Excalibur (movie) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Excalibur |
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| Directed by | John Boorman |
| Produced by | John Boorman |
| Written by |
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| Starring |
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| Music by | Trevor Jones |
| Cinematography | Alex Thomson |
| Editing by | John Merritt Donn Cambern (uncredited) |
| Studio | Orion Pictures Cinema ‘84 |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
| Release date(s) | 10 April 1981 |
| Running time | 141 minutes |
| Country |
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| Language | English |
| Budget | $11 million |
| Money made | $35 million |
Excalibur is a 1981 epic medieval fantasy movie. It was directed, co-written, and produced by John Boorman. The film tells the famous story of King Arthur and his brave Knights of the Round Table. It is based on a 15th-century book called Le Morte d'Arthur by Thomas Malory.
The movie stars Nigel Terry as King Arthur and Nicol Williamson as the wizard Merlin. Other famous actors include Helen Mirren as the powerful Morgana, Liam Neeson as Gawain, and Patrick Stewart as Leondegrance. The film is named after Arthur's magical sword, Excalibur, which is very important in the story. The music in the movie includes pieces by famous composers like Richard Wagner and Carl Orff, plus original music by Trevor Jones.
John Boorman first planned to make a movie based on The Lord of the Rings. Instead, he created Excalibur. The movie was filmed entirely in Ireland. It used many Irish actors and crew members. Excalibur helped boost the film industry in Ireland. It also helped start the careers of several actors, like Liam Neeson, Patrick Stewart, and Gabriel Byrne.
The movie was a success at the box office. It earned about $35 million, which was much more than its $11 million budget. Excalibur also won an award for Best Artistic Contribution at the 1981 Cannes Film Festival. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Cinematography and a BAFTA Award for Best Costume Design.
Contents
Meet the Characters: Who's Who in Excalibur?
- Nigel Terry as Arthur: The young man who becomes king.
- Helen Mirren as Morgana Le Fay: A powerful sorceress and Arthur's half-sister.
- Kay McLaren as the aged Morgana
- Barbara Byrne as the young Morgana
- Nicholas Clay as Sir Lancelot: Arthur's most trusted knight.
- Cherie Lunghi as Guenevere: The queen and Arthur's wife.
- Paul Geoffrey as Perceval: A pure-hearted knight.
- Nicol Williamson as Merlin: The wise and mysterious wizard.
- Corin Redgrave as Duke of Cornwall: Igrayne's first husband.
- Patrick Stewart as King Leodegrance: Guenevere's father.
- Keith Buckley as Uryens: A knight.
- Clive Swift as Ector: Arthur's foster father.
- Liam Neeson as Gawain: A loyal knight of the Round Table.
- Gabriel Byrne as King Uther Pendragon: Arthur's father.
- Robert Addie as Prince Mordred: Arthur's son and enemy.
- Charley Boorman as young Mordred
- Katrine Boorman as Igrayne: Arthur's mother.
- Ciarán Hinds as King Lot: A king who fights against Arthur.
- Niall O'Brien as Sir Kay: Arthur's foster brother.
- Mannix Flynn as Mordred’s Lieutenant
- Brid Brennan as Lady-in-Waiting
- Eamon Kelly as Abbot
- Hilary Joyalle as Lady of the Lake: The mystical giver of Excalibur.
Awards and Recognition for Excalibur
Excalibur was recognized with several awards and nominations for its artistic achievements.
| Year | Award Event | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | British Society of Cinematographers | Best Cinematography in a Theatrical Feature Film | Alex Thomson | Nominated |
| 1981 | Cannes Film Festival | Palme d'Or | John Boorman | Nominated |
| Best Artistic Contribution | Won | |||
| 1982 | Academy Awards | Best Cinematography | Alex Thomson | Nominated |
| 1982 | British Academy Film Awards | Best Costume Design | Bob Ringwood | Nominated |
| 1982 | Hugo Awards | Best Dramatic Presentation | John Boorman, Rospo Pallenberg, Thomas Malory | Nominated |
| 1982 | Saturn Awards | Best Fantasy Film | Nominated | |
| Best Director | John Boorman | Nominated | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Nicol Williamson | Nominated | ||
| Best Supporting Actress | Helen Mirren | Nominated | ||
| Best Costume Design | Bob Ringwood | Won | ||
| Best Make-up | Basil Newall, Anna Dryhurst | Nominated | ||
Images for kids
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Cahir Castle during a battle scene
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A trail in County Wicklow, Ireland, showing filming locations 28 years later
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Armor from the movie Excalibur signed by the cast
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The famous sword Excalibur on display at the London Film Museum
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See also
In Spanish: Excalibur (película) para niños
