I really like this movie, but it's a terrible movie.
This film is, for me, particularly nostalgic because I really enjoyed watching it in my childhood and youth. It was one of those films that marked my imagination about the Middle Ages, and how it could have been. Obviously, the way I see it has changed with maturity, and studies have allowed me to perceive the enormous anachronisms committed by this film, on several levels. However, like almost everything that brings us good childhood memories, it is a film that continues to be very dear to me.
The screenplay does not deserve much consideration, being essentially a poor melodrama of questionable taste, created around the Arthurian legends. The legend, as we know, has a strong Frankish origin, and centers on a legendary king who ruled over Britannia, defending it from the Saxons, in a very early period of the High Middle Ages – yes, because the Middle Ages cannot be considered as a whole, it is practically a thousand years long and a lot has happened in that time. We see a Lady Guinevere enter into a marriage of political convenience with an aging King Arthur, at the height of his power and influence, even though threatened by the host of an enemy, Malagant. And we see how an arrogant young Lancelot pursues, and in effect harasses, the young queen, seducing her and causing her to fall in love with him.
Despite the affection I have for this film, which brings me so many good memories, I recognize that it is a weak and poorly made film. The story itself that is told to us is quite ugly, being, in essence, a moral tale of seduction, betrayal, adultery and abuse of trust, where the only character worthy of our sympathy is old King Arthur, in his excess of goodness, sense of justice and righteousness. Even though he is an old man, he honors his word to his bride's father and marries her (obviously a woman much younger than he is) to protect her and her feudal lordship. Committed to building an ideal kingdom, he ostracizes Malagant, who disbelieves in the project due to his own ambition and cruelty, just as he cannot see how he opens himself up to Lancelot, a total stranger, creating conditions for Lancelot to abuse him and betray him, seducing the young and ungrateful queen. A very ugly story, but one of strong humanity, where we learn what happens when we are too good.
Despite only appearing to us almost half an hour after the film has started, there is no doubt that Sean Connery is the great actor in this film. He was just the man to bestow strength and nobility on the old British sovereign. Moreover, his charismatic and aristocratic presence, and the impeccable way in which he acts and works his character, is reason enough to justify a revisit to this film, which has become quite popular on television. However, the rest of the cast is totally wrong. Either the actors weren't able to understand the characters, or (and I bet that was it) director Jerry Zucker was totally incapable of directing them and understanding how he should do it. Julia Ormond is very beautiful and elegant, but she doesn't seem to know what she's doing in this movie. Ben Cross is a shadow of himself and makes for an absurdly poorly written and poorly conceived character. Richard Gere is pompous, smug, braggart, irritating and perverse.
Production values are high, and the film looks expensive. The cinematography is incredible and very beautiful, especially the night scenes, with torchlight and fire. The sets and costumes are very detailed, elaborate and visually impressive. The weapons and armor of Arthur's knights, with the blue and silver, are beautiful, and Camelot is one of the most beautiful medieval scenic cities I've ever seen in a movie. The big problem with this is that we are seeing a blatant anachrony! If the film addresses the figure of King Arthur and that king existed sometime before the Year A Thousand, the city of Camelot would never have that elaborate visual aspect. Weapons and armor, likewise, would be much more primitive, simple and functional. It's all very nice, no doubt about it, but it's fake like the kiss of Judas! One more word for the soundtrack, which is a bit vulgar and dubious in taste, almost melodramatic.