Arthur the King (1985) (TV)

User Rating:

4.1/10   

Director:

Clive Donner

Writers:

David Wyles (writer)
John Smith (narration)

Genre:

Adventure | Fantasy | Mystery | Romance

Plot:

Classic tale of King Arthur and how his wife is kidnapped by his evil sister. Lancelot is sent out to...

Plot Keywords:

Love | King | Lancelot | King Arthur | Magic

Cast

Malcolm McDowell	...	King Arthur
Candice Bergen	...	Morgan Le Fay
Edward Woodward	...	Merlin
Dyan Cannon	...	Katherine
Joseph Blatchley	...	Mordred
Rupert Everett	...	Lancelot
Rosalyn Landor	...	Guinevere
Liam Neeson	...	Grak
Patrick Ryecart	...	Gawain
Philip Sayer	...	Agravain
Ann Thornton	...	Lady Ragnell
Lucy Gutteridge	...	Niniane
Denis Lill	...	King Pellinore
John Quarmby	...	Sir Kai
Michael Gough	...	Archbishop

Also Known As:

Merlin & the Sword (USA) (video title)
Merlin and the Sword (Philippines: English title) (theatrical title)

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA | Yugoslavia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Comworld Productions

Trivia:

Barry Stokes, Garry Sundquist , Richard Heffer and Lambert Wilson were all possibles for Lancelot.

Movie Connections:

Version of Knights of the Round Table (1953)

This is the second review of this movie

Yes, I've watched it again in 2004 and it did not age well. I was mostly looking for the Gawain/Lady Ragnell story line which I 'remembered' as being wonderful. It's probably the only redeeming part of this movie aside from Edward Woodward's performance. The basic plot has an American tourist (Dyan Cannon) visiting Stonehedge, falling into a hole and suddenly being in the presence of Merlin (Woodward) and Ninnian.

As Merlin and Ninnian explain how they come to be trapped under Stonehenge we see flashbacks of Arthur (Malcom McDowell) and Guinevere along with Lancelot (Rupert Everett looking VERY young). Candice Bergen is there as Morgan Lefaye in a wig that is NOT to be believed. Mostly it's an abysmal job. The fight scenes between the knights are poorly edited. Seeing Liam Neeson as 'Grak' is almost worth the cost of microwave popcorn tho.

Patrick Ryecart's story line subplot at Gawain was edited with a hacksaw in this movie. I do not remember it being so back in 1985 when I originally watched it on television. What butchery! If you want a laugh at nonexistent special effects then this is your movie. I bought it for 99cents on ebay and while it satisfied my curiosity...boy is it a stinker!