THE BLACK KNIGHT
UK, 1954, 85 minutes, Colour.
Alan Ladd, Patricia Medina, Andre Morell, Harry Andrews, Peter Cushing.
Directed by Tay Garnett.
The Black Knight was made in 1954 and reflected the interest of audiences in things mediaeval. It was the year of The Knights of the Round Table with Robert Taylor and The Black Shield of Falworth with Tony Curtis.
The Black Knight is a much more modest film and stars Alan Ladd and Patricia Medina in roles that suited them quite well, even if Ladd is not entirely British. There is an excellent English cast supporting him. The screenplay was by playwright Alec Coppel. Quite enjoyable and rousing adventure.
1. Audience entertainment about stories about king Arthur, medieval chivalry?
2. How did this film compare with others of its genre? King Arthur's court, the knights of the round table, the common knight and his heroics? Villainy? Heroines?
3. The colour photography, the more literate script? The beauty of the locations, the effectiveness of the sets? The medieval musical score? the special effects especially with the Stonehenge sequence and the battle sequences?
4. How enjoyable a plot, King Arthur's times? The nature of Camelot and the knights of the round table, how heroic, how realistic? The importance of the plot of the Cornish king with the Saracen knight against King Arthur's court? A plausible revolution? John the commoner being transformed into the Black Knight? As presented realistically, a fairy tale? a knightly version of the Cinderella theme?
5. Alan Ladd as an appropriate knight of the round table? How credible his performance? The strengths of his character? his work as an armourer, his place in the house of the Earl of Yeonil? The attraction towards Linet? The friendship of Sir Ontzlake and his support of him? His being banished, his witnessing the attack by Sir Palamides, his presence in Camelot and the nature of the boon by king Arthur, the three months testing, the transformation into the knight, his heroics and rescue? His uncovering of the plot by King Mark? His saving King Arthur’s court? An appropriate hero for this kind of film?
6. How interesting the minor characterisations, King Arthur and his ruling of his court, the various knights of the round table e.g Sir Hal and his heroics? Sir Ontzlake’s and his rising from being a commoner, his friendship with John, his training him, helping him in uncovering the plot? the Earl of Yeonil and the sudden attack on his house, his banishing of John, the pathos of his loss of memory? Linet as the conventional heroine and being in danger?
7. The presentations of the villains? King Mark and his rivalry, his place in King Arthur's court, the plots and the attempts on Arthur's life, on Camelot? The irony of his being unmasked and the nature of his death? Sir Palamides and the Saracen background, Bernard? Their leading the Viking raids? Their attempts on Arthur's life, the overthrow of their plans? Appropriate villains for this kind of film?
8. The significance of the religious question, Christianity versus paganism? Thr traditions of Christianity especially with the Abbot and the dedication of the monastery? the contrast with the orgiastic celebrations at Stonehenge and the potential martyrs? King Arthur ruining Stonehenge?
9. The atmosphere of chivalry with the initial troubadour and his song, the idealism of Camelot? The nature of chivalry and justice?
10. The world of romance, commoners becoming knights, princesses becoming their brides? Why do audiences like these excursions back into a world of romance and fantasy?
