Knights of the Round Table, 1953, is playing on Turner Classic Movies on February 10 at 12:15 p.m. est. Closed Captioned.
The film was highly successful costing $2,616,000.00 and making a profit of $1,641,000.00 or $14,536,985.95 in today’s money.
Mel Ferrer, Ava Gardner, Stanley Baker, Anne Crawford, Felix Aylmer, Robert Taylor and Maureen Swanson.
This is a fine example of ’50’s style epics. Big name cast, colorful costumes,flashy swordplay, beautiful damsels and wild inaccuracies. The great Robert Taylor, who starred in several historical movies, is the honorable Sir Lancelot, a far more noble and pure portrayal than was recorded in all the legends, Ava Gardner is the stunningly beautiful Queen Guinevere, the ever dependable Felix Aylmer is the mysterious Merlin, Mel Ferer is a somewhat subdued and less than charismatic King Arthur. See it for the spectacle, costumes, word-play filled dialog and over the top Stanley Baker as Sir Mordred. Lancelot’s joust with Niall Mac Ginnis is very well done. 8 stars for pure eye filling entertainment value. Review by Wayner50 (United States) for the IMDB.
Some behind the scenes photos:
Left to right: phoning; photos; coffee; Mr. Taylor with Stanley Baker
Left to right: Mr. Taylor in armor (which he hated).
Left to right: Mr. Taylor with Mel Ferrer; Maureen Swanson; waiting for instructions.
Left to right: Robert Taylor and his co-star and friend and sometime lover Ava Gardner.
Left to right: Mr. Taylor with Richard Thorpe; taking a break; enjoying a ride on his huge horse.
I like this movie. Ava Gardner and Robert Taylor are beautiful!
LikeLike
They also had great chemistry and were lovers at one point.
LikeLike
Hi, Judith,
a curiosity: it was said that Greta Garbo in her memoirs told Robert Taylor, her partner in “Camille”, that he was beautiful, but dumb. And with this, she meant that Taylor could not act and was just a handsome young man. Does not it seem an unfair and bad judgment?
LikeLike
Hi, Fulvia. I’ve always kind of doubted whether Garbo actually said things. She said complimentary things about him at other times. According to one story, she invited him to her house and Mr. Taylor would never say what happened there. If she did make that comment, it was many years later and her memory might not have been all that good.
LikeLike
Hi, Judith.
Taylor may have just had an adventure with her and of whom he has never spoke, Miss.Garbo, then, had biseual sympathies, as the first wife of Taylor, so it turn out, and he such a gentleman that never said it. Thank you for your opinion.
LikeLike
Prego.
LikeLike
Hi Judith, just wanted to say hello again! It’s been a long time since I last commented here, but this in no way means that I am no longer a Robert Taylor fan. Quite the opposite! So glad to see you’re still running this absolutely fabulous blog. Well done, and do keep up the great work!
LikeLike
Hi, Susana, nice to hear from you again. I’m having trouble finding new material but I’ll keep looking. Thanks for your kind words. Judith
LikeLike