The Black Knight (1954)

As a blacksmith John can't hope to win the hand of Linet, daughter of the Earl of Yeonil. Off he goes to prove himself a noble knight. He makes himself a suit of armor with a winged chicken... See full summary »

Director:

Tay Garnett

Writers:

Alec Coppel (original screenplay), Dennis O'Keefe (additional dialogue),

Stars:

Alan Ladd, Patricia Medina, André Morell

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alan Ladd	...	John
Patricia Medina	...	Linet
André Morell	...	Sir Ontzlake (as Andre Morell)
Harry Andrews	...	Earl Of Yeonil
Peter Cushing	...	Sir Palamides
Anthony Bushell	...	King Arthur
Laurence Naismith	...	Major Domo
Patrick Troughton	...	King Mark
Bill Brandon	...	Bernard
Ronald Adam	...	The Abbot
Basil Appleby	...	Sir Hal
Tommy Moore	...	The Apprentice (as Thomas Moore)
Jean Lodge	...	Queen Guenevere
Pauline Jameson	...	Lady Yeonil
John Kelly	...	The Woodchopper

Storyline

As a blacksmith John can't hope to win the hand of Linet, daughter of the Earl of Yeonil. Off he goes to prove himself a noble knight. He makes himself a suit of armor with a winged chicken helmet and runs around fighting for King Arthur as the Black Knight. Evil doings include plots by visiting kings and a Druid sacrificial ceremony at Stonehenge.

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Plot Keywords:

king | knight | king arthur | blacksmith | stonehenge | 

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Genres:

Adventure

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 August 1954 (UK)

Also Known As:

Le serment du chevalier noir

Filming Locations:

Black Park, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warwick Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Conspirators King Mark of Cornwall and Sir Palamides are both played by future "Doctor Who"s: Patrick Troughton would take the role on television in 1966-69, whilst Peter Cushing portrayed the big-screen version in two mid-'60s Dalek films.

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Goofs

At the close King Arthur bids his trumpets sound, and the attendants impressively move in unison to do so. Examination of the guttering brazier flames behind them reveal that the film was simply reversed to obtain the effect.

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Connections

Referenced in Cubby Broccoli: The Man Behind Bond (2000)

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Soundtracks

"The Bold, Black Knight"
Ballad
Music by Leo Maguire
Lyrics composed and sung by Elton Hayes

User Reviews

In a class of its own, (thank heavens!)

If you are looking for the epitome of "it's so awful, I cannot look away" movies, then this has got to be it! Everything is just dire, (except Peter Cushing as the baddie, (although he must have spent many an hour focusing on his coming fee rather than trying to think of his role - as a Saracen knight at the court of King Arhur (?????))). Alan Ladd's 'acting' is on a par with the 'plot', (if you can find it), and both are upstaged by the costumes, (especially the knights' or 'Vikings'' helmets, adorned with more horns, heraldic beasts and other appendages than a Victorian coat-stand). The real things not to miss, (in between either collapsing in hopeless fits of giggling or nodding off entirely, (and I could only watch my recording from the television in something like six (short) takes)), are the 'set pieces', especially the 'Virgin Sacrifice' scene at 'Stonehenge' - a good 25 years before Monty Python, but indescribably funnier than anything Cleese and his chaps could ever have thought up. Words can only go so far in describing a turkey of this magnitude, so if you are a fan of Mel Brooks-type spoofs and want a taste of something way beyond spoofing, set the VCR to record this one the next time it is on television, (as I cannot imagine any VHS or DVD distributor in their right mind ever putting this one up for sale), grab a bucket of popcorn, a box of tissues, (for when you collapse in laughter at frequent points), and go for it when you need a lift.