Camelot (B or 3/4 stars)
There has been many a version of 'Camelot' that has been presented on stage, TV and the big screen. Some of them include: The Sword in the Stone, Excalibur, The Quest for Camelot, Monty Python & the Holy Grail, & First Knight - just to name a few. But one of the grander versions I discuss right now is the 3 hour long 1967 film version directed by Joshua Logan (of Picnic, Bus Stop, Sayonara, Fanny). I reveled in the lush visuals, beautiful songs & stellar acting, and yet, I wasn't bowled over, and the epic running time infringed on some of my enjoyment. Long ago in England, noble King Arthur (Richard Harris) 1st encounters Guenevere (Vanessa Redgrave), in the enchanted forest surrounding his vast castle at Camelot.
Following their royal wedding, Arthur's overwhelming happiness inspires him to establish The Knights of the Round Table, an order of nobility in which members will help the oppressed. A young knight, Lancelot (Franco Nero, who would go on to become Redgrave's real-life husband), ventures to merry 'ole England to join said order when Arthur's call reaches France's shores. Brave Lancelot quickly becomes the most celebrated of Arthur's knights. Guenevere, at 1st, resents his popularity, but after watching him seemingly breathe life into the body of a knight he had injured in a jousting match, her contempt turns to admiration ... and love. Despite their devotion for Arthur, Guenevere & Lancelot become clandestine lovers.
Arthur refuses to pay attention to the rumors circulating through his court & sends all those who debase Guenevere & Lancelot into exile. Arthur's illegitimate son, Mordred (David Hemmings), arrives at Camelot to seek declaration of his identity, but when refused, he snidely wins the aid of some knights in trapping Guenevere & Lancelot in a tryst. Lancelot evades them, but Guenevere is found guilty in a trial by jury & sentenced to be burned at the stake! Forced to support the ruling of his court, Arthur watches in grateful stillness when Lancelot rides in, rescues Guenevere, & carries her to safety. Guenevere enters a convent, and as Arthur & Lancelot prepare for battle, Arthur recalls woefully on the dream that was to have been ... Camelot.
Before I get to anything remotely negative, the 1st thing that must be mentioned is Lerner & Lowe's glorious music. Harris talk-sings very well to such songs as "I Wonder What the King Is Doing Tonight", "Camelot" & "What Do the Simple Folks Do?". Redgrave does well with "The Lusty Month of May", "Take Me to the Fair" & "I Loved You Once in Silence". And Nero's Lancelot croons the beautiful "If Ever I Would Leave You". There are other songs sung by the villainous Hemmings & Lionel Jeffries. And one other character to note in this musical is the mysterious sorcerer, Merlin (played by Laurence Naismith). I enjoyed that performance. But I missed portrayals of characters such as Morgana & Sir Galahad. But I digress.
Richard Harris replaced the wonderful Richard Burton {a bone of contention among many who adored the stage production}, and while he may be no Burton, Harris' interpretation of Arthur is super. Sure, he sings, but he thrives in the more dramatic segments -- he is the glue that holds the film together. Vanessa Redgrave replaced Julie Andrews {a bone of contention among many who adored the stage production}, but Andrews {who missed out on 1964's My Fair Lady, but got sweet revenge with Mary Poppins} succeeded with another movie musical in 1967 (Thoroughly Modern Millie), & Redgrave's performance is lovely on its own. And as Lancelot, Franco Nero replaced Robert Goulet; THAT was unfortunate.
Along with the songs & performances, the stand-out aspect of this production IS the visuals. Richard Kline's soft-lensed cinematography is a gauzy wonder. John Truscott's colorful, ornate costumes are incredible -- more than incredible. And the sets - whether indoor sound stages or outdoor locales - are out of this world; I'm reminded of the Throne Room where Arthur knights Lancelot, or the snowy outdoor wonderland. To say 'Camelot' is visually striking is an understatement. Director Joshua Logan (who also helmed South Pacific) had a big task in making us care for the characters, juggle the epic story, & tend to the music. This project took 2 yrs. to complete, but for Logan & adoring audiences, it seems that it was all worth it.
