Lancelot du Lac (Mara, 1974, 85m), released with sub-titles as Lancelot of the Lake
Director: Robert Bresson. Screenplay: Robert Bresson.
Starring: Luc Simon (Lancelot), Laura Duke Condominas (the Queen), Vladimir Antolek-Oresek (the King), Humbert Balsan (Gauvain), Patrick Bernard (Mordred).
Essentially a retelling of the Vulgate Mort Artu, events taking place in a collapsing Middle Ages.
Legend of King Arthur, The (UK TV series, 1979, 8x30m episodes)
Director: Rodney Bennett. Teleplay: Andrew Davies.
Starring: Andrew Burt (Arthur), David Robb (Lancelot), Felicity Dean (Guinevere), Steve Hodson (Mordred)
A worthy attempt to create an authentic historical Arthur still in keeping with the traditional story. Available on VHS and DVD.
Legend of Prince Valiant (US TV animated series, 1991–94, 65x30m episodes)
Executive Producers: David Corbett, Jeffrey Schon, William E. Miller. Story: David Corbett with Diane Dixon story editor.
Starring (voices): Robby Benson (Valiant), James Avery (Bryant), Tim Curry (Gawain), Efrem Zimbalist Jr (Arthur), Alan Oppenheimer (Merlin).
Cartoon series based upon the Hal Foster comic strip series.
Lovespell, see Tristan and Isolt
Magic Sword: Quest for Camelot (Warner Brothers, 1998, 86m) animated feature
Director: Frederik Du Chau. Screenplay: Kirk De Micco, William Schifrin, Jacqueline Feather, David Seidler, based on Vera Chapman’s The King’s Damosel.
Starring (spoken): Jessalyn Gilsig (Kayley), Cary Elwes (Garrett), Gary Oldman (Ruber), Pierce Brosnan (Arthur), John Gielgud (Merlin), Eric Idle & Don Rickles (two-headed dragon); with songs by Andrea Corr, Céline Dion.
Warner’s first magic animated feature seeking to break into the Disney market, but the film suffers from too much indecision (they couldn’t even agree on the title). A panel of scriptwriters distorted Chapman’s original novel into an overly simplistic story of young Kayley and the blind boy Garrett trying to find the lost Excalibur and defeat the evil Ruber.
Merlin (US TV mini-series, Hallmark, 1998, 3x60m)
Director: Steve Barron. Screenplay: David Stevens.
Starring: Sam Neill (Merlin), Daniel Brocklebank (Young Merlin), Helena Bonham Carter (Morgan), Miranda Richardson (Mab), Paul Curran (Arthur), Lena Heady (Guinevere), Rutger Hauer (Vortigern), Jeremy Sheffield (Lancelot), Isabella Rossellini (Nimue), Jason Done (Mordred).
An ambitious but over-clever attempt to tell Merlin’s life story and his pursuit of Nimue almost from cradle to grave, against the backcloth of the Arthurian legend, which sometimes seems to get forgotten.
Merlin: The Magic Begins (US TV mini-series, NBC, 1998)
Director: David Winning. Screenplay: Tom Richards, Christopher Roosen.
Starring: Jason Connery (Merlin), Deborah Moore (Nimue), Gareth Thomas (Blaze), Graham McTavish (Rengal), Paul Curran (Kay).
Only a token nod to the traditional story, this miniseries traces the adventures of Young Merlin, with his tutor Blaze, protecting the forest kingdom from the evil sorcerer Rengal. Received 15 Emmy nominations. Not to be confused with the other Merlin mini-series above.
Merlin and the Sword, see Arthur the King
Merlin of the Crystal Cave (UK TV, BBC, 1991, 6x30m episodes)
Director: Michael Darlow. Screenplay: Steve Bescoby, based on the novel by Mary Stewart.
Starring: George Winter (Merlin), Kim Thomson (Ninianne), Sam Hails (Arthur), Robert Powell (Ambrosius), Roger Alborough (Uther), Jon Finch (Vortigern).
Merlin seeks his father against the backdrop of the Saxon invasion. A fairly faithful adaptation of Stewart’s novel. Edited slightly (164m) for video release (2000).
Mists of Avalon, The (US TV TNT, 2001, 3x60m episodes)
Director: Uli Edel. Screenplay: Gavin Scott based on the novel by Marion Bradley.
