First Knight is a modern romance between the dashing Lancelot, Queen Guinevere, and Arthur giving a fresh polish to the world of Camelot! It is directed by Jerry Zucker who directed the supernatural romance classic, Ghost (1990). The film’s story was by the writing team of Lorne Cameron, David Hoselton, they had both written a comedy sequel to It’s a Wonderful Life for the tv movie, Clarence (1990). Lastly, William Nicholson, who also wrote the screenplay, he had previously co-written the drama, Nell (1994). It is based on the 12th century romance poem by Chrétien de Troyes, The Knight of the Cart. The poem had Guinvere kidnapped by Melegant and rescued by Lancelot. We hear the tolling of church bells at the beginning, long lines of knights cross a grass field below hills. Text rolls up explaining that after fighting wars, Arthur of Camelot turned to building a land of “peace and justice.”
He also thought it was time to get married. His former knight, Prince Malagant, jealous of Arthur, left Camelot. The land is divided between Malagant’s greedy allies and those loyal to the king. It goes on to tell of Lancelot who was a wanderer, not a knight, but he was an expert using the sword. This moves to crossed swords. The Challenger, Josh (Mark Ryan), presses Lancelot played by Richard Gere back. Gere has an incredible career and is known playing Edward Lewis in the romantic comedy, Pretty Woman (1990). Ryan was also the assistant sword master for this film. He was also sword master on King Arthur (2004). Ryan played Nasir in Robin of Sherwood (1984-1986), a character that strangely became Morgan Freeman’s character in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991).
Lancelot’s sword is locked in corps à corps with Josh’s blade and tells him how to win, “Be the only one with a sword.” They strike a few times, but Lancelot swings his opponent’s sword up to catch it! He turns to the audience of villagers to applaud the Challenger. Lancelot is skilled, kind, and a showman. He holds up a bag of his winnings. Mark (Paul Kynman) is told by his wife (Rose Keegan) to give it a try. He steps forward, much taller than the swordsman. Mark splits a wooden post in half with his sword. Lancelot introduces himself and walks a few steps between them. Mark swings and Lancelot is able to dodge the strikes! Lancelot holds his sword to Mark’s neck. A few swings and then Lancelot strikes Mark’s pommel sending the sword to his hand! Mark wonders how Lancelot did the feat and wants to learn.
Lancelot sheathes his sword and then seriously says he has to study his opponent. Mark says he can do it and Lancelot continues that he has to wait for the moment of a fight to win or lose. Lastly, Lancelot says, “You have to not care if you live or die.” This is a great character moment very early in the movie, a sellsword who is not a mercenary, more of a performer. He is driven by his fatalistic drive, I imagine because he may have lost his family, maybe a father who taught him to be swordsman, he could have been a knight. I wonder if this would be in the novelization. Lancelot rides away alone. The village returns to normal life, Mark and two other farmers shovel hay in a barn.
A grassy hill overlooking the village, sinister music by Jerry Goldsmith, as figures begin to appear along the hill! the maestro, also composed music for bio sports drama, Rudy (1993). They approach of the riders. They take all of the villagers into the barn, lead some of them into a hidden compartment, and block the doors. The raiders begin to attack the villagers, one uses a crossbow pistol!, Mark and the others watch as the horsemen begin to torch the straw roofs of houses! The lieutanant of this bandit group is seen through the barn slats, Ralf, played by Ralph Ineseon, he was in Game of Thrones playing Dagmer Cleftjaw, many recent movies including Professor Krempe in Frankenstein. Torches are thrown at the barn’s hay and cart. The fires are smothered and the sparks fall down to the women and children in the compartment. One of the farmers tries to get out of the barn, but he is hit by the crossbow bolt of the leader.
