Excalibur (1981)

Réalisateur:

John Boorman

Scénaristes:

Thomas Malory (book)
Rospo Pallenberg (adaptation)

Date de sortie:

10 avril 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Aventure | Drame | Fantasy

Accroche:

No mortal could possess it! No kingdom could command it!

Intrigue:

A spirited accounting of one of the most obscure periods of the world's history. This reprisal is magical in its execution and gives its audience something to watch.

Plot Keywords:

Knight | Excalibur | Sword | King | Evil

Récompenses:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 9 nominations

Avis des utilisateurs:

Excellent battle scenes. Well worth seeing.

Ensemble

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

Autre(s) titre(s):

The Knights (USA) (working title)

Durée:

140 min | USA:119 min (edited version)

Pays:

USA | UK

Langue:

Anglais

Couleur:

Couleur (Technicolor)

Rapport de forme:

1,85 : 1

Son:

Mono

Classification:

Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Iceland:12 | Sweden:15 | Germany:12 (DVD rating) | South Korea:15 (cable rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | Ireland:15 | Singapore:M18 | UK:15 | USA:PG (cut) | USA:R | West Germany:12 (f)

Lieux de tournage:

County Kerry, Ireland

Société:

Orion Pictures Corporation

Anecdotes:

United Artists told John Boorman that he could cast anyone as Merlin except Nicol Williamson.

Goofs:

micro visible: Boom mike reflected King Arthur's armour.

Guillemet:

Merlin: He who draws the sword from the stone, he shall be king. Arthur, you're the one.

Connexions De Film:

Référencé sur Death Wish II (1982)

Bande son:

Prelude to Tristan and Isolde

Excellent battle scenes. Well worth seeing.

John Boorman's semi-adaptation of La Morte D'Arthur may come as something of a surprise, albeit a pleasant one, as the usually glamorised and fanciful tale is furnished in grimly realistic fashion. The armour, weapons and castles all look very authentic, and indeed it is in the battle sequences that the film excels, especially due to the stirring music selected to accompany each pivotal scene.

Purists will doubtless find plenty to frown and ‘tut' about, but doing justice to the Arthurian legends in film is a monumental task and Boorman delivers a true classic. Acting is fine, although dialogue is shouted more than spoke, and delivered with all the subtlety of a flanged mace. Nicol Williamson stands out in particular as the creepy Merlin, but it's fun to see Helen Mirren, Patrick Stewart and Liam Neeson paving their ways to future stardom.

Of course, if the film has any reputation at all it is with its vicious battle scenes, which are still gory even today. They are, it has to be said, very welcome, because without the depictions of desperate, hand-to-hand battle, you might start comparing it with First Knight – which would be something close to sacrilege.

My older DVD copy looks fine but sounds a bit tinny, so it's with some annoyance I see there's a special edition out now, which presumably has had the full restoration work done on it. If you haven't seen Excalibur but have an interest in the subject (and hated First Knight), you should certainly give it a try.