Morte d'Arthur 1984
Morte d’Arthur
BBC TV Film - 1984
Morte d’Arthur was a BBC TV film based on Thomas Mallory’s book written in 1470 and tells the story of King Arthur facing his doom as his kingdom is undermined by the love of his queen - Guinevere - for Sir Launcelot, and the treachery of his son, Mordred.
It featured silent actors miming the events and emotions of the story performing while John Barton, portraying Thomas Mallory, narrates the tale to an accompanying music soundtrack.
Conceived by Gillian, she revealed in a Radio Times article that she had chosen Jeremy Brett to play King Arthur because “he had exactly the right kind of noble face and gentleness to play Arthur.”
The same article reveals Jeremy Brett’s concerns about playing without dialogue saying “as a actor I find it impossible to bear not having any exchange of words. I feel dispossed. So I learned all of Arthur’s lines to give myself something to work with. It’s been complex, it’s been dangerous, you hope that the effect of the flood of emotion you show through the brooding look isn't too grotesque.”
The film received the Samuel G Engel International TV Drama Award for direction.
Cast included:
King Arthur: Jeremy Brett / Barbara Kellerman: Queen Guinevere / John Barton: Sir Thomas Mallory / Nickolas Grace: Sir Mordred / Anton Dolin: Archbishop of Canterbury / David Robb: Sir Lancelot / Roy Jones: Sir Bors /Roland Alexander: Sir Gawain / Frederick Warder: Sir Agravain / Barrie Young: Sir Bedivere / John Thornton: Sir Urre
Deviser/Director: Gillian Lynne
Producer: Robin Midgley