Mark whispers his name, Malagant! He is played by Ben Cross who was Harold Abrahams in the Academy Award winning historical drama, Chariots of Fire (1981). He wears a studded leather armor of his soldiers. Malagant addresses the survivors in a circle. telling them that men had crossed his border so he has destroyed their village. He lifts his sword, with a jagged edge at the haft of the blade, and says, “Now then, I am the law!” The village destroyed at the beginning of a medieval-type movie is a trope, but here the leader tries to enforce his brutality through lies, even more chilling and threatening to the innocent people. Mark and the others pull everyone out of the smoke-filled barn. Then, we get the white sails of a windmill gently turning, this is above a large city, Lyonesse, spread across a valley. On a field, medieval football, probably Royal Shrovetide Football is being played. They play with red or black sashes holding a stick behind their backs. A large leather ball wrapped in thread is kicked.
One of the players is Lady Guinevere played by Julia Ormond. She had previoulsy played Susannah in the Western romance, Legends of the Fall (1994). Guinevere’s introduction playing with the people is a joy. She wears an orange dress with gold embrodiery. The costumes were by Nanà Cecchi, she was also costume designer for Ladyhawke (1985). The ball is kicked by Guinevere, smiling, into a small ditch. Two elders try to get her attention as Guinevere accidentally falls in the game. One (Jeffrey Dench) tells her about the attack. She walks with them and joined by Jacob (Paul Bentall) and her ladies-in-waiting. The elders confirm that it is Malagant and that a small group is there to see her. In a courtyard, Mark and his wife, start to bow. Mark explains that they were charged with crossing the border. Guinevere knows it is lies. Mark says that they will all fight.
She has Jacob make certain that the survivors get food and drink. Once the villagers leave to recover, Guinevere discusses Malagant. The elder says Malagant wants his treaty to be signed after the death of her father. Guinevere turns to her advisor, Oswald played by the great John Gielgud, she tells him that she wants to marry. Also, to live in Lyonesse. He brings up the marriage proposal of Arthur of Camelot. Guinevere says she accepts the propsal. She says she wants to marry for love and tells Oswald, “How could I love anyone more?” This resolves to a pool that reflect’s Lancelot’s face. He is in a forest and hears the approach of horses. The knights of Camelot ride up, steel breastplates and others with a thick, blue cloth and studded chest strip. Great armor designs made by the film's armorer, Charles Bodycomb. Guinevere is in one of the carriages with her hand maidens; Else (Jane Robbins) and Petronella (Jean Marie Coffey).
Lancelot on the side of the road, sees Guinevere pass by, and then whistles for his black horse. Then, Lancelot hears a bird call, and moves his horse to the escorts. They are blocked by a tree and Sir Patrise (Valentine Pelke) senses an ambush and shouts, “Look to the trees!” The knights begin to form a protective line around the carriages. A thin mist tangles the trees at the top of the hills. Another call and then Prince Malagant’s men charge with swords. Sir Kay (Christopher Villiers) tells his fellow knights to wait as the warriors are almost upon them. Then, orders the attack, mistake, he should have given room for the horses to charge and just trample over them. Guinevere’s handmaidens are repulsed by the bloodshed. Malagant’s forces retreat and a few of the knights purse them. Jacob reassures Oswald in another carriage. Sir Kay with Sir Patrise has the knights wait by the carriages. Ralf gives another whistle. Malagant’s second line attacks on horses!
One looses a crossbow bolt next to Guinevere! Others take out the knights on the carriage while one of Malagant’s bandits jumps on a carriage horse. He rides off with the knights unaware that their most important dignitary is kidnapped! The carriage races through the forest, Guinever has Elise jump from the carriage. Guinevere has Petronella try to jump, she is too scared, but then another bandit leaps onto the carriage. He begins to cut into the carriage roof with his sword. The bandit sees the carriage is empty and then Guinevere outside pulls him out slamming into a tree! I like that Guinevere saves her ladies-in-waiting and then takes out a Malagant marauder! Still, she falls, rolls and heads into the forest while Malagant riders try to follow. Guinevere runs and then falls to hide under ferns. The riders pass and then dismount to search the area. One brutish man (Angus Wright) hacks the ferns until Guinevere runs!