Starring: Anjelica Huston (Viviane), Julianna Margulies (Morgaine), Joan Allen (Morgause), Samantha Mathis (Gwenhwyfar), Edward Atterton (Arthur), Michael Byrne (Merlin), Mark Lewis Jones (Uther).
Although squeezed into three hours, this is a good adaptation of Bradley’s novel with strong imagery polarising the conflict between Avalon and Camelot, the Old Religion and the New, under the threat of the Saxons.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Python Pictures, 1975; 91m)
Director: Terry Gilliam & Terry Jones. Screenplay: the Monty Python team.
Starring: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam.
The perfect spoof. Arthur gathers together his knights but losing interest in Camelot they try and find the Grail.
Parsifal (Gaumont-TMS, 1982, 255m)
Director: Hans-Jürgen Syberberg. Screenplay: direct from Richard Wagner’s opera.
Starring: Michael Mutter (Parsifal), Armin Jordan (Amfortas), Martin Sperr (Titurel), Edith Clever (Kundry), Aage Haugland (Klingsor).
The most complete attempt to film Wagner’s Parsifal.
Perceval le gallois (Gaumont, 1978, 140m)
Director: Eric Rohmer. Screenplay: Eric Rohmer.
Starring: Fabrice Luchini (Perceval), André Dussollier (Gauvain), Marc Eyraud (Arthur), Marie-Christine Barrault (Guinevere), Michel Etcheverry (Fisher King), Arielle Dombasle (Blanchefleur).
A faithful adaptation of Chrétien’s Perceval, including being told in verse, but here a completion allows Perceval to see the Grail. An authentic but unusual effort that uses stylized medieval backdrops.
Prince Valiant (20th Century Fox, 1954, 100m)
Director: Henry Hathaway. Screenplay: Dudley Nichols.
Starring: Robert Wagner (Prince Valiant), Brian Aherne (Arthur), Mary Phillips (Queen), James Mason (Sir Brack), Sterling Hayden (Gawain), Janet Leigh (Aleta).
Based on Hal Foster’s well-known comic strip, this is really just an excuse for a swashbuckler in Camelot as Valiant fights for his kingdom and wins a place at the Round Table.
Prince Valiant (Constantin, 1997, 91m)
Director: Anthony Hickox. Screenplay: Michael Frost Beckner, Carsten Lorenz.
Starring: Stephen Moyer (Prince Valiant), Edward Fox (Arthus), Joanna Lumley (Morgan), Anthony Hickox (Gawain).
Valiant poses as Gawain (who is injured) to take Ilene to safety from the Vikings who are in league with Morgan to claim Excalibur and the throne.
Siege of the Saxons (Columbia, 1963, 85m)
Director: Nathan Juran. Screenplay: Jud Kinberg, John Kohn.
Starring: Ronald Lewis (Robert Marshall), Janette Scott (Katherine), Ronald Howard (Edmund), Mark Dignam (Arthur), John Laurie (Merlin).
A poor excuse for a swashbuckler though an interesting blend of Arthurian and Robin Hood legends. Edmund of Cornwall kills Arthur and usurps the throne, planning a forced marriage with Arthur’s daughter Katherine, but all is saved by outlaw Robert Marshall.
Sword in the Stone, The (Disney, 1963, 79m) animated feature
Director: Wolfgang Reitherman. Screenplay: Bill Peet (songs by the Sherman Brothers)
Starring (voices): Karl Swenson (Merlin), Ricky Sorenson (Wart/Arthur), Sebastian Cabot (Sir Ector).
Pleasant children’s adaptation of T.H. White’s The Sword in the Stone, but it becomes too frivolous.
Sword of Lancelot, The, see Lancelot and Guinevere
Sword of the Valiant, see under Gawain and the Green Knight
Tristan and Isolde (20th Century Fox, 2004)
Director: Kevin Reynolds. Screenplay: Dean Georgaris.
Starring: James Franco (Tristan), Sophia Myles (Isolde), Rufus Sewell (Marke)
The latest attempt to get back to the original story.
Tristan and Isolt (Clar, 1979; 94m)
Director: Tom Donovan. Screenplay: Claire Labine.
