As the 2023-2024 school year gets underway, most English teachers are preparing to add the study of Arthurian legend as part of their curriculum for the coming year. Now, of course, the Arthurian Legend is about the legend of King Arthur and his kingdom of Camelot and how it’s represented in various phrases such as “might for right” and “the best thing for being sad is to learn something.”
Of course, while the legend has been brought to the screen plenty of times, you might ask yourself what is the best movie about the Arthurian Legend to show special education English classes? Well, that’s what we are going to cover in this blog and as usual, if there is any movies you personally recommend that isn’t on the list, let me know.
Anyways, let’s get started:
#5: “Knights of the Round Table” (1953)
Perhaps the first major telling of the Arthurian Legend, “Knights of the Round Table” (1953) from Metro Goldwyn Mayer follows the story of King Arthur (Mel Ferrer) closely although most of the focus is on King Arthur’s best knight, Lancelot Du Lac (Robert Taylor). What is interesting about this version is that it gives plenty of development for Modred (Stanley Baker) who along with Morgan Le Fay (Anne Crawford) try to bring disorder to Camelot by any means necessary such as killing Merlin (you know, for kids!) and bringing Civil War to England.
Being that this was one of the first films about Arthurian legend, “Knights of the Round Table” isn’t a perfect film but it at least tries to get it’s feet going in some way. Oh, and by the way, there is one character who serves both as squire and stead that you should keep your eye on and that’s Berrick, Lancelot’s horse.
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#4: “The Sword in the Stone” (1963)
For this next entry, I’m probably not going to be the only one to say that this film was my introduction to the Arthurian Legend. Disney’s “The Sword in the Stone” is essentially a look at Arthurian Legend for young children but takes that Disney approach.
For this version, the story largely focuses on the relationship between Wart aka Arthur (Rickie Sorenson, Richard and Robert Reitherman) and Merlin (Karl Swenson) and how education is more important than anything even by being a squire. By transforming Wart into animals such as fish, squirrels and birds, Merlin teaches Arthur how the world wags and what wags the world. Also unlike in most versions, Merlin does face opposition from Wart’s foster father, Sir Ector (Sebastian Cabot) and Wart’s foster brother, Kay (Norman Alden) as well as the sorceress Mad Madam Mim (Martha Wentworth) which climaxes in a wizard’s duel between Mim and Merlin.
But, the ending is largely the same where Arthur pulls the sword from the stone and is proclaimed king as ordained by God himself. Speaking of God, is it just me or did he get Wart’s replacement sick with the mumps? You be the judge.
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#3: “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” (1975)
For the next entry on this list, I wanted to bring a little humor into the Arthurian Legend because students won’t entirely learn if it’s all bland and boring. “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” (1975) is largely about the search for the elusive Holy Grail, the cup that Christ himself used at the Last Supper.
Unlike most versions, this version lampoons on the Arthurian Legend but in a respectable way. Although there is some moments of language and inappropriate imagery, if you want a version that gives your students the chance to learn about Arthurian Legend, but also lighten the mood, this would be the version for you. I won’t spoil anything, but the ending isn’t all what you think it is.
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#2: “Camelot” (1967)
I’m sure many of you have listened and read my thoughts on why I think the film version of “Camelot” (1967) is the more superior version of the Arthurian Legend. Whereas “Sword in the Stone” was more of an introductory tale, this version is the one that introduces students to the proper Arthurian legend and largely covers the romance between King Arthur (Richard Harris), Queen Guenevere (Vanessa Redgrave) and Sir Lancelot (Franco Nero).
However, the one thing to note about this version is that it has a downer ending and students need to learn that not everything in life has a happy ending. “Camelot” (1967) carries that message across, and this isn’t the first movie I saw that goes from brightness at the beginning to darkness at the ending. It’s also one of those movies where Mordred doesn’t get his comeuppance on screen, but instead the ending is more about that brightness coming back when Arthur passes on the legend of Camelot to a young boy named Tom of Warwick.
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#1: “Excalibur” (1981)
Now, even though I have not seen this movie in its entirety, I can’t really go too deep into the story like all the others. However, I will say that this is top version to show special education students because it covers the history of King Arthur from when he was a young boy all the way to his death. What’s more was that Arthur at all his ages were played by one actor (Nigel Terry) which is more than impressive in itself.
But being that this is the true version of King Arthur, there is a lot of capturing of medieval life that involves killing, sword fighting, etc., so if you have any students that are bothered slightly, they should know this going in. Still, its the only version that covers Arthur’s life from start to finish where as “Knights of the Round Table” shows Arthur pulling the sword out already a full grown man. Furthermore, it has a very peaceful ending where Arthur is taken to his new home while Sir Percival (Nicholas Clay) looks on.
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So, that is my top 5 list of the best movies on Arthurian Legend to show Special Education students. Again, if you know of any movies that I should have included please let me know.
Catch you all later!!
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