She is pulled aside as a crossbow bolt hits the tree behind her! Lancelot covers her mouth, then stands up, and knocks away one crossbow pistol with his sword. It lands next to Guinevere. He kills three of the swordsmen and Guinevere watches him. Lancelot searches around knowing there is another marauder. The brutish one grabs Guinevere and points his crossbow pistol at Lancelot! He tosses away his sword and says he wants teh woman. Guinevere is holding the crossbow pistol. Lancelot tells the marauder to turn her around to look into her eyes, he does, and Guinevere kills him. Lancelot whistles for his horse and then takes Guinevere through the forest. He does not recognize the Lady of Lyonesse. He turns to her and says she is all the reward that he could need, she slaps him for the insult, and then he reaches in for a kiss which he calls an insult.
Guinevere drops off the horse and starts walking toward the road. Lancelot follows her carrying the reins. She tells him that she gave her word to be married. He says he can tell when a woman wants him since he can see the desire in her eyes! Chemistry. I really like this interpretation since the legend just has uncontrolled passion between them. Here, Guinevere tries to resist him and wants to hold to her upcoming marriage. She asks him to never kiss her again. Lancelot promises only to kiss Guinevere if she asks him. She tells him that she will be married on Midsummer’s Day and he says she will ask for him to kiss her before that day. He rides off as her escort comes from the road. She runs up to hug Oswald. Sir Agravaine sees that Lady Guinevere is unhurt, his character is played by Liam Cunningham, he played Captain Crewe in A Little Princess (1995) adapting the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Cunninham might be known for playing Davos Seaworth in Game of Thrones.
Night, the escort rides over a bridge, in a carriage, Oswald points out Camelot, just lights in the distance. Guinevere tells Oswald to send a message of any problems back in Lyonesse. Guinevere leaves the carriage now in a blue dress, rows of fire bowls amongst hedge stones line the way. Further on are lines of knights holding torches. They move in formation to reveal the figure of Arthur of Camelot. Sean Connery plays the king, there are many iconic roles for Connery, one of them is the Green Knight in the Arthurian adaptation, Sword of the Valiant (1984). He had a cameo as King Richard in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991). The surging Jerry Goldsmith and the scene is probably my favorite of the movie, it is epic.
Arthur welcomes Guinevere to Camelot. He says will send a message to Lyonesse and Guinevere says that she arrived in her new country. Also, “her eyes were filled with tears of joy.” He calls up the knights, they begin walking, and Arthur asks Sir Agravaine what happened. Agravaine says it was Malagant and admits that Guinevere was in danger. He says he didn’t realize that Malagant would have a second force watch their fellow soldiers die. Arthur says Malagant doesn’t care about the lives of his men, he just thinks about the win. He tells Agravaine that they fought together in so many battles, in the legend, Arthur fought in twelve battles. He takes Guinevere up a hill that he says he climbed as a boy and saw what was his city. It is breathtaking to see Camelot at night. It is glorious by day and the best Camelot on film.
The “Camelot” theme returns as a march as Arthur, Guinevere, and the knights ride up to the castle. The stream of knights with torches against the gate and walls of Camelot is stunning, moreso as buckets of roses are dropped on them with the crowds cheering their new queen. A white horse rides wild and Lancelot races his mount to catch his reigns. Riding up is the King’s stableman, Peter (Stuart Bunce) who introduces himself. Lancelot is confused about who is king and Peter tells him he is Arthur of Camelot. The horse was meant as a gift for his bride. They ride back past a large, Celtic cross in stone, Camelot is in the middle of a river in the valley. Beautiful visuals and costumes. The actors are the finest, Connery and Gere. I don't think of the dialogue as flowery, but captures the dream of romance and a world of equality and justice. First Knight ranks at the top of my Arthurian and romance films!
Five Excaliburs+ out of Five!
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