The Mammoth Book of King Arthur

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The Mammoth Book of King Arthur Page 61

by Mike Ashley


  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.

  23


  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.

 

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