Search - Camelot on DVD

MPAA Rating: G Content Advisory: Questionable for Children Movie Release: 1967 DVD Release: 07/29/1998 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 3 hrs 0 mins Studio: Warner Home Video Members Wishing: 37 Genres: Musical, Musical Romance

Joshua Logan directs this lavish version of the Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe Broadway success with Richard Harris, Vanessa Redgrave, and Franco Nero in the lead roles originally portrayed on Broadway by Richard Burton, Julie Andrews, and Robert Goulet. The musical, based on T.H. White's The Once and Future King, chronicles the legend of King Arthur (Richard Harris) and his tortured love affair with his queen Guenevere (Vanessa Redgrave). Arthur first encounters Guenevere, on the day of their wedding, in the enchanted forest surrounding Camelot. After the wedding, Arthur's bliss at his marriage to the lovely Guenevere prompts him to establish the Knights of the Round Table, a lofty order of chivalry in which all the member knights are bound by a desire the help the oppressed, keeping faith with trust and honor. Such is the fame of the Knights of the Round Table that a young French knight, Lancelot Du Lac (Franco Nero), seeks to join the order. Lancelot quickly becomes the most celebrated of all the knights, and Guenevere, aloof at first, falls in love with him. Although both have a deep love for Arthur, their passion knows no bounds, and they begin an illicit love affair behind Arthur's back. Arthur ignores the rumors circling around him, but when his illegitimate son, Mordred (David Hemmings) arrives at Camelot, he exposes Lancelot and Guenevere during a tryst. Lancelot escapes, but Guenevere is sentenced to be burned at the stake. Lancelot rescues her at the last minute, and Arthur prepares for battle, his dreams of an idealistic Camelot shattered. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

Richard Harris - King Arthur
Vanessa Redgrave - Guenevere
Franco Nero - Lancelot Du Lac
David Hemmings - Mordred
Lionel Jeffries - King Pellinore

Lush sets, lush costumes, and a sublime score mark Camelot, the 1967 big-budget musical film adapted from the stage. The film's score won an Academy Award, and Richard Harris won a Golden Globe in 1968 for his portrayal of King Arthur. The costumes are sensational, as are the larger-than-life sets, and this DVD format brings them marvelously to life. The film is presented in a letterboxed widescreen format, with totally remastered Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. Subtitles are available in English, French, and Spanish. The soundtrack is also available on its own, but not in other languages. The picture quality is excellent, bringing out many details in the castle and the other sumptuous sets. The sound rendering adds much to this version, even though none of the actors is really a singer. The score by Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner is grander than the singers, by far.
This new release also contains some great bonus material. There are two documentaries, "The Story of Camelot" and "Camelot World Premiere." It also includes production notes, bios, information on the cast and crew, and five theatrical trailers. There is also a brief discussion of the legend of King Arthur that this show was first based on. The bonus material offers an extra treat for fans of this movie and shouldn't be missed. ~ Sherril Steele-Carlin, All Movie Guide