Camelot

Rating:
Summary: Camelot is still alive
Review: A musical. But this is NOT a chick flick. This is an era of Hollywood stage-to-screen musicals at it's best. You all know the myth of Arthur, Guinever, and Lancelot in so many permeated forms. This is the one that started it all, and if I must say (oh, I must, I must), it is one of the best (maybe Excalibur). I read Maltin's review, and I gotta tell ya, Maltin needs to crack open a few cold ones and get off the high horse. Yes, Camelot can be a rather stiff translation from stage to screen at times, but take the whole bag or don't take it at all. Richard Harris made his mark with this movie. He is THE King Arthur which all subsequent Arthurs are guaged by. Venessa Redgrave never looked or acted better (I mean that), and the scene where Lancelot (Franco Nero) believed he had killed his friend in a joust, damn near made me cry. It was exceptional, considering this movie was done during the men-don't-cry era. David Hemmings is the perfect bastard as Mordred, Arthur's son by his sister. I don't know why Arthur insisted on calling Guinevere `Jenny', nor Lancelot `Lance'. I presume it was to `update' the film. But it doesn't matter. Every phrase is perfect in it's place. Arthur's solitary prose upon discovering Lancelot's love for Guinvere is a masterpiece in reflection, and it's style is still copied to this day. Something that makes you realize there was such great screenwriting in the 60's. There is a certain sadness in the movies' realization of a time and world lost, yet the songs, `What Do The Simple Folk Do', `Camelot', and `If I Ever Would Leave You' have created an eternal survival for this film. The costuming was typical `clean' serf suits, but the scenery looked as real as could be. And the soundtrack? absolutely magnificant. I am not a big fan of musicals. I am not a fan of overacting. But the background music to this film is as stirring as Armeggeddon, and the cinematography is excellent. There are no flaws in the film-to-dvd translation. If you own Lawrence of Arabia, you will own this. There is a line in this movie, "you will learn that the world wags, and what wags it". There is magic in this film. It embraces that kind of enchantment. Trust me. I am never wrong.

Rating:
Summary: Songs and acting good, dramatics better
Review: I enjoyed this movie. Apparently, it's bad in comparison with the play, but i never saw the play, so I'm viewing it on its own terms. On its own terms, it's a good movie. The songs were good, the sets and costumes were good, and many of the performances, espicially Richard Harris's, were great. Harris sings well (assuming he wasn't dubbed), he's very good at playing the boy-king, still dependent on Merlin's teachings, even though he looks 40 (He was 35), and he handles the film's drama perfectly. Vanessa Redgrave is good, too, esaily changing from innocent bride to flirtatious married woman to passionate lover. Franco Nero isn't as good, but he's suitably passionate. (Who's idea was it to have Lance and Genny making love in the pool? They wouldn't have done it, and it's too From Here to Eternity!) The film's dramatic scenes, where Arthur confronts the love between his wife and best friend, both of whom he loves and both of whom love him, stand out above everything. Harris really shines, as I've said, excellently showing us Arthur's torment. Redgrave's good, too, espicially in the last scene, where she cries at the thought of never seeing Arthur's forgiving eyes again. (I hope i'm not spoiling anything here.) All-around great movie.

Did you know Redgrave and Nero had an affair offscreen? They had a child in 1969.

Rating:
Summary: It was just Okay
Review: At first viewing this movie is alright. My bit of advice would be make sure you never listen to the broadway cast recording of Camelot if you want to like this movie. Julie Andrews voice is so superior to Redgrave's it is not even funny. Julie should have been the Queen. At least they asked her to be. I loved the way she declined and since she wouldn't perform this show fell through. I hated the way the director says that there was no one else better than Vanessa for the Queen. He must have been in denial that Julie said "No." Julie clearly would have been the better choice. I also think the storyline is slightly terrible. I have always had mixed feelings about the King Arthur legends. I hate how the Queen falls for Lancelot, he is the most self-absorbed snot that ever lived. THe singing isn't wonderful and I would highly recommend the broadway casts version to the movie. Julie is the greatist and no one can ever live up to her.

