I watched this merry movie the other day and enjoyed it
immensely, even though it was about the hundreth time I'd seen it.
It's a wonderful 'family' movie, in that it isn't offensive or overlong-
it's fun. My favourite part has to be the song "busy doing nothing", sung by
the unlikely trio of Bing Crosby, Cedric Hardwicke and William
Bendix (the first and last time they ever sang together!). There are nice touches all the way through, including the 'echoes'
every time king Arthur requests something: "MORE HOT WATER! . . . more hot water. . ." Or "CLOSE THE DOOR! . . .close the door. . ."
to which Murvyn Vye's Merlin replies, "the door closeth sire." While we are on the subject of Merlin, I'm surprised that with a
voice like his he didn't appear in more of Hollywood's costumers.
I've only ever seen him in one other film, and that was 'Green Fire'
(1955). Of course, I have to mention William Bendix's portrayal of 'Saggy' or
sir Sagramore. He turns up in Bing Crosby's prison cell
shame-faced and apologetic for calling him (Crosby) a dragon and
says the following: Saggy: If only there were ought we could do. Crosby: Well, ain't there ought? Saggy: Nought. Whoever heard of a knight of the round table with a thick Brooklyn
accent?! I usually detest musicals but this, along with 'White Christmas', is
an exception. The duet between Rhonda Fleming and Bing Crosby
('Once and for always') is brilliant. It's hilarious when he says she's
pretty, to which she replies enthusiatically, "oh, thou art pretty too
sire!" and he, looking round apprehensively says, "no, say I'm cute
or something!"
