"A dream to some. A nightmare to others!"I've just finished rewatching John Boorman's hopelessly dated yet somehow still marvellously evocative take on the Arthurian legend and 'the matter of Britain', Excalibur.
This epic, operatic film was released in 1981, which given that I saw it in its original cinematic release, means I was probably only 14 at the time. In retrospect, that was the perfect age at which to witness this story of knights, villainy, love and tragedy.
The grandeur and passion of Excalibur have stayed with me to this day, and tonight I found myself mouthing certain lines even as I quietly laughed at the production design or the flawed over-dubbing of certain actors; and moved to tears even as I was marvelling at the early screen appearances of the likes of Gabriel Byrne (Uther), Patrick Stewart (Leondegrance), Liam Neeson (Gawain) and Helen Mirren (Morgana).
Without a doubt, though, my favourite actor - and character - in the film is Nicol Williamson's scenery-chewing turn as the magaician, Merlin (pictured above). Williamson's remarkable intonation imbues his lines and character with such life, that it has stayed with me until this very day. It was such a delight to watch the film again, even though (especially in comparison to The Lord of Rings, which Boorman allegedly had wanted to to make instead of this film) its battle scenes lack vigour and scale, and its screenplay condenses so much of the action that the viewer's only real attachment is with the story itself rather than any of its characters.
I've had a passion for the Arthurian legends for as long as I can remember, which is probably the fault of Enid Blyton - I seem to recall reading her retelling of the core Arthurian stories about the same time I first read of Robin Hood, circa grade three, in 1974, aged seven or eight. Thinking about it, I can even remember the name of the Blyton book in question: Tales of Bold Adventure. I wonder if it's still in print?
And even at that tender age, I am also aware that I was totally fixated upon the male characters of the stories - I wanted to don green tights and dwell in Sherwood Forest with Robin Hood and his Merry Men; or ride alongside Sir Lancelot and King Arthur, without the likes of Maid Marion and Queen Guenevere getting in the way.
Boys' own adventures indeed!
5 comments:
I count Excalibur as my favourite film, though there's competition for that rating nowadays.
The birth scene in that film is amazing, and somehow Boorman manage to pick exactly the right music ... I don't think I really understood Wagner's 'Siegfriend Funeral Music' until it was used in the film.
It's full of odd, strange, captivating images, but the weirdest and most captivating has to be the shot of the boy Mordred, wearing glittering golden armour, riding through a ruined landscape full of dead bodies, laughing. That's stuck with me ever since I first saw the film. And then there are the sex scenes ... can you say 'twisted'? They were that. Arthur's mother was played by Boorman's wife!
I did not know that Boorman wanted to make the LOTR; perhaps it was better this way, as the Arthurian stories are brilliant, but LOTR's greatness is disputable.
Boorman made an engrossing documentary called 'I Dreamt I Woke Up' which in large part deals with the Jungian/Freudian themes and subtexts in Excalibur. Well worth watching, if you can find it.
Are they selling Excalibur on DVD anywhere? I want it! My video copy is in Newcastle!
Boyhood fantasies - I always wanted to be Miss Moneypenny and have Sean Connery take me right there on the desk.....
timt - yes, it's avalaible on DVD, although I picked mine up secondhand at Smack Converters. Excalibur was the film that first got me in to classical music - within a year I owned the entire Ring cycle...
evol kween - you wouldn't be the first to have that fantasy, I suspect!
I snuck into Excalibur when it came out at the cinema even though I wasn't the required age of 14. Having already wept buckets after reading The Once and Future King.
Oh, I haven't read The Once and Future King for years, Dan. Thanks for reminding me - I think it might be time to revisit that particular version of The Matter of Britain....
Post a Comment