Rating:
Summary: "Mark me well - I will tell you, sir!"
Review: Yes, 'Camelot' is a flawed movie, but a MAGICAL one, nonetheless. It is too long, and Franco Nero's dubbed singing voice as 'Lancelot' is laughable, and YET! Yet, we have RICHARD HARRIS, so perfect as the failing King Arthur, Vanessa Redgrave, never lovelier than in her role as the torn Guinavere, and David Hemmings, a dastardly 'mod' Mordred reeking havoc on the troubled Kingdom. Franco Nero (dubbing notwithstanding) brings a wonderful comedic touch to Lancelot, and with the sumptious sets and costumes, 'Camelot' really is a BEAUTIFUL film. It has been critisized for having a 'Sixties' feel to it, but the somewhat hippy-ish design just adds to the pleasure; and it REALLY doesn't matter that Richard Harris is wearing WAY to much blue eye-shadow - we're in CAMELOT, for goodness sake! There may very well be a 'legal limit to the snow' there, but when it comes to make-up, no holds are barred! Oh, one can pick a MILLION holes in 'Camelot' - but why bother? It's better just to pour yourself a glass of mead, light some candles, put 'Camelot' in your VCR and let Lerner and Loewes wonderful score sweep you into a magical time which never existed. 'Camelot' is pure escapism, but it's escapism with 'heart', and that heart belongs to Richard Harris. This movie is HIS, and years after first seeing this movie, when I imagine the face of King Arthur, the face that I see is Richard Harris'.

Rating:
Summary: misses by a mile
Review: Is it that eleven songs are two few for a three-hour movie musical or does this only seem so wordy because Richard Harris as King Arthur, mostly, and Vanessa Redgrave as Queen Guinevere, to a significant extent, talk their songs? Do they talk their songs because neither one can really sing? (Franco Nero, as Sir Lancelot, is dubbed-in.) Is it also because none of the three principals can really sing that they spend all their moments on screen furiously gesticulating, by way of compensation? (I remember thinking, "If Nero nods his head once more, I'm going to slap him." He was not deterred.) Regrave tries so very hard to look cute; Nero tries so very hard to look earnest; Harris seems to think he's acting a Shakespearian tragedy, bellowing banal bits of dialogue that can't bear the strain--as he hops about the stage. (He's wearing far too much eye make-up, by the way. He looks like a man in drag.) The singing is awful, and the acting is obnoxious and smarmy. Alan Jay Lerner's screenplay adaptation is riddled with holes. Director Joshua Logan thinks every other song needs to be adorned with MTV-like relentlessly spliced footage.

See the play, listen to the Broadway cast album, or read the score. Just forget this movie.

Rating:
Summary: A Classic Musical About The Arthurian Legend
Review: The Lerner and Lowe musical seems to be a variation from the T.H. Lawrence novel, "The Once and Future King," from which the animated Dysney film was taken. Richard Harris, Vanessa Redgrave and Franco Nero effectively carry out the movie, their voices superb in every song and their dramatic performances making an excellent and enjoyable film. The story is the age-old Arthur myth. King Arthur, the idealist, tutored by his all-knowing wizard Merlin, creates Camelot, a peaceful realm supported by the mighty Round Table, whose aim is "Might for Right". But things begin to fall apart for Arthur and his dream. Guenevere, whose marriage to Arthur had all been arranged, falls for the dashing French-born champion Knight, Lancelot. Their affair sparks the suspicion of Mordred who reveals it to the public, just when it was ending (the parting scene between Guenevere and Lancelot.."And I shall never come to you again" and their duet is very emotional and heartrendering). As we know, Mordred and Arthur battle, the Round Table is dissolved and Camelot becomes a dream remembered. This musical was appropriate to its milieu. It was the 60's when this film was made, and peace rallies were manifested over America. The idealism of peace and brotherly harmony (as in the Round Table) is effectively similar to the idealism of American government. The allegory of the musical is quite transparent. I hope you give this musical a chance, and it has a special place in my heart. Along with The Sound of Music and The King and I, this musical stands out in the great tradition. Five stars well deserved. Songs that stand out in this musical are "I wonder what the King is doing tonight" "Where are the Sweet Joys of Maidenhood ?", "Camelot" "How to handle a woman" and "If I ever Would Leave You."