On the whole, I enjoy of 'Camelot' what I do. That said, I DO believe the running time to be somewhat exorbitant. The pacing goes off, at times. And the weight of the rich production smothers the script. Logan & his writers pared down some of the magical & political components to the story to focus on the romantic melodrama {Arthur & his internal struggles concerning his wife's infidelity with his good friend}. Paring down is good, but then, some bite was also taken out of the story. Still, despite my issues with it, 'Camelot' can be best enjoyed as a character-driven movie with lavish imagery, glamour, romance, comedy, tragedy & some scintillating music. It may not contain the greatness of the stage production, but it'll do jussst fine.
Following their royal wedding, Arthur's overwhelming happiness inspires him to establish The Knights of the Round Table, an order of nobility in which members will help the oppressed. A young knight, Lancelot (Franco Nero, who would go on to become Redgrave's real-life husband), ventures to merry 'ole England to join said order when Arthur's call reaches France's shores. Brave Lancelot quickly becomes the most celebrated of Arthur's knights. Guenevere, at 1st, resents his popularity, but after watching him seemingly breathe life into the body of a knight he had injured in a jousting match, her contempt turns to admiration ... and love. Despite their devotion for Arthur, Guenevere & Lancelot become clandestine lovers.
Arthur refuses to pay attention to the rumors circulating through his court & sends all those who debase Guenevere & Lancelot into exile. Arthur's illegitimate son, Mordred (David Hemmings), arrives at Camelot to seek declaration of his identity, but when refused, he snidely wins the aid of some knights in trapping Guenevere & Lancelot in a tryst. Lancelot evades them, but Guenevere is found guilty in a trial by jury & sentenced to be burned at the stake! Forced to support the ruling of his court, Arthur watches in grateful stillness when Lancelot rides in, rescues Guenevere, & carries her to safety. Guenevere enters a convent, and as Arthur & Lancelot prepare for battle, Arthur recalls woefully on the dream that was to have been ... Camelot.
Before I get to anything remotely negative, the 1st thing that must be mentioned is Lerner & Lowe's glorious music. Harris talk-sings very well to such songs as "I Wonder What the King Is Doing Tonight", "Camelot" & "What Do the Simple Folks Do?". Redgrave does well with "The Lusty Month of May", "Take Me to the Fair" & "I Loved You Once in Silence". And Nero's Lancelot croons the beautiful "If Ever I Would Leave You". There are other songs sung by the villainous Hemmings & Lionel Jeffries. And one other character to note in this musical is the mysterious sorcerer, Merlin (played by Laurence Naismith). I enjoyed that performance. But I missed portrayals of characters such as Morgana & Sir Galahad. But I digress.
Richard Harris replaced the wonderful Richard Burton {a bone of contention among many who adored the stage production}, and while he may be no Burton, Harris' interpretation of Arthur is super. Sure, he sings, but he thrives in the more dramatic segments -- he is the glue that holds the film together. Vanessa Redgrave replaced Julie Andrews {a bone of contention among many who adored the stage production}, but Andrews {who missed out on 1964's My Fair Lady, but got sweet revenge with Mary Poppins} succeeded with another movie musical in 1967 (Thoroughly Modern Millie), & Redgrave's performance is lovely on its own. And as Lancelot, Franco Nero replaced Robert Goulet; THAT was unfortunate.
Along with the songs & performances, the stand-out aspect of this production IS the visuals. Richard Kline's soft-lensed cinematography is a gauzy wonder. John Truscott's colorful, ornate costumes are incredible -- more than incredible. And the sets - whether indoor sound stages or outdoor locales - are out of this world; I'm reminded of the Throne Room where Arthur knights Lancelot, or the snowy outdoor wonderland. To say 'Camelot' is visually striking is an understatement. Director Joshua Logan (who also helmed South Pacific) had a big task in making us care for the characters, juggle the epic story, & tend to the music. This project took 2 yrs. to complete, but for Logan & adoring audiences, it seems that it was all worth it.
On the whole, I enjoy of 'Camelot' what I do. That said, I DO believe the running time to be somewhat exorbitant. The pacing goes off, at times. And the weight of the rich production smothers the script. Logan & his writers pared down some of the magical & political components to the story to focus on the romantic melodrama {Arthur & his internal struggles concerning his wife's infidelity with his good friend}. Paring down is good, but then, some bite was also taken out of the story. Still, despite my issues with it, 'Camelot' can be best enjoyed as a character-driven movie with lavish imagery, glamour, romance, comedy, tragedy & some scintillating music. It may not contain the greatness of the stage production, but it'll do jussst fine.