Violence/Gore: Even the most brutal battle sequences show no hint of blood. Many knights and Picts are killed with the tried and true school play method of thrusting a large wooden prop sword between their arm and chest. It’s so innocent, you can’t help but smile.

Sex/Nudity: The tension between Guinevere and Lancelot is palpable but extremely chaste in its presentation.

Best Line: “Without you, I endure life. With you, I rejoice in it.” (Merlin to Arthur)

Score:

Stagy without being static, melodramatic without tipping over into laughable theatrics, and colorful without indulging in the excesses of, say, an Errol Flynn Robin Hood adventure, KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE is a delightful exploration of the Arthurian legend as seen through the lens of MGM’s Golden Age style of filmmaking. But while it attempts to take advantage of the new aspect ratio of Cinemascope (this was MGM’s first widescreen production in fact), the movie never seems to achieve the full level of epic grandeur implied by either the subject matter or the behind-the-scenes aspirations of the film studio.

Still, it’s a successful spectacle all the same, making do with an occasionally awkward mix of location shooting and stage-bound backdrop settings to cover the familiar King Arthur stories. It’s all here: the sword in the stone; the treachery of Morgan Le Fay and Modred; the wisdom of Merlin; the love triangle between Lancelot, Guinevere and Arthur that ultimately dooms the utopia of Camelot; and even a bit of the quest for the Holy Grail.

There’s a rushed quality to some of it, but the cast give it their all. Robert Taylor’s stilted performance, precision-coiffed looks and lack of a British accent are overcome by the fierce conviction with which he plays Lancelot, and although Ava Gardner never really gets a chance to break out of a limited role, her Guinevere is nevertheless sufficiently regal and believeable as a woman torn between duty to her king and her love for the dashing knight who once saved her life. Mel Ferrer’s King Arthur is similarly convincing as a leader around which a nation would rally. Bit players like an uncredited Desmond Llewelyn ("Q” from the Bond films) and Dana Wynter of INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS fame fill out the large cast.

Interestingly, this version eschews any of the fantasy elements often included in other interpretations, so Merlin and Morgan are both cunning manipulators but otherwise normal human beings with no magical powers. Even the significance of Excalibur and the divine calling that sends Percival to seek the Grail are downplayed…at least until the admittedly cheesy ending when God’s light shines down on an empty Round Table and the kneeling forms of Percival and Lancelot. But minor flaws aside, it’s pretty hard not to like this enthusiastic romp through the Arthurian tales. KNIGHTS is good old classic Hollywood entertainment, and if it feels just a bit flat at times, it still serves as a very satisfying rendition of one of our culture’s most enduring legends.

Some modern film makers pretend that they’re telling the “true” story of a king who never really existed (in 2004’s KING ARTHUR), while other adaptations have offered their own gritty take on the saga (see our review of LANCELOT OF THE LAKE for example), but KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE embraces the pageantry of Camelot by capturing the spirit of the story and not worrying about exacting historical accuracy. The results are undeniably charming.

DVD Extras: (Not yet reviewed) Includes a brief introduction by Mel Ferrer, the original trailer, a newsreel of the premiere, and some additional factual info about Arthurian film.

ATB