Rating:
Summary: Pure Emotion
Review: Camelot made an impression on me over 30 years ago, and today, watching the remastered video, all the songs and lines come easily to me, yet I probably only saw it twice. Most reviews treat this film version unkindly, but I quite prefer Richard Harris as Arthur. In my mind, it's the greatest thing Harris has ever done, and his almost impish Arthur is appropriate for a boy-turned-king. He's neither too regal nor too arrogant, like some who have performed the role. He inhabits Arthur. I'd not have chosen Redgrave but she turns out to be luminous: by turns innocent, lusty, loving, and decent. Marni Nixon's dubbed singing works through her. Franco Nero's Lancelot is a sculpted icon of steel-eyed beautiful purity. Nero may not the greatest actor in the world, but he is endearing as Lancelot, and his physical loveliness in muscle, jaw, cheekbone and eye is probably unmatched for this role. The costumes are brilliant and gorgeous enhancements. (although a bit more real fur could have been used, back in the 60s!) The fact is, the score could not be more magnificent; the "natural" style singing is charming. Rather than focusing on "great" voices, we instead hear the intended core of each scene through "real" characters expressing themselves. These actors portray their roles gamely and truthfully as three people in love with each other. The entire production is a lush, bittersweet escape that infuses me with the sheer emotion and passion of ideals imagined and dashed. Love both lavished and betrayed is a sweet torment that this film tenderly displays to this viewer. I think it's highly underrated.

Rating:
Summary: A Beautiful Movie for the Pure of Heart...
Review: CAMELOT is a Time Machine taking the willing viewer back to a Once-and-Future of love, goodness, heroism and possibility of Justice. Only the most heartless cynic (overwhelmed by today's PM lust disguised-as-Love; violence disguised-as-valor; and PC treachery disguised-as-tolerance over Truth) can fail to be beguiled by this wondrous fairy-tale. Richard Harris is perfect as be-more-than-YOU-can-be,KING ARTHUR. Vanessa Redgrave is enchanting as Never Never Land-Eden's Eve,Guenevere. Franco Nero is superlative as Round Table SUPERMAN,Sir Lancelot. Recently deceased David Hemmings(once bad boy,super-hippy of Michaelangelo Antonioni's BLOW-UP)is ingratiatingly obnoxious as Arthur's ill-conceived Mephistopheles,MORDRED. Joshua Logan's screen adaptaion of Lerner & Loewes' stage musical triumph, deliberately and beautifully affects artificial glamour. It evokes child-like memories of The Impossible First Love and invincible GOOD GUYS unfailingly defeating the BAD. CAMELOT is Wonderland story about "happily-ever-aftering". Winnie-the-Pooh and his Hundred Acre Wood buddies no doubt live there, and helped Merlin train Wart to become wielder of EXCALIBUR.

John Boorman produced the definitve adventure of King Arthur and The Knights of the Round Table. His EXCALIBUR is mythical, mystical saga of heroes in unending battle of Good against Evil. Its themes are courage, forgiveness and hope. CAMELOT is pure/impure love story. Herein--as Boorman--a lesson on consequences of SIN reveals."Inappropriate behaviour"is not what brings down CAMELOT. Complex human frailty does: humanity denying limits.Despite laughter,and pre-Post Modern,untainted "gaity",the MORDRED within has to be confronted if "Magic" is to survive and the Good prevail. EXCALIBUR presented Tragic dimensions of The QUEST.CAMELOT is reminder of the golden Eden to be sought and preserved in history; Myth;and the Pure of heart...

Rating:
Summary: If Ever I Would Leave You
Review: In this lavish adaptation of the Broadway musical based on T.H. White's modern classic "The Once and Future King," the music of Frederick Loewe and Lyrics of Alan Jay Lerner weave this story into an intricate tapestry of unforgettable heart-stirring emotions. The emotions are quite overpowering and you almost have to watch this movie three times to fully appreciate the texture and detail of the 45 sets and 3,500 costumes.

Camelot is a timeless romantic drama that takes us to a medieval world that could only be imagined in your most romantic fantasy. The humor is witty, the music is unforgettable and the world of Camelot has castle scenes that are beyond compare. In fact, if you love castles, you will see scenes from dreamy castles in Spain. The Castle of Camelot is modeled after the Castle of Coca. The architectural details in the design are partly Romanesque, Norman, Viking and Gothic. The decorations have a "fantasy" medieval flavor.

The movie is at first shrouded in mystery as Arthur sits in a dark misty forest. Arthur is about to go into battle and doesn't want to die in a state of confusion. Merlin advises Arthur to think back to the time when he met Guenevere.

We are transported into King Arthur's memory, where the entire story takes place in vivid detail. King Arthur sings about his fears of the wedding night and it is all rather cute and humorous. We instantly see King Arthur as an eternal boy and later find out how he became king quite by accident when he draws the sword, Excalibur, out of a stone.