Starring: Richard Burton (Mark), Nicholas Clay (Tristan), Kate Mulgrew (Isolt), Geraldine Fitzgerald (Branwyn), Kathryn Dowling (Yseult).
An Irish production, and a faithful rendition of the Tristan story.
FRIEND OR FOE? – AN ARTHURIAN WHO’S WHO
This book has shown that the Arthurian world is full of names, some well known, but many forgotten. A “Who’s Who” of all of these names, both historical and fictional, would fill a book this size again. However, there are some key characters that I have not yet covered in any degree of detail. Although Chapters 13 to 18 look at Tristan, Gawain, Lancelot, Guinevere, Perceval and Merlin, plus a few other heroes from other romances, I have not yet discussed such other well known characters as Agravaine, Gareth, Bedivere, Kay, Mordred or Morgan le Fay, just to name a few.
The following therefore seeks to explore the other characters of note. It is not intended as a complete index to all Arthurian characters. For those who want a full directory I would recommend The Arthurian Companion by Phyllis Ann Karr (Green Knight, new edition, 2001), Arthurian Myth & Legend by Mike Dixon-Kennedy (Blandford, 1995), or for the complete afficionado The Arthurian Name Dictionary by Christopher W. Bruce (Garland, 1999). Here I want to cover those characters who either throw more light on the legend or allow us to explore further the Arthur of history.
The Knights of the Round Table
Before getting into the annotated listings, it might be useful to remind ourselves who the Knights of the Round Table were. The phrase is used rather glibly to cover just about every knight who appears in the Arthurian story, but strictly speaking only a core of knights were admitted to the Order of the Round Table. Numbers vary. In the Didot-Perceval, based on the work of Robert de Boron, the number is limited to twelve, which includes Arthur, with the thirteenth seat, the Siege Perilous, left vacant awaiting the perfect knight. This number is based on the number present at the Last Supper, with the thirteenth seat being that left vacant by Judas Iscariot. That seat is, of course, eventually filled by Galahad. Robert does not present a list of the eleven knights, but from his text it is possible to compile one, namely (in alphabetical order):
Bedivere
Lancelot
Erec
Mordred
Garries [Gareth]
Saigremor the Rash
Gawain
Urgan
Guirres [Gaheris]
Yvain
Kay
Robert goes on to say that “the king presented 5,400 robes and devices of the Round Table” to all those present at the Feast of Pentecost. Clearly not all of those are knights, but it is evident that in Arthur’s kingdom there are considerably more knights than those of the Round Table. Layamon’s estimate in his Brut was 1,600. The Vulgate Lancelot states 150, a figure that Malory also gives in the Beaumains episode of Morte Darthur. Malory’s knights (he names only 127) are listed in Table 23.1.
In the Welsh Dream of Rhonabwy, Arthur is accompanied by 41 counsellors, whilst earlier, when Culhwch swears by all those at Arthur’s court in Culhwch and Olwen he recites a list of 220 names (some of them duplicates). These names include a few that reappear as knights in the romances, and cross-references are made in the following entries.
Another Welsh-derived document, the Pedwar Marchog ar Hugain Llys Arthur, dated to the fifteenth century, provides a list now called the “Twenty-Four Knights”, which includes Arthur. The others are:
Aron
Blaes
Bors
Cadog
Cyon
Drudwas
Eiddilig
Eliwlod
Galahad
Glewlwyd
Gwalchmai
Hoel
Lancelot
Llywarch Hen
Menw
Mordred
Morfran
Nasiens
Owain
Perceval
Petroc
Sanddef
Tristan
Many of the names are clearly derived from the Arthurian romances but some are of greater antiquity.
In Erec et Enide, Chrétien says that he could not name a tenth or even a fifteenth of all of Arthur’s knights, and then lists 50, suggesting there must be more than 750 knights. He identifies the first ten knights in order of valour, though not all are given names. They are:
Gawain
The Ugly Brave
Erec
Meliant of Liz
Lancelot
Mauduit the Wise
Gornemant of Gohort
Dodinel the Wild
The Handsome Coward
Gandelu
Clearly, apart from Gawain, Erec and Lancelot, there is little consistency amongst the top knights, and there are others possibly better known today, such as Agravaine, Pellinore, Dinadan, Bleoberis and Lucan, who seem to be “also-rans” at this early stage.
