CAMELOT

Camelot
Warner Bros., 1967, Color, 180 minutes, ***½
Released October, 1967

Richard Harris stars as King Arthur in this lavish, Academy Award-winning film adaptation of Lerner and Loewe's musical take on the legend of the Knights of the Round Table, with Vanessa Redgrave and Franco Nero as doomed lovers Guenevere and Lancelot. Among the memorable tunes are "Camelot," "If Ever I Would Leave You," "What Do the Simple Folk Do?"

Not only is this one of the best musicals ever made, it is also the best recounting of the legendary story of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. King Arthur forms the Round Table in order to unite all of England, but soon finds himself embroiled in a situation where he must decide between putting his beloved Guenevere to death or compromising his life-long dream of a united and law-abiding England. This version of the musical is practically perfect in ever way. The only problem with it is in the way the camera treats Vanessa Redgrave. Sometimes the film feels like a showcase for Miss Redgrave's beauty, and she looks like she stepped right out of the 1960s, rather than a queen of Arthurian England. Nonetheless, it is a wonderful film.

Produced by: Jack L. Warner
Directed by: Joshua Logan
Assistant Director: Arthur Jacobson
Musical Staging Associate: Buddy Schwab
Based on the Play: "Camelot", Book and Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, Music by Frederick Loewe, Directed by Moss Hart, Produced on the stage by Jenny Productions, From the "Once and Future King" by T. H. White
Music Supervised and Conducted by: Alfred Newman
Associate: Ken Darby
Music by: Frederick Loewe
Screenplay and Lyrics by: Alan Jay Lerner
Orchestrations: Leo Shuken, Jack Hayes, Pete King
Song Score: Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe
Costumes, Scenery and Production Designed by: John Truscott
Sets and Art Direction: Edward Carrere
Set Decoratior: John W. Brown
Costume Design: John Truscott
Makeup Supervisor: Gordon Bau
Supervising Hair Stylist: John Burt Reilly
Sound by: M. A. Merrick, Dan Wallin
Director of Photography: Richard H. Kline
Filmed in Panavision and Technicolor
Film Editor: Folmar Blangsted

Awards: Academy Award for Best Adapted Score (Alfred Newman and Ken Darby), Best Art Direction - Set Decoration and Best Costume Design. Academy Award nominations for Best Cinematography (Richard H. Kline) and Best Sound

Cast: Richard Harris [King Arthur], Vanessa Redgrave [Guenevere], Franco Nero [Lancelot du Lac], David Hemmings [Mordred], Lionel Jeffries [King Pellinore], Laurence Naismith [Merlyn], Pierre Olaf [Dap], Estelle Winwood [Lady Clarinda], Gary Marshall [Sir Lionel], Anthony Rogers [Sir Dinadan], Peter Bromilow [Sir Sagramore], Sue Casey [Lady Sybil], Garry Marsh [Tom of Warwick], Nicolas Beauvy [King Arthur as a Boy]

Musical Program: [0:00] Prelude and Overture (played by Orchestra); [0:08] I Wonder What The King Is Doing Tonight (sung by Richard Harris); [0:11] The Simple Joys of Maidenhood (sung by Vanessa Redgrave); [0:19] Camelot (sung by Richard Harris); [0:27] Camelot (reprised by Vanessa Redgrave and Chorus); [0:35] Camelot (reprised by Richard Harris and Vanessa Redgrave); [0:35] Camelot / C'est Moi (sung by Franco Nero); [0:48] The Lusty Month of May (sung and danced by Vanessa Redgrave and Ensemble); [1:01] Then You May Take Me to the Fair (sung by Vanessa Redgrave, Gary Marshal, Anthony Rogers and Peter Bromilow); [1:12] How to Handle a Woman (sung by Richard Harris); [1:40] Intermission: "If Ever I Would Leave You" (played by Orchestra); [1:47] If Ever I Would Leave You (Love Montage) (sung by Franco Nero); [2:09] What Do the Simple Folk Do? (sung by Richard Harris and Vanessa Redgrave); [2:16] Follow Me (sung by Chorus); [2:29] I Loved You Once in Silence (sung by Vanessa Redgrave and Franco Nero); [2:36] Guenevere (sung by Chorus); [2:53] Camelot (special lyric sung by Richard Harris); [2:57] Camelot (sung by Chorus behind end credits); Exit Music: "If Ever I Would Leave You" (played by Orchestra)