Camelot: That Once a Fleeting Wisp of Glory to Remember
By Sherril Steele-Carlin
Lush sets, lush costumes, and a sublime score mark Camelot, the 1967 big-budget musical film adapted from the stage. The film's score won an Academy Award, and Richard Harris, playing King Arthur won a Golden Globe in 1968 for his portrayal of the legendary king.
The costumes are sensational, as are the larger-than-life sets, and this DVD format brings them marvelously to life. If there is anything to fault in this film, it could be the nearly 3-hour length that seems to bog down at some points. However, if anyone is unfamiliar with the myth of King Arthur and his Round Table, this film will help make at least some of that myth a little less mystifying.
The film is presented in a letterboxed widescreen format, with totally remastered Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround sound. Subtitles are available in English, French and Spanish. The soundtrack is also available on its own, but not in other languages. The picture quality is excellent, bringing out many minute details in the castle and in many of the other sumptuous sets. The sound rendering adds much to this version, even though none of the actors is really a singer. The score by Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner is much grander than the singers, by far. In addition, the soundtrack is available as a separate sound channel on this re-release of the DVD.
DVD Additional Features
This re-release also contains some excellent and interesting bonus material. Included are two documentaries, "The Story of Camelot," and "Camelot World Premier." The DVD also includes production notes, bios and information on the cast and crew, and five theatrical trailers. There is also a brief discussion of the legend of King Arthur that this show was first based on. The bonus material offers an extra treat for fans of this movie, and shouldn't be missed.