By about 1516 names had been added to the places on the Round Table at Winchester. This seated 25 (including Arthur). The key list had now become:
Galahallt
Lamorak
Lancelot deulake
Bors de Ganis
Gawain
Safer
Percivale
Pelleus
Lyonell
Kay
Trystram delyens
Ector de Maris
Garethe
Dagonet
Bedwere
Degore
Blubrys
Brumear
La Cote Male Tailee
Lybyus Dysconyus
Lucane
Aylnore
Palomedes
Mordrede
Table 23.1. Malory’s Knights of the Round Table from Le Morte Darthur
Aglovale
Agravaine
Aliduke
Anguish (King)
Aristause (Earl)
Arrok de Grevaunt or Degrevaunt
Astamor
Bagdemagus
Barant le Apres
Baudwin
Bedivere
Bellangere le Beuse
Bellangere le Orgulous
Belleus
Blamore de Ganis
Bleoberis de Ganis Borre or Bohart le Cure Hardy
Bors de Ganis
Brandiles
Brunor le Noire or La Cote Male Tailée
Brian de Listinoise
Carados (King)
Cardock
Chaleins of Clarance (Duke)
Clarance (King) of Northumberland
Clarrus of Cleremont
Clegis
Cluddrus
Colgrevance
Constantine
Crosselm
Curselaine
Darras
Degrane Saunce Velany
Dinadan
Dinas
Dinas le Seneschal
Dodinas le Savage
Durnore
Driant
Ector de Maris
Edward of Carnarvon
Edward of Orkney
Epinogris
Erminide or Hermine
Fergus
Florence
Gahalantine
Gaheris
Galagars
Galahad
Galahaut
Galihodin
Galihud
Galleron of Galway
Gareth
Gautere
Gawaine
Gillemere
Gingalin
Griflet le Fise de Dieu
Gromere
Guyart le Petite
Gromore Somir Joure
Harry le Fise Lake
Hebes
Hebes le Renoumes
Hectimere
Helaine le Blank
Hervise de la Forest Sauvage
Hervise le Revel
Ironside the Red Knight
Kay le Seneschal
Kay de Stranges
King of the Lake
Ladinas de la Forest Sauvage
Lambaile
Lambegus
Lamiel of Cardiff
Launcelot du Lake
Lavaine
Lionel
Lovel
Lucan the Butler
Mador d
e la Porte
Marhaus
Marrok
Melleaus de Lile
Melion of the Mountain
Meliot de Logris
Meliagaunce
Menaduke
Mordred
Morganore
Nentres of Garloth
Nerovens
Ozanna le Cure Hardy
Palomides
Patrise of Ireland
Pelleas
Percivale
Perimones the Red Knight
Persaunt
Persides
Pertolepe the Green Knight (i.e. Bertilak)
Petipase of Winchelsea
Pinel le Savage
Plaine de Fors
Plenorius
Priamus
Reynold
Duke de la Rowse
Sadok
Sagramore le Desirous
Safere
Selises of the Dolorous Tower
Sentraile
Servause le Breuse
Suppinabilis
Tor
Tristram
Ulbause
Uriens of Gore (King)
Urre
Uwaine le Blanche Mains
Uwaine les Avoutres
Villiars the Valiant
It is intriguing that some individuals come to the fore at certain times whilst others remain simply names, because all of them must have had some significance at some time. There is little doubt that when the French and German romances were at their peak of popularity the compilers added names that reflected individuals and events known to them and it is difficult to guess who they now meant. In the following I try and pierce the clouds where we can.
Here then is a Who’s Who of the major Arthurian characters, both historical and legendary.
Aelle. The first Saxon Bretwalda, leader of the South Saxons, and Arthur’s most likely opponent at Badon. See Chapter 7 for full discussion.
Aesc, see Oisc.
Aglovale. He first appears in the Vulgate Quest del Saint Graal, the eldest son of King Pellinore and thus the brother of Perceval and Lamorak. Aglovale has only a minor role, because much of his time is spent either defending his homeland or ruling a small kingdom in the Middle East. He had an affair with a Moorish princess and fathers a son, Moriaen. He is killed when Lancelot rescues Guinevere.