vorkapich This film was obviously cobbled together to continue the success of Ivanhoe the previous year. The script has that factitious quality indicative of several hands having worked on it; it is largely a series of loosely linked scenes between the action sequences, with some unintentionally funny effects. Robert Taylor attempting some medieval dancing is one of the awkward moments here. The leads look as if they have been summoned to a costume party, and not entirely comfortable being surrounded by all those capable English actors — Ava Gardner in particular seems unusually bemused.M-G-M had a production unit in England, so the scenery is authentically lovely in Cinemascope (the first Cinemascope feature not made by Twentieth Century-Fox), with the master Freddie Young as DOP.The brief cycle of "when knighthood was in flower" films was parodied in The Court Jester with Danny Kaye a couple of years after this film was released, and it is even funnier, albeit deliberately.

poj-man The Knights of the Round Table is standard G rated romantic fantasy. In the 1950's it was larger budget epic with scenes at places such as a recreated Stonehenge. Everyone wears clean colorful clothing. The lines are clearly enunciated like a stage play. The knights and ladies are quite chivalrous.One can also see how the Monty Python crew watched this film and found it quite silly. To listen to the way the actors and actresses speak to each other the way that they do makes one rolls ones eyes with laughter. Lancelot comes across the maiden Elaine in the woods. Elaine is just wandering the woods in her Barbie Doll fantasy mind. She is so young and virginal looking. She prayed for a knight to come and seep her away and "poof" Lancelot appears. So do 5 other knights for Lancelot to gleefully fight because, you know, that's what knights do. Of course the girl is virginally horny watching her brave knight fight; too bad it is the 1950's or we would be treated to some Zoot action in today's wold! (sigh) The parodies Monty Python worked into The Holy Grail are quite obvious.Take a chill pill and enjoy the ride.

inspectors71 Amid the costumes and the cardboard, the Arthurian Legend gets lost in 1954's Knights of the Round Table, a dreary and verbose clanger with Robert Taylor, Ava Gardner, and Mel Ferrer. I remember watching bits and pieces of this Medieval clunker when I was a kid (who'd ask a ten year old to sit through two hours of stilted yabber, punctuated with an occasional sword fight?) and I had never realized how serpentine Mel Ferrer was, how Stonehenge-sturdy Robert Taylor could be, and how Ava Gardner's beauty could be spoiled with the metric tonne of makeup she wore.I wouldn't bother with the plot--it's old hat, or in this case, rusty helmet. Needless to say, there're goodies spouting honorable twaddle and baddies giving each other knowing glances, and oozing E-Vill. There's even some religious stuff about the Holy Grail.Just to be nasty, did anyone ever think that it might be best if the toupees should come off in order to make the actors look a bit less like cartoon characters? And how about losing the tights for something more trouser-ish? Oh, well. KOTRT was made in a bygone era, some 55 years ago, when the conventions of a costume drama were quite different than the occasional period-piece bloodbath we have to endure in our modern time. If you can stay awake through the blather, you might just enjoy this nonsense.Maybe a little, maybe a came-lot.Oh, Lord. I deserve my head on a pike for that one.

ragosaal This approach to King Arthur's legend is pure adventure and color. It has good battle scenes, interesting sword duels, a good cast, acceptable settings and wide open outdoor shootings, elaborated costumes and armors (if you don't look for historical accuracy, since those full metal armors appeared about five centuries later), intrigue, romance and the classical final duel hero-villain; but some flaws too.I think the picture is too long; in fact its start and ending have rhythm and are entertaining but it sort of bumps in the middle part and becomes kind of slow (a 10/15 minutes cut would have probably made it better). Lancelot's horse "Berick" is too smart even for a legend and somehow he saves the day at the end which is not very believable.The cast is alright. Robert Taylor (Sir Lancelot) renders an acceptable performance as the loyal knight pretty much as he had done recently in "Ivanhoe" (1952). Mel Ferrer, if not brilliant, gives some dignity to his role as king Arthur. Ava Gardner shows her undeniable beauty as Queen Gwinevere who falls in love with the wrong man. Stanley Baker (Sir Mordred) plays a credible and treacherous villain. Felix Aylmer is there too as Merlin.You could even say that "Knights of the Round Table" has aged rather well, but perhaps it has because later and even recent films on the same subject didn't come out well such us "First Knight" and "King Arthur" among others.