Arthur: King of the Britons

The roots of Arthurian Legend are brilliantly explored in this documentary hosted by the late,great Richard Harris. Although Professional and Amateur Arthur Historians may find it a bit too short,it still presents the facts and possibilities in a thorough fashion. Historian Geoffrey Ashe is interviewed about the legend and the historical events that inspired it,while Harris (who played Arthur on stage and screen) narrates on location from some of the most beautiful sites in England's history.

A fun but speculative documentary about King Arthur that contains a fair amount of special pleading and conjecture.

Richard Harris is a good host and interviews some interesting people but the case overall I wasn't that impressed by.

Starting with Tintagel, there's nothing to tie it archaeologically with Arthur and indeed no evidence of a 5th or 6th century castle there.

There's then a bit about the warlords of the time and how the Brits still had access to roads and horses. The section on swords was probably most interesting. The parts on Cadbury Hillfort and Glastonbury are again speculative as nothing that compelling is unearthed to suggest an undeniable connection.

At the end of his life, Richard Harris bequeaths to us what is known and reliably believed about King Arthur, who he portrayed in the film Camelot.

I agree that the locations in Britain are beautiful and that the computer animation of structures both being torn down and built up ... and swords materializing into Richard's hand for example ... are incredible.

As to the reviewer here who holds up the recent film King Arthur as an example of scholarship, he is as empty as his nom de plume. King Arthur is an excellent film which brings back the era of Roman decline, but takes great artistic license.

Just one example: archaeology dates Arthur as being in the late 400s and/or early 500s, while the King Arthur film has him at the very time of Rome's departure: 410.

The archaeological detective work that Richard Harris narrates is fascinating and gives Arthur real, historical embodiment and immortality.

It is a beautiful legacy that Richard Harris has helped to leave with us, and I found and freely viewed it on YouTube.

I am dying to own this documentary on DVD. I hope it will be released soon. It's got to be one of the last projects of this type Richard Harris did, and it's excellent. It covers so many aspects of the studies that have been done over the years on who the real King Arthur might have been. The scenery is fantastic and Richard Harris's narration makes you really want to go see these places he talks about. One of the best documentaries I have ever seen on the subject.

How perfectly fitting for one of Richard Harris's last appearances to be the host of a television documentary on King Arthur. He loved playing the role, on stage and screen, and as he opens the episode by saying, "I am Arthur, King of the Britons! Well, okay, I'm Richard Harris, but I did play Arthur in the Hollywood musical Camelot over thirty years ago," it just warms your heart. My favorite moment of the whole hour was, of course, when Richard described the real Arthur's likely appearance, with battle scars on his face and a grizzly beard. He "would have been far less refined, and probably far less good looking than the medieval king I played in Camelot." Following such a cute admission is a closeup from the 1967 film, followed by a little smirk in 2002.

If you're in it for the history rather than the cute mugging, you'll be very satisfied. Historians and archaeologists join in, sharing ancient tombs, geographical discoveries, and ancient texts that give us more insight on the legendary king. We get to see where "Camelot" likely stood, and thanks to modern technology, we get to see digital recreations of rooms, castles, and entire villages. Of course, there are the cheesy (but fun) "historical reenactments" that show bearded warrior swinging swords and magicians mixing potions, coinciding with Richard's narration of Excalibur and Merlin.

Since I went into this not knowing anything about the time period, so I was fascinated and very entertained. I loved learning the tradition of throwing swords into lakes, and how the "sword in the stone" legend was based in blacksmithing. Check this little hour out for a weekend matinee and say farewell to two legends.