The Mists of Avalon (2001) (TV)

Director:

Uli Edel

Writers (WGA):

Marion Zimmer Bradley (novel)
Gavin Scott (teleplay)

Release Date:

15 July 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy

Tagline:

Passion. Mysticism. Adventure. Journey beyond the legend of Camelot.

Plot:

Based on the bestseller by Marion Zimmer Bradley It tells the story of the women behind King Arthur; including his mother...

Plot Keywords:

King Arthur | Arthurian Legend | Sister | Brother Sister Relationship | Incest

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Anjelica Huston	...	Vivianne
Julianna Margulies	...	Morgaine
Joan Allen	...	Morgause
Samantha Mathis	...	Gwenwyfar
Caroline Goodall	...	Igraine
Edward Atterton	...	Arthur
Michael Vartan	...	Lancelot
Michael Byrne	...	Merlin
Hans Matheson	...	Mordred
Mark Lewis Jones	...	Uther
Clive Russell	...	Gorlois
Tamsin Egerton	...	Young Morgaine
Christopher Fulford	...	Lot
David Calder	...	Uriens
Hugh Ross	...	Bishop Patricius

Also Known As:

Die Nebel von Avalon (Germany)

Runtime:

183 min | 60 min (3 episodes)

Country:

Czech Republic | Germany | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

Brazil:14 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 | Spain:13 | USA:Unrated | Malaysia:(Banned) | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Prague, Czech Republic

Company:

Constantin Film Produktion

Trivia:

Last film role for Edward Jewesbury.

Goofs:

Continuity: There is a noticeable difference in the location of the tattoo on Viviane's forehead between where she is telling Igraine the children must be taken away and when Morgaine and Arthur are separated.

Quotes:

Lancelot: The King himself asked me into his bed, with the Queen.
Morgaine: All *three* of you?

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#27.9)" (2002)

Soundtrack:

The Mystic's Dream

Barely based on a marvelous book

Now, to be fair, I just reread the book and had such high hopes for this adaptation that I was probably bound to be disappointed. Gwen, asking if she can spend some time in Avalon with Lance? The sword in the stone? Uther built Camelot? Baby Arthur's freaky cornrows? Why not have Arthur recognize Morgaine at his kingmaking? Is being a priestess all about starting fires with your eyes, controlling the weather, and casting hexes on your enemies?

So I had a really hard time reconciling the characters in my head with what I was seeing on the screen. I really should just have myself cryogenically frozen until the Fellowship of the Ring comes out in December. I'm confident that *that's* going to be done right, and I take things like this mistreatment (my humble, Mists-of-Avalon-freak opinion) of one of my favorite books of all time waaaaay too personally.

I honestly could go on and on and on, but I think I sufficiently vented last night with my similarly upset friends. I could hear MZB whirling around in her grave.