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    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Movies»Movies by Decade»Movies - 1980s
    Movies - 1980s Movies - E 2 Mins Read

    Excalibur (1981)

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    This vivid and passionate telling of the Arthurian legend from director John Boorman is a thoroughly convincing visualisation of the Knights of the Round Table myth within Dark Ages history.

    The legendary tale of King Arthur (Nigel Terry) is seen through the eyes of the wizard Merlin (Nicol Williamson).

    How the simple peasant Arthur drew the sword Excalibur from the stone and became King. How he built the kingdom of Camelot, married Guenevere (Cherie Lunghi) and formed the order of the round table with Lancelot (Nicholas Clay), his true knight in shining armour.

    All is well in Camelot until lust and greed get in the way . . .

    Lancelot falls for Queen Guenevere, and both betray Arthur while Mordred (Robert Addie), Arthur’s illegitimate son, plans to kill him and claim the throne.

    Masterfully intermingling fable and magic with a gritty reality, Boorman explores the cosmic duality of good versus evil, paganism versus Christianity, mighty Merlin versus malevolent sorceress Morgana (Helen Mirren), with eccentric élan.

    excalibur

    The film is magnificently photographed, and the battle scenes are always spectacular.

    The search for the Holy Grail and the final battle are simply stunning sequences, and, while the dizzying pace leaves scant time for proper characterisation, Nicol Williamson, Nigel Terry and Helen Mirren (pictured) make their mark.

    In the US, Excalibur opened to rave reviews and record-breaking box office takings and in Cannes, the film was shown to wild acclaim.

    King Arthur
    Nigel Terry
    Morgana
    Helen Mirren
    excalibur_002Merlin
    Nicol Williamson
    Lancelot
    Nicholas Clay
    Guenevere
    Cherie Lunghi
    Perceval
    Paul Geoffrey
    Mordred
    Robert Addie
    Uther Pendragon
    Gabriel Byrne
    Uryens
    Keith Buckley
    Igrayne
    Katrine Boorman
    Gawain
    Liam Neeson
    Duke of Cornwall
    Corin Redgrave
    Kay
    Niall O’Brien
    Leondegrance
    Patrick Stewart

    Director
    John Boorman

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