B+ |
***½ |
+2|
Teens & Up
More, it is a tale of fellowship undone not first of all by
the treachery of enemies but by the frailty of human nature
itself, even of the most trusted intimates. Perhaps that’s partly
why classic Hollywood forayed more successfully into Sherwood
Forest and Zorro’s California than Camelot.
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D- |
*½ |
-3|
Adults*
Even in the silent era, with Douglas Fairbanks playing every
legendary hero from Zorro to
Robin Hood to D’Artagnan,
seeking adventure everywhere from the Spanish Main (The Black Pirate) to Arabian
Nights territory (The Thief of Bagdad) to South
America (The Gaucho), King Arthur was overlooked.
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B+ |
***½ |
+2|
Teens & Up
The narration in verse has been set to music adapted from authentic
medieval melodies, and is sung in the original old French by a chorus
of minstrels playing traditional instruments, as well as by the players
themselves. The players’ bright costumes and the overtly stagey sets —
a grove of abstract sculpture-like trees for a forest; simple façade
castles built of painted wood — were inspired by medieval paintings and
illuminated manuscripts.
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B |
**½ |
+2|
Kids & Up*
The story starts a bit stiffly with the tale of Arthur’s rise
to power, beginning with the adult Arthur (Mel Ferrer) and rival
Mordred (Stanley Baker) meeting at the sword in the stone with
their respective advocates, Merlin (Felix Aylmer) and Morgan le
Fey (Anne Crawford). Things improve with the arrival of Lancelot
(Robert Taylor), who even before meeting Arthur is willing to die
for him and his ideals of chivalry, courtesy, and virtue.
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