12 Best King Arthur Movies Ranked: Worst To Best
8. Camelot (1967)
Camelot is most famous today for its association with the presidency of John F. Kennedy. The themes of a vanished golden age resonate with admirers of JFK's short tenure in the White House. However, Camelot is rooted in the ideas of its source material, The Once and Future King; how does one build a perfect world when the people who live in it are imperfect? The musical, starring Richard Burton and Julie Andrews, was a success. The adaptation, starring Richard Harris and Vanessa Redgrave, was not.
The problem with the film lies in its commitment exploring T.H. White's ideas in the midst of a lavish Hollywood musical. The competing tones clash, and not in a fascinating way. It doesn't help that, despite the film's huge cost, everything looks fake. Everything was fake, of course, but it was supposed to look fantastical. Instead, everything is very brown or very grey.
The movie has its moments, however. Harris (who fiercely coveted the role) is quite good as the King. His Arthur is full of optimism and overwhelmed by despair. His final scene, where he entreats a young squire to remember Camelot, is genuinely moving. The fact that the squire, named Tom of Warwick is meant to be Sir Thomas Malory is a charming touch. But it comes at the end of three hours of jaunty songs and artificial halls.