Camelot (1967)

Camelot
Directed by Joshua Logan
Written by Alan J. Lerner from “The Once and Future King” by T.S. Elliot
1967/USA
Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
IMDb link
Repeat viewing/Netflix rental

[box] King Arthur as a Boy: What’s the best thing for being sad?

Merlyn: The best thing for being sad is to learn something. [/box]

This  overblown musical epic is worth a watch for the great songs and some good performances.

King Arthur (Richard Harris) came from humble origins and was taught wisdom by the wizard Merlin.  He proved he was by rights King of England when he pulled the sword Excalibur out of a mighty rock.

This story begins as the king is anxiously, fearfully awaiting the arrival of his arranged bride Guenevere (Vanessa Redgrave).  Guenevere is almost his polar opposite in temperment but they hit it off famously.  Both are committed to building Camelot, a peaceable kingdom where right not might prevails.  Harris calls on all worthy knights to join him.  The noble, almost saintly, Lancelot du Lac (Franco Nero) is immediately drawn there.  One of the key features of the regime is the Round Table, where nobody sits at the head.

The story turns dark when Lancelot and Guenevere, who both love and are loved by Arthur, begin an affair.  The death penalty by rights should apply so Arthur banishes anyone who even suggests anything is going on between the two.  Things get even more complicated when Mordred (David Hemmings), Arthur’s evil illegitimate son, shows up to destroy the peace of the kingdom.

I love the music to this and listened to the Broadway cast recording with Julie Andrews and Richard Burton over and over as a kid.  I saw the movie on original release and it was so different from my imagination that it didn’t wow me.  It’s just so dark and art nouveau somehow.  I liked it more this time, possibly just from getting to hear the music again.

The IMDb trivia has some interesting stuff on how Richard Harris campaigned for the part and later turned it into a lifetime franchise.

Camelot won Academy Awards in the categories of Best Art Direction-Set Decoration; Best Costume Design; and Best Music, Scoring of Music, Adaptation or Treatment.  It was nominated in the categories of Best Cinematography and Best Sound.