Tonight's Movie: Knights of the Round Table (1953) - A Warner Archive Blu-ray Review

MGM's KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE (1953) is a lavish telling of Arthurian legends.

KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE was the studio's first CinemaScope picture, and the location filming -- including vistas of castles and a great many battles -- looks spectacular in the widescreen format.

Add in a strong cast and a robust, stirring score by Miklos Rozsa and it adds up to an enjoyable 115 minutes of entertainment.

This was my first viewing of the film. While over the years I've heard rumbles that it wasn't all that good, I must say I was quite pleasantly surprised. Perhaps it helped to view it with low expectations, but I found the movie to be a colorful, energetic telling of the familiar stories.

I wish it ended differently, but a sad ending has always been inherent to the tale, and MGM's screenwriters did what they could to leave audiences on a hopeful note.

Robert Taylor made a number of period pictures in the '50s, including QUO VADIS (1951) and IVANHOE (1952), and he seems just right for Lancelot of the Lakes. (Of course, as with many films of the era, there's no attempt at a non-American accent by Taylor or the other leads, but classic film fans are used to that!) He's handsome, courtly, and great in the action scenes.

Just as I'd read complaints about the movie, I've read reviews expressing disappointment with Ava Gardner's quiet performance as Queen Guinevere; however, I really like her in this, finding a unique sweetness to her performance I don't recall seeing from her in other films. She also looks absolutely lovely.

The rest of the cast is quite strong, including Mel Ferrer as King Arthur, Felix Aylmer as Merlin, Anne Crawford as Morgan Le Fay, and Stanley Baker as Modred.

I especially enjoyed Maureen Swanson as Elaine, the fanciful young woman who, like Guinevere, loves Lancelot and eventually becomes the mother of the future Sir Galahad.

Director Richard Thorpe had worked with Taylor on IVANHOE and would continue to collaborate with the actor regularly throughout the '50s. Thorpe also directed the recently reviewed swashbuckler THE PRISONER OF ZENDA (1952).

The screenplay was by a trio of writers, Talbot Jennings, Jan Lustig, and Noel Langley, based on Thomas Malory's LE MORTE D'ARTHUR.

The movie was shot on location in the UK and Ireland by Stephen Dade and Freddie Young. As was common for the earliest CinemaScope films, KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE was shot in both a flat and a CinemaScope version, which must have been a Herculean undertaking with so many action scenes. Only the widescreen is on this Blu-ray.

As a side note, this film was previously released on DVD by the Warner Archive Collection in 2012. I've not seen that disc but, given the Warner Archive's track record, must assume that this Blu-ray is an improvement.

The new Blu-ray print is from a 1080p HD master from a 4K scan of the original camera negative. In a word, it looks and sounds spectacular.

The disc includes a brief introduction by actor Mel Ferrer which was recorded in 2003. It also includes the trailer; a premiere newsreel; the 10-minute musical short MGM JUBILEE OVERTURE (1954); and the seven-minute CinemaScope cartoon ONE DROOPY KNIGHT (1957).

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray. Warner Archive Blu-rays may be ordered from Movie Zyng, Amazon, and other online retailers.

Tweet