Lancelot of the Lake (1974) Lancelot du Lac (original title)

Director:

Robert Bresson

Writer:

Robert Bresson (written by)

Release Date:

26 September 1974 (France)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | War

Plot:

A million miles away from 'Camelot' or 'Excalibur', this film ruthlessly strips the Arthurian legend down to its barest essentials...

Plot Keywords:

Knight | Legend | Decapitation | Horse | Bathing

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Luc Simon	...	Lancelot du Lac
Laura Duke Condominas	...	La Reine (The Queen)
Humbert Balsan	...	Gauvain
Vladimir Antolek-Oresek	...	Le Roi (The King)
Patrick Bernhard	...	Mordred (as Patrick Bernard)
Arthur De Montalembert	...	Lionel
Charles Balsan
Christian Schlumberger
Joseph-Patrick Le Quidre
Jean-Paul Leperlier
Marie-Louise Buffet
Marie-Gabrielle Cartron
Antoine Rabaud
Jean-Marie Becar
Guy de Bernis
Philippe Chleq

Directed by
Robert Bresson

Writing credits
Robert Bresson		(written by)

Produced by
Jean-Pierre Rassam	....	producer
François Rochas	....	producer
Jean Yanne	....	producer
Alfredo Bini	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Philippe Sarde

Cinematography by
Pasqualino De Santis		(director of photography) (as Pasqualino de Santis)

Film Editing by
Germaine Artus		(as Germaine Lamy)

Production Design by
Pierre Charbonnier

Set Decoration by
Jean Boulet

Makeup Department
Éliane Marcus	....	key makeup artist (as Eliane Marcus)

Production Management
Michel Choquet	....	production manager
Philippe Lièvre	....	unit manager (as Philippe Lievre)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert Baroody	....	second assistant director
Gilles Berault	....	second assistant director
Bernard Cohn	....	second assistant director
Mylène Van der Mersch	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Pierre Cadiou	....	assistant production designer
Michel Suné	....	property master (as Michel Sune)

Sound Department
Bernard Bats	....	sound engineer
Jacques Carrère	....	sound mixer (as Jacques Carrere)
Daniel Couteau	....	foley recordist
Bernard Rochut	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Alain Bryce	....	special effects
Leslie Gilles	....	special effects assistant

Stunts
Yvan Chiffre	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Jean Chiabaut	....	camera operator
Mario Cimini	....	camera operator
Jacques Dorot	....	assistant camera
Dominique Le Rigoleur	....	assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Raymonde Ventura	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Arlette Lalande	....	assistant editor

Music Department
William Flageollet	....	music engineer

Other crew
Claude Bertonazzi	....	administrator
Robert Chevereau	....	administrator
Blanche Cochet	....	production secretary
Geneviève Cortier	....	script girl
Jean Pieuchot	....	general manager

Production Companies

• Mara Films
• Laser Production (as Laser Productions)
• Office de Radiodiffusion Télévision Française (ORTF) (as O. R. T. F.)
• Gerico Sound (co-production)

Distributors

• Gaumont (1974) (worldwide) (all media)
• Compagnie Française de Distribution Cinématographique (CFDC) (1974) (France) (theatrical)
• MK2 Éditions (2005) (France) (DVD)
• Kinokuniya (2008) (Japan) (DVD) (box-set)
• New Yorker Films (1975) (USA) (subtitled)
• New Yorker Video (USA) (VHS)
• Prodimag (2006) (Spain) (DVD)
• Uniportugal (Portugal)

Other Companies

• Éditions Yanne  music publisher
• Grès  costumes
• Cartier  jewelry
• Carita  hair styling
• Eastman Color  tour print (as Eastmancolor)
• Paris Studios Cinéma  auditorium (as Paris-Studio-Cinema)
• Éclair  laboratory
• CTR  titles

Also Known As:

"Lancelot du Lac" - France (original title)

Runtime:

Hong Kong:85 min | Argentina:88 min | USA:85 min | France:85 min

Country:

France | Italy

Language:

French

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Portugal:M/12 | UK:PG | Argentina:13 | Australia:M

Company:

Mara Films

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Love on the Run (1979)

not for the mainstream film viewers

I'll start my comment with my comments on the other comments :) The exaggerated blood spurts is of course ridiculous and I believe was meant to be. This is also what Monty Python parodied, not the other way around as others had put it. And why else would they not? It's transcendental! The actors looking like rockstars ... good thing it's vogue in the 70s and besides, the setting is the medieval period its fitting. What do they want, spikes and high crew cuts? And the complaint about the expressionless actors, I rather think that it is because the drama is in the emotions that the viewers feel for the characters.

And now for my film comments... maybe because I have such a penchant for the medieval period and familiar with the legend that I wholly liked it. And sure I found many symbolisms which I did not understand but I certainly did see the beauty. I loved the way it was filmed, the costumes, the speech, the passion... yes passion! For instance, Gawain/Guvain's devotion to Lancelot and yet remained loyal to the king. I didn't mind the repetitious cuts/editing style as I'm sure they have meanings for which I am still yet to uncover. And gladly I will.

The only complaint I have (yes, I also have a nit-pick but it's minimal *wink*) Lancelot looked a lot older than King Arthur. He's supposed to be this strapping man! Anyway, that is easy to get over with. This film is certainly something that I would love to watch again. Read PTA-fan's review and maybe you'll learn something you may have failed to see. I know I did.