Excalibur (1981)

Note Générale:

7,4/10   

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:

The best rendition of the Arthur legend

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:

A fake crane shot was done during the discussion about creating the round table. It was achieved by walking back on a raised platform.

Goofs:

élément de l'intrigue manquant: Although the film's tagline says "Forged by a God," in fact, Excalibur is said in the movie to be a fang of the Earth Dragon; as such, the blade would have been carved - not forged - from the original fang.

Guillemet:

Uther: [Uther is dying after being ambushed] No-one shall wield Excalibur but me!
[drives Excalibur into the stone as he dies]
Merlin: [casting a spell] Whoever pulls the sword from the stone, he shall be king!
[looking at the infant Arthur]
Merlin: You, Arthur, you are the one.

Connexions:

Référencé sur "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Catalina Caper (#3.4)" (1990)

Bande son:

Siegfried's Funeral March from The Ring

The best rendition of the Arthur legend

This is certainly the best version of the Arthur legend there is. The worst thing about new versions of old British legends are the fact they are often made by and starring Americans, and they often don't even make an attempt at a English accent (First Knight, Prince of Thieves etc) and these make them seem really stupid.

Merlin was a decent enough series, but a little too kiddy and straying from the works of Mallory.

The acting is rock solid, the effects although poor (it's 1981, let's be fair) don't really matter since they aren't integral to the story. This is about a quest and magic and swords and knights, not about special effects.

I own it on video and watch it now and again, and I hope that if Boorman ever makes Knight's Castle that he brings back Nicol Williamson as Merlin, because he's just too good in that role (despite the fact he must be really getting on by now).

Watch the movie, enjoy the legend!