Lancelot and Guinevere [Sword of Lancelot] ** (1963, Cornel Wilde, Jean Wallace, Brian Aherne, George Baker, Adrienne Corri, Mark Dignam) – Classic Movie Review 3651

Conscientious  co-writer/co-producer/director Cornel Wilde also leads the cast as Lancelot in a solid performance in an enjoyable but uninspired 1962 film version of the knights of the Round Table Arthurian legend. It comes ten years after Richard Thorpe’s famed 1953 Knights of the Round Table film.

Wilde’s boyish enthusiasm, the abundance of action and the pretty production are the main pluses of Lancelot and Guinevere (known as Sword of Lancelot in the US). And Wilde’s excellent fencing skills come in handy with the menacing sword fights.

Lancelot is King Arthur’s top knight, at least till he falls for his queen, Guinevere. Meanwhile, Arthur battles a challenge from a rival king.

Among a rather stiff cast, Wilde’s real-life Jean Wallace is only okay as Guinevere and Brian Aherne is rather too staid as King Arthur. Much better are George Baker as Sir Gawaine, Adrienne Corri as Lady Vivian, Mark Dignam as Merlin, Archie Duncan as Sir Lamorak, Michael Meacham as Sir Modred and Reginald Beckwith as Sir Dagonet.

Also in the cast are John Barrie as Sir Belvedere, Richard Thorp as Sir Gareth, John Longden, Joseph Tomelty as Sir Kaye, Graham Stark as Rian, Geoffrey Dunn and Iain Gregory as Sir Tors.

Wilde co-writes as Jefferson Pascal, along with Richard Schayer.

Costumes and props from the film are used in Siege of the Saxons (1963), with the again cast Mark Dignam this time wearing Brian Aherne’s outfit as King Arthur. Aherne previously played Arthur in 1954’s Prince Valiant.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3651
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