Guenevere arrives all wrapped in fur as she travels through the "most ferocious, savage, terrifying forest" she has ever seen. The branches are laden with snow and icicles. She simply adores the danger and beauty. When she hears the forest is quite dangerous, she wishes to be stolen away. Her heart is quite hungry for adventure and romance as a damsel in distress and all she has to look forward to is an arranged marriage.

When she meets "Wart" she has no idea he is King Arthur and asks him to run away with her. Vanessa Redgrave and Richard Harris are like two happy children living in a magical dream. King Arthur has a boyish charm, plenty of witty lines and the almost periwinkle eye shadow quite matches his turtleneck sweater and promotes a whimsical mood.

The royal marriage is magnificent and the wedding gown flows between two seas of candles. For a time, we truly believe this arranged marriage will succeed. Arthur shares his dreams of uniting the feudal city-states and Guenevere seems intrigued with her husband's leadership qualities. She too seems to be dreaming of a new world filled with chivalrous knights who fight for right.

When French knight Sir Lancelot arrives, he destroys the intimacy between Guenevere and King Arthur, although he promises to be the king's defender in this newly civilized world. Guenevere becomes a woman who must make impossible decisions. Lancelot dreams of all the good he can do, all the wrongs he can right and in fact, his desires lead him to a place where a fragile utopia is destroyed.

"Camelot" then becomes a serious study in how three people are almost forced to make irreversible decisions. King Arthur (Richard Harris) seems to quickly go into an extended period of denial and since he deeply loves Guenevere, he forgives her for being human. Lancelot (Franco Nero) lives life intensely and feels deeply about King Arthur's mission. He is filled with a passion for life and makes promises he can hardly keep once he enters Guenevere's world.

Guenevere (Vanessa Redgrave) is so innocent in her love of both King Arthur and Lancelot. She falls madly in love with Lancelot because he embodies all that she has always dreamed of, despite the fact that their love now destroys Lancelot's chivalrous ideals. He fights for her and his impressive battle skills and depth of emotion after he fights in the joust draws her into his world. Each time they look at one another, the world stands still and in awe of this love they feel for one another. If only she had met Lancelot before she had been promised to King Arthur.

I doubt there is a more powerfully erotic and yet angelic scene than the one where Guenevere stands in the doorway with her golden hair flowing behind her in the drafty castle. This scene portrays her in an almost angelic way as "If Ever I Would Leave You" plays on, drawing us into an intimate circle created by three hearts who are forever woven into this immortal tale. How can your heart not melt when Lancelot declares his undying affection by saying: "I, I love you. God forgive me, but I do."

There are a lot of extras:

1. Jump to a Scene

2. Explore Camelot
-Cast & Crew
-The History of the Legend - Information on King Arthur (Interesting ideas, like that King Arthur was really a Celtic chieftain in the 5th century who became a king in the legends after his death. He was believed to have been killed at a battle at Camlan in 537 AD.), Excalibur, The Holy Grail (Why King Arthur was seeking this magical object) and The Knights of the Round Table
-King Arthur Comes to Hollywood
-Building Camelot
-Costumes
-Awards
-Featurette: The Story of Camelot
-Featurette: Special Premiere Footage
-5 Theatrical Trailers

3. Languages - You have to choose "English" or you will only hear the Musical Score.

4. Recommendations

I really can't think of a more perfect movie. Sadly at the end of the movie, the story is not quite what we expect. Yet, I don't think we would want this movie to end in any other way. The sheer tragedy is terribly romantic.

To romance, men who never leave, undying devotion and eternal love. I adore this movie! 100 stars.

~TheRebeccaReview.com

Rating:
Summary: Richard Harris - a great performance
Review: This movie is adapted from "The Once and Future King" by T.H. White. And you probably know the story - boy becomes king, king is betrothed in an arranged marriage, Lancelot pops in....It is _nothing_ like the book but it does have its good points.

One is Richard Harris' over the top performance as King Arthur. He, much in the manner of Rex Harrison in "My Fair Lady", speaks his songs as opposed to singing them. Suprisingly, it actually works very well. It's not the "feel good movie" of all time, but it is a good one about flawed individuals - and it was said to be President John F. Kenndy's favorite Broadway play.

So if you're interested in seeing a movie that will make you think about great leaders' errors in judgement, along with the pagentry of court life, this is a movie for you. I recommend it highly.