We saw the
Utah Festival Opera production of
Camelot. It was very, very well done. The costumes and sets were from Broadway evidently and were on loan to the UFO. The singing was very good, but it's the story that really grabs me. Did Camelot actually exist? See
this site.
I remember seeing this old movie musical back in 1967. See
this link to watch a trailer. It starred Richard Harris, Vanessa Redgrave and Franco Nero. I remember feeling so forlorn for King Arthur, Guenevere and Lancelot. What if one woman truly loved two men and that love was the downfall of them all?
Arthur realizes that there is something going on between Lancelot and Guinevere, but out of love for them both, does nothing, instead banishing every knight who accuses them. Out of jealousy and hate Mordred brings down the fellowship of the Round Table by stirring up trouble. He organizes the return of all the banished knights and convinces Arthur to stay out all night hunting in order to test the loyalty of Lancelot and Guenevere.
Arthur does so unwillingly, and Mordred sees to it that Lancelot and Guenevere are caught during a final tryst. Lancelot escapes, but Guenevere is sentenced to die at the stake. Arthur, who has promoted the rule of law throughout the story, is now bound by his own law; he can make no special exceptions for the Queen and/or his own wife. In a climactic scene, Lancelot, who returns to save her, to the delight of Arthur, rescues Guinevere at the stake. In the film’s final scene, we return to the opening. Arthur is preparing to battle against Lancelot, at the insistence of his knights who want revenge. He is visited one last time by Guinevere, who has now joined a convent, and Lancelot. Arthur forgives them both and bids them a heartfelt farewell. Despite the fact that he and Lancelot are still friends, Arthur is obligated to fight because of the other knights' lust for revenge.
Prior to the battle, however, Arthur stumbles across a young boy named Tom, who wishes to become a Knight of the Round Table. Arthur is skeptical at first, but Tom espouses his commitment to Arthur's original ideal of "Not might
makes right, but might
for right." Arthur realizes that, although most of his plans have fallen through, the ideals of Camelot still live on in this simple boy. Arthur knights Tom and gives him his orders—to run behind the lines and survive the battle, so he can tell future generations about the legend of Camelot. Watching Tom leave, Arthur regains his hope for the future.
Then the movie First Knight came out about 15 years ago. It wasn't a musical but I loved that movie based on the story of
Camelot. Still do. We recently saw it again on DVD with Rick's parents. They had never watched it a
nd they really enjoyed it. So
here's the thing, what is it about the story that grabs me? It's the themes of love, revenge, trying to stay true to high ideals, fighting
for something or someone else, giving up something you want now for something more that you want later, loyalty, duty, courage. It's just a great, complicated story with no easy answers and it's not hard to watch Richard Gere and Sean Connery.
