The Legend of King Arthur

No finer production of the late 5th century Romano-British warlord Artorius has ever surfaced. It is doubtful if the upcoming movie on King Arthur will ever historically touch this great film. From the employment of tartan cloth for trousers, or cloaks, to the Sutton Hoo helmet of the Swedish Vendel culture found in East Anglia, to chain mail and scale armor, it will be difficult for a historian to find fault with this film when compared to other attempts to illustrate this tempest of a era. David Robb was especially outstanding as Lancelot in the midst of other fine actors where the action was most convincing, and the intrigue most satisfying. The only fault I find in this wonderful gem of a film is that it has not surfaced (along with the companions from "Once upon a Classic" Robin Hood and the Talisman) on DVD. I shall always hope that this fine work will be resurrected and enjoy the praise which it so richly deserves.

Ample running time allows many smaller famous acts we have rarely seen, yet sometimes the movie feels a bit perfunctory. Claustrophobic cinematography fails to obfuscate low-key production values, but the acting is top-notch.

The production was released on a shortened BBC video in 1985. Three of the Sutton Hoo style helmets were sold at the BBC costume auction in North Acton in the early 1990's where they came into my possession.

The BBC video is Coded BBCV 9024 and coincidentally regarding the Sutton Hoo style(who?) the cover is designed by Dr Who (Hoo) title sequence designer Sid SUTTON (eighties late Baker-Davison style titles) funny old world eh?

Another Dr Who related feature is the appearance of Maureen O'Brien as Morgan Le fey. Maureen played the first Doctor's assistant Vicki after the departure of Carole Anne Ford. A petite actress Maureen spends much of her time playing opposite a