A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN KING ARTHUR'S COURT

US, 1949, 106 minutes, Colour.
Bing Crosby, Rhonda Fleming, William Bendix, Cedric Hardwicke, Mervyn Vye.
Directed by Tay Garnett.

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court is a Bing Crosby vehicle of the late forties and tailor-made for his style. Beautifully and colourfully photographed, this story by Mark Twain takes us into the world of fantasy and takes an American innocent abroad to the European past. It is quite delightful as a twentieth century man goes back and tries to talk, in American jargon, to the people of the past about the things of the present. There is some good social satire implicit in Twain's story.

Bing Crosby is certainly an easy-going hero. Rhonda Fleming is an attractive heroine. William Bendix carries the comedy, somewhat strangely, as Sir Sagramore and Cedric Hardwicke is quite a humorous and effective King Arthur. This present version of the story is musical and the style of the songs is that of Bing Crosby. Directed by Tay Garnett, a veteran film-maker from the thirties to the sixties (Valley of Decision, The Postman Always Rings Twice).

1. 40s entertainment in terms of comedy, musical, Bing Crosby and his popularity? Entertainment value, now?

2. The contribution of Mark Twain to American literature and images of America? The transferring of his novel to the screen? Insights into America of the 19th century and the 20th? The fable about the new world transported to the old and the old world in the light of the new?

3. The setting of the musical adaptation, the Bing Crosby style, Rhonda, Fleming’s songs, the song with King Arthur and Sir Sagramore, with Bing Crosby? What did they contribute to the overall impact of the film?

4. The importance of fantasy, imagination, dreaming? The possibility of movement in time and going back into the past while retaining the attitudes of the present? For Americans to go to Arthur's England?

5. The symbol of Camelot? King Arthur’s times, the Knights of the Round Table, adventure and heroism? How well did the film use the Camelot ingredients and highlight the symbolism? An American in Camelot?

6. The 20th century framework of the film? The tour of the castle, Bing Crosby's presence and style, talking to the guide, communicating with knowledge about the history? The visit to the Lord of the Castle and his cold and the link with King Arthur? His niece and the fact that she was the same woman? The happy ending? The atmosphere of
unsolved mystery?

7. The atmosphere of Connecticut at the turn of the century? Hank and his work, the blacksmith and the cars taking over, the children and the singing? The basic situation and the horse riding and the transition to Camelot? The audience identifying and travelling back with him?

8. The humorous introduction of Sir Sagramore and his story? Their fear that Hank was a monster? His taking him captive, introduction to the Court? Hank's not being sentenced to death because of Sir Sagramore being beholden to Hank and becoming his steward? Sir Sagramore as an ironic contribution to the irony of the film? William Bendix as a very American Sir Sagramore?

9. The comparisons with the past and the present? England and America? Inventions, the explanation of these? The use of the magnifying glass for flames and the magical interpretation? The dancing and the comment on reserved manners? The various other instruments especially the pistol?

10. The character of King Arthur, old and crotchety and contrary to heroic legend? His colds and his humour? His court and atmosphere, the round table, the personalities of the various knights? The various anomalies of the king and of Hank? Sir Lancelot and his taking himself seriously?

11. The humour of Hank being understood as a monster, the danger of death and imprisonment, his magic? His being transformed into Sir Boss and his place, at the court?

12. The romance, and the conventional heroine of the court? How attractive was she? The jealousy for Sir Lancelot and his meeting Sir Boss? The humour and the parody of the joust and the tournament? The heroine's reaction and siding with Sir Lancelot?

13. The importance of the advice to the king to tour the countryside and know his people, the political and social comment, the king being maltreated by aristocracy, being sold as a slave? The danger, the humour of the eclipse and people's superstitions, the rescue?

14. An American dream? America and the new world having a look at the old and its values and traditions? How interesting a piece of Americana?