Camelot [Blu-ray Book]

I saw the original Broadway production of 'Camelot' when I was a child (Richard Burton, Julie Andrews, and Robert Goulet) and loved it. When the film came out, I saw it and didn't warm to it. (Spoiler alert) I think one reason for my reaction was simply that the 1960 play was far more chaste (regarding the infidelity storyline) and this suited me as a ten or eleven-year-old and so perhaps the storyline got stuck in my memory that way. But now, having just watched the film version after many years, I have to say the film has aged beautifully and I much prefer it. It has humor, sorrow, extremely memorable songs and the costumes are wonderful--especially in the scene in which Lancelot is to be knighted. Much 'communication' between the three principals is done with the eyes. This makes the complex love triangle utterly believable. Because all three of the main characters truly love each other as people, the story rises high above the adultery theme--and soars with emotion. It has a number of good messages in it. (If you're feeling sad, 'learn something' says Merlin).If they ever do a remake, I have one wish: please acknowledge that Lancelot du Lac was raised by none other than the Lady of the Lake (who had *much* to do with the sword Excalibur), that, depending on whose account you read, Mordred *possibly* had a faery queen for a mother in Morgan Le Fay, and Merlin, well Merlin is Merlin. I'm not suggesting a 'Mists of Avalon' treatment here, but a small, well-rounded subplot of something a little fae wouldn't go amiss. A fun bit of gossip: the actors Vanessa Redgrave and Franco Nero met on the 'Camelot' film set and *many* years later married (2006). They are still married today.

It was my favorite in my teens, in my twenties, and all these years later, in my fifties. It has aged well! It makes me happy to rewatch it.Here are some choice tidbits about the movie:- Richard Harris has been called "the man born to play King Arthur". Was he ever.- Vanessa Redgrave (Guinevere) and Franco Nero (Lancelot) had a baby in real life. They ended their relationship, then rekindled it decades later. They married on December 31, 2006. You can see them together again in Letters to Juliet.In around 1980, I saw Richard Harris perform in Camelot live at an outdoor amphitheater on the outskirts of D.C. It was one of the highlights of my life. The most memorable moment came when the actor portraying Pellinore missed his line and said "you wouldn't send a knight out on a dog like this" instead of "you wouldn't send a dog out on a night like this." He corrected himself, and when moments later he exited the stage, Richard Harris called after him, "And learn your lines before you come back!" He then turned around to resume the play, but the actress who was playing Guinevere was sitting on a bench laughing so hard that the play ground to a halt. Richard Harris sat down beside her, put his arm around her, and they both laughed for a minute or two. Then he said, "Let's get on with the play before it starts to rain!" and the show went on.

This review is not about the movie, it is about the product. This was meant to be a nostalgic gift for a friend. It said special edition so I figured it would be a nice copy to gift, otherwise I could have gotten a used one for $5. The case wasn't even hard. It was like a plastic frame wrapped in paper and film. The whole thing looks like it was made in some bootleg warehouse by children. At $16 I thought I would get more than a DVD burned in someone's laptop and then wrapped in a cheap "case" (calling it a case is a stretch.

What was it about Jack Warner? He bought some of Broadways greatest musicals and then habitually cast non-singers in the screen adaptations. I can think of only two occasions where the dubbing was artistically successful: Lisa Kirk's for Rosalind Russell in "Gypsy" is uncanny; and Gene Merlino's vocals for Franco Nero in "Camelot"."Camelot" contains some of Frederick Loewe's most beautiful music but sadly only Richard Harris is up to the challenge. Franco Nero is tone deaf and had to be dubbed; but Vanessa Redgrave has all the vocal ability of a sixth grade Camp Fire girl. This is painfully obvious during "The Lusty Month of May". Lacking Julie Andrews' exquisite 4-octave soprano, Director Joshua Logan had to ask Lerner and Loewe if it would be all right to change the tempo of the song, claiming it would make it "sexier" or "dirtier". Consequently, only the chorus is capable of maintaining the song's joyous tempo.All of this brings us to the late Alfred Newman and Ken Darby, and their brilliant orchestrators, Leo Shuken and Jack Hayes. "Camelot" won Newman his 9th Academy Award, which was unprecedented at the time. His conducting of the musical numbers and underscoring are what give the film its claim to greatness. Similarly, John Truscott's gorgeous production, costume and scenery designs remain unparalleled. And if the cast can't sing, they more than make up for it with their performances.

Learner and Lowe's magnificent film adaption of their "Camelot(1965)" is just a little short of perfect. The ficticious King Arthur meets Guinevere In a Warner Bros. Hollywood studio forest, and they fall in love.Of course Sir Lancelot finally appears, and throws the marriage into a dither.The rest is Hollywood hokum, but the mesh is so well done that you fall in love yourself. Master director Joshua Logan performs the ritual of excellence, and the world turns on it's axis. Richard Harris, Vanessa Redgrave, and Franco Nero complete a wonderful cast. Redgrave and Nero got into it so much that they fell in love during the movie(Years later they would even wed).Years later, Richard Harris would take over for an ailing Richard Burton on Broadway, and star in the theater adaption of "Camelot(and tour the world)". Needing a few pounds at the time, Harris would walk away with 8 million dollars for his effort. This DVD features a documentary on the film production, and the world film premiere. "Don't let it be forgot, that once there was a spot, and that was known as....."

Camelot, winner of 3 Academy Awards, special edition DVD.Camelot, the musical, is based upon the legend of King Arthur, Richard Harris, who lives in the idyllic Camelot while awaiting his new bride Guenevere, Vanessa Redgrave. Little does Arthur realise that his new bride will shortly fall in love with the bravest of his knights Sir Lancelot, Franco Nero, a love affair that will tear his beloved kingdom apart.For me, just a personal opinion, there has never been a better King Arthur than Richard Harris on stage. His musical performance might not be perfect but he brings so much soul and passion to the music I never tire of listening and watching. This is a real treat for fans of musical theatre and I'm more than happy to recommend.This is a remastered version of the original packaged inside a cardboard sleeve with a scene index printed inside the front cover. Has an opening and locking black, plastic hinge to the side.The details:Camelot is contained on one DVD with a running time of approx. 173 minutes.Certificate U - suitable for all.Special Features; Interactive menus, Scene Access.Language in Dolby Digital 5.1; English.Subtitles in English/Arabic/English for the hearing impaired.Director; Moss Hart.Starring; Richard Harris, Vanessa Redgrave, Franco Nero, David Hemmings, Lionel Jeffries and Laurence Naismith.Music by Frederick Loewe with screenplay and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner.One more thing to add; sit back and enjoy!.

It arrived very quickly, and is a very good copy , I've always loved this musical and this Blu ray doesn't disappoint.

I'd not seen this for years, it's amazingly good entertainment. highly recommended. unfortunately films in a style like this won't be made anymore it seems the public has lost the ability to appreciate this type of thing.

Substandard picture and sound.A poor copy.

The whole experience was exceeded expectations.