle, was depicted as Sir Lancelot's home in Gaul (France)in this film. The opening and closing scenes were also filmed on the grounds of this same castle which may be seen in the background in the light of the approaching dawn. For Camelot itself, the Coca Castle, also in Segovia, was used in long shots and background shots to depict the towers and battlements of Arthur's legendary kingdom.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Arthur is required to go to the window to view Guenevere at the stake and is speaking to Mordred, his gold "cape" disappears.

Quotes:

Lancelot Du Lac: Jenny, I - I love you. God forgive me, but I do.
Guinevere: Then God forgive us both, Lance.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Simpsons: Marge vs. Singles, Seniors, Childless Couples and Teens, and Gays (#15.8)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

I Loved You Once In Silence

A Near Epic Musical!

Many films have tried to capture the spirit of the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. But this film, based on the semi-classic 1960 Broadway musical, captures it in a way different from all other versions. This film captures it in all its optimism that we've come to expect from this medieval utopia. The film does lack at times in its adaptation and its length but still remains an enjoyable film.

The leads of the film aren't of the caliber of their Broadway counterparts (Richard Burton as Arthur, Julie Andrews as Guenevere, and Robert Goulet as Lancelot) but Richard Harris, Vanessa Redgrave and Franco Nero all do well enough. Harris might be lacking in the singing talent department, but he makes up for that in his eccentric and at times moving performance as Arthur. Redgrave also lacks quite a bit in the singing talent department but outside of that she makes a splendid Guenevere. Of the three leads Franco Nero is the best singer. His performances of the songs "If Ever I Would Leave You" and "C'est Mori" are a delight to watch and listen to. His performance as Lancelot is fun to watch especially in the action sequences.

The rest of the cast is an eccentric collection to say the least. David hemming slacks menace as Mordred, but he does play an evil coward-at-heart quite well and he is fun to watch. Laurence Naismith's Merlyn is a great character during his all-too-brief appearances in the film and is underused to the extreme. But the most eccentric and delightful character is King Pellinore. Lionel Jeffries eccentric performance as Pellinore is a perfect comic foil throughout the film and he does play his more serious scenes just as well.

But what really does carry the film is the lush costumes, sets, and photography. The Academy Award winning costumes and sets bring to life the era magnificently. The photography is excellent and incredible. The glint in the eyes of the characters throughout the film is a true piece of cinema magic and there is always a sense of magic in the films photography. But not even this can save the film for its weakest point.

The problem with the film is that whole songs and, at times even characters, are removed or edited into virtually unrecognizable pieces of song and dance. Indeed the amount of editing to the script doesn't keep the film from seeming overlong all ready. But what does appear in the film is impressive and while not to the caliber of the original production suffices.

Yet, despite these flaws, Camelot still captures the spirit of the musical and the legend very well. At times the film seeks to be epic and at times it sits on the edge it. Yet in the end it fails to be epic. But while at times disappointing and overlong, Camelot is still an enjoyable and heartwarming musical tale that you won't forget anytime soon.