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Writing Group
Favorite Movie


Camelot

      T.H.White's modern rendition of the romantic drama Camelot is my favorite movie. Filmed in a setting which took three years to complete the backdrop was all about the legendary King Author of England.

       Richard Harris who played King Author was in his youth. His stately demeanor, elegant physical bearing in the way he walked, and his gentle manner told of  kingly ways. The gold, heavy looking crown rested regally on his head when he was having an audience with a host of guests and it reminded them he was the power on the thrown. The arrow gold spikes on a circle rested easily on his head.

        When he was alone his  musings went to a different attitude. “I know what my people are thinking tonight,” he would mutter. “They are wondering, 'what is the King thinking tonight?”  “I'll tell you. He's scared.”

           Upon learning of Guinevere and Lancelot's affair he said, “How can they do this to me? I'm a man.  He went on to say, I'm not a man. I'm a King. I'm civilized.  What about their pain and torment. By God I shall be a King. I'll reach for the stars. Violence is not strength. We are civilized. We shall live through this together. May God have mercy on us all.”

      Guenevere, Author's queen, played by Vanessa Redgrave, was equally as royal in her appearance as the king's was.  Her  tall, delicate, fine bone structure might have alone selected her for this role. The long flowing gowns of the period draped easily about her body and gave her the extra grace of a stately appearance. “Jenny,”  the King called her and he named her correctly. She did not have the same moral commitment to establishing a righteous government as he did. Her love for the common activities of the people were more to her likes. May day was the month she sang, “The Merry Month of May,” as she frolicked among the fields of flowers with the maidens and their Knights.

        Guenevere manipulated the Knights against Lancelot,  the Knight from France.  Her scheme backfired on her with Franco Nero, playing Lancelot,  nearly killing one of the Knights. On his knees pleading for the man's life in prayer Lancelot was made humble as she had planned but in a different way. Guenevere's smug superiority turned to respect and then to desire.

       These events were what led to the destruction of the Round Table, Author's civilized rule, and everything he had tried to established as to solving mankind's problems with civil courts and trial by juries. The end of Camelot as the song told, “Camelot, these are the legal laws.”

Camelot, Not to be Forgot

Richard Harris took a final bow.
His spirit lifts away to its maker now.
And for his work, not to be forgot,
There is the haunting film of Camelot.

Through the years trials and troubles came,
That play always took away my pain.
For whatever reason who knows why.
Maybe it was to realize King's too,  cry.

Mr. Harris was said to be a private person,
For this I think I understand his reason.
"It's evening from December to December,
That once a fleeting wisp of glory to remember,"

"Called Camelot,"
And Richard Harris, "Not to be Forgot."


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