Filmography for Excalibur

Filmography for Excalibur (1981) Goforth/Campbell

Dir. John Boorman. Perf. Nigel Therry, Helen Mirren, Nicholas Clay,

Cheri Lunghi, Paul Geoffrey, and Nicol Williamson. Le Morte d’Arthur by

Thomas Malory. Adaptation and Screenplay by Rospo Pallenberg. 1981. DVD.

Warner Brothers, 1999.

IMBD: http://www.imbd.com/title/tt0082348
Script: http://www.dandalf.com/excaliburscript.html

Actors:

Nigel Terry as King Arthur

Helen Mirren as Morgana

Nicholas Clay as Lancelot

Cherie Lunghi as Guenevere

Paul Geoffrey as Percival

Nicol Williamson as Merlin

Robert Addie as Mordred

Gabriel Byrne as Uther Pendragon

Keith Buckley as Uryens

Katrine Boorman as Igrayne

Liam Neeson as Gawain

Corin Redgrave as Cornwall

Niall O’Brien as Kay

Patrick Stewart as Leondegrance

Reviews:

Ebert, Roger. Rev. of Excalibur, dir. John Boorman. Roger Ebert.com. 1 Jan. 1981.

18 June 2008.

<http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19810101/REVIEWS/101010322/1023>.

http://www.imbd.com/title/tt0082348/usercomments

http://www.movieeye.com/reviews/read_movie_review/166.html

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ecalibur

http://www.flixster.com/movie/excalibur

Suggested Readings:

Capellanus, Andreas. “The Art of Courtly Love.” De Arte Honeste Amandi, Book Two:

On the Rules of Love (1186). Medieval Sourcebook. 5 Feb 2008

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/capellanus.html

http://www.malory.net/bio_%20frame.htm

http://www.malory.net

Shenton, Caroline. “Royal interest in Glastonbury and Cadbury: Two Arthurian

Itineries, 1270 and 1331.” The English Historical Review. 114.459 (Nov.,

1999):1249-1255. JSTOR. 22June, 2008. <www.jstor.org/search>.

Link to Shenton’s Article:

http://0-www.jstor.org.library.winthrop.edu/stable/pdfplus/580247.pdf

Williams, Edith Whitehurst. “Morgan Le Fee as Trickster in ‘Sir Gawain and the Green

Knight.’” Folklore. 96.1 (1985): 38-56. JSTOR. 19 June, 2008.

<www.jstor.org/search>.

Link to Williams’ Article:

http://0-www.jstor.org.library.winthrop.edu/stable/pdfplus/1259903.pdf

Interesting Trivia from IMDB.com

IMDB.com. 2008. Internet Movie Database. 20 June 2008

<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082348/trivia>.

Questions:

- In director John Boorman’s film, Excalibur, Merlin is portrayed as an individual with magical abilities. However, he also has a tendency to do things that do not seem to support his image as a powerful sorcerer. Why do you think that Boorman chose to allow the audience to witness this side of Merlin? How does it alter your view of the character?

- In your opinion, does Excalibur portray the Middle Ages and the Arthurian mythology in an accurate manner? Why or why not?

- In this film representation, do you see King Arthur as an individual who brought about his on destruction? Why or why not?

- Merlin states that “the dragon is everywhere and everything.” When Arthur discovers Lancelot and Guenevere asleep side by side in the forest, he plunges Excalibur into the ground between them. Merlin cries out “Excalibur has been driven into the spine of the dragon.” What do you believe the dragon is?

- Before Arthur and Guenevere wed, the knights wear armour that is dull, with the exception of Lancelot. When Arthur and Guenevere wed, the knights are in shining armour for the duration of the film. Mordred’s knights wear black armour. What do you feel is the significance of this?

- Merlin claims “Excalibur is to be used to heal, not hack.” After discovering Excalibur between himself and Guenevere after their night of bliss, Lancelot franticly cries out “the King without a sword, the land without a King.” Arthur states “Excalibur should be used to unite all men, not serve the vanity of one.” Do you feel Excalibur causes division amongst the knights, unites them, or both?