First Knight (1995)

Director:

Jerry Zucker

Writers (WGA):

Lorne Cameron (story) &
David Hoselton (story) ...

Release Date:

7 July 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Their greatest battle would be for her love.

Plot:

Lancelot falls in love with Guinevere, who is due to be married to King Arthur. Meanwhile, a violent warlord tries to seize power from Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.

Plot Keywords:

Box Office Flop | King Arthur | Legend | Sword Fight | Adultery

Cast

Sean Connery	...	King Arthur
Richard Gere	...	Lancelot
Julia Ormond	...	Guinevere
Ben Cross	...	Prince Malagant
Liam Cunningham	...	Agravaine
Christopher Villiers	...	Sir Kay
Valentine Pelka	...	Sir Patrise
Colin McCormack	...	Sir Mador
Ralph Ineson	...	Ralf
John Gielgud	...	Oswald
Stuart Bunce	...	Peter, King's Stableman
Jane Robbins	...	Elise
Jean Marie Coffey	...	Petronella
Paul Kynman	...	Mark
Tom Lucy	...	Sir Sagramore

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some brutal medieval battles.

Runtime:

134 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby | SDDS

Certification:

Philippines:PG-13 | Iceland:12 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | South Korea:15 | Netherlands:12 | France:Unrated | South Korea:12 (DVD rating) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #33590) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Finland:K-14 | Germany:12 (w) | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:15 | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Ashridge Park, Little Gaddesden, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Mel Gibson was attached to this project at one stage.

Goofs:

Continuity: Guinevere's dress strap after it is ripped by Maligant.

Quotes:

Malagant: Self-sacrifice is very easy. It's having to sacrifice someone you love that puts your convictions to the test.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Game K N B: (2006-11-28)" (2006)

- NOT for purists - Arthurian Bizarre Love Triangle

In general, I enjoyed this film. I like the Arthurian legends, Sean Connery, Julia Ormond and Richard Gere. And I am not a purist of any kind. If you can not tolerate updating, improvisation and revision of your favorite myths and legends, avoid this film at all costs. Excalibur is a very minor character, most of the knights of the round table are treated interchangeably, Camelot is depicted as a libertarian/democratic utopia, and the events of the legend are somewhat rearranged. Gere does not even affect a British accent, let alone Medieval expression. And where is Morgana and her son? A few aspects of this radical revision of the legend of Arthur, Guinevere and Lancelot bothered me - I thought Gere did an admirable job as Lancelot, but also thought that he was terribly miscast. Gere is as American as cheeseburgers and has limited physical acting ability. However, he managed to handle the action scenes quite well - with some help from the camera and director, and his accent and mannerisms did - if perhaps too much so - emphasize his difference from most of Arthur's milieu.

Ormond steals the show. Connery brings his usual dose of regal manliness and that classic voice to a charismatic and powerful portrayal of Arthur, and Gere is anomalous, a little humorous and disorienting, but charmingly human. The film is nicely shot, though there are too many close-up exploitations of star-power. The editing and directing are fine, but note the comments about Gere above.

The basics of the story are as follows - Guinevere (Ormond) is a young lady of Lioness whose marginal lands are threatened by upstart Prince Malagart. Malagart is out to prove that Arthur's way, and Camelot itself, are an aberration. Lancelot - a drifter with a knack for sword fighting - rescues Guinevere from an ambush launched on her wedding caravan and is immediately smitten. Whether out of love or honor, Lancelot helps her to regain her escort and he runs off into the woods and his itinerant lifestyle. Guinevere marries Arthur and Arthur plans to defend her lands. Lancelot resurfaces and gets himself placed at the round table, but his motives are suspect.

All three of the protagonists are in love with each other for one reason or another and the battle scenes are not half as moving as the dynamics of their relationships.

Recommended for romantics. Not recommended for purists or action fans.