Host Dr Pasquale Iannone marks 45 years since the release of Excalibur, John Boorman’s epic re-telling of the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Released in 1981, the film was shot in Ireland and features Nigel Terry as King Arthur, Nicol Williamson as Merlin as well as several future Hollywood stars such as Helen Mirren, Gabriel Byrne, Patrick Stewart and Liam Neeson.
Joining Pasquale to discuss Excalibur and its approach to Arthurian lore are two specialists in both history and film. Dr Ralph Moffat is Curator of European Arms and Armour at Glasgow Museums. He is responsible for the care, research and dissemination of information about the collection. He is the author of a three-volume sourcebook for the study of medieval arms and armour and recently curated the redisplay of arms and armour at Glasgow’s Burrell Collection.
Douglas Wilson Garry recently completed his MSc in Film Studies at the University of Edinburgh. He is also a poet and performer. Throughout his work, both academic and creative, he explores folklore, representations of nature and history.
In the discussion, Ralph, Douglas and Pasquale discuss the background to the film and its approach to the legend of King Arthur. They place the film in the context of director Boorman’s career, explore its starry cast, its cinematography, use of locations and its distinctive use of music.
