History Film / KnightsOfTheRoundTable

''Knights of the Round Table'' is a 1953 [[Creator/MetroGoldwynMayer MGM]] film directed by Richard Thorpe - the studio's first production in Cinemascope. It was inspired by Sir Thomas Malory's ''Literature/LeMorteDarthur'' and starred Robert Taylor as Sir Lancelot, Creator/AvaGardner as Queen Guinevere, Mel Ferrer as [[Myth/KingArthur Arthur Pendragon]], Anne Crawford as Morgan Le Fay, Stanley Baker as Mordred and Felix Aylmer as Merlin.

The film is part of a ThematicSeries with 1952's ''Film/{{Ivanhoe}}'' and 1955's ''Quentin Durward'' (which were [[ProductionPosse also directed by Richard Thorpe and also starred Robert Taylor]]), with a similar chivalric spirit and tone and similarly lavish production values.

The film is part of a ThematicSeries with 1952's ''Film/{{Ivanhoe}}'' and 1955's ''Quentin Durward'' (which were [[ProductionPosse also directed by Richard Thorpe and also starred Robert Taylor]]), with a similar chivalric spirit and tone and lavish production values.

* {{Excalibur}}: The sword is stuck in an anvil at the beginning of the film. Whosoever can pull it out of the anvil is the legitimate king. Mordred can't pull it, then Arthur does effortlessly. That part falls into MaybeMagicMaybeMundane territory, as no magic is shown in the film otherwise.

* AnachronismStew: Like most literary and movie depictions (until ''Film/KingArthur'' that is), Arthurians myths are portrayed with [[TheLateMiddleAges Late Middle Ages]] clothes, armors, weapons, {{Jousting Lance}}s, English language and stone castles. The real trouble starts when the story is said to take place right after the end of Roman Britannia (circa 410 AD), right at the beginning...

The film is part of a ThematicSeries with 1952's ''Film/{{Ivanhoe}}'' and 1955's ''Quentin Durward'' (which were [[ProductionPosse also directed by Richard Thorpe and also starred Robert Taylor]]), what with their similar chivalric spirit and tone and lavish production values.

The film can be considered as part of a ThematicSeries with 1952's ''Film/{{Ivanhoe}}'' and 1955's ''Quentin Durward'' (which were [[ProductionPosse also directed by Richard Thorpe and also starred Robert Taylor]]), what with their similar chivalric spirit and tone and lavish production values.

Very much a SpiritualSuccessor to 1952's ''Literature/{{Ivanhoe}}'' (which was [[ProductionPosse also directed by Richard Thorpe and also starred Robert Taylor]]) with a similar chivalric spirit and tone, and lavish production values.

* KnightInShiningArmor: This film's Lancelot is a textbook example. He lives by HonorBeforeReason, seeks to correct wrongs wherever he sees them, despises dirty fighting...

* HonorBeforeReason: Lancelot lives and breathes this.

* LiteralAssKicking: When finishing the fight against the knights who were about to ambush Arthur on Mordred's orders, Lancelot stings the butt of the last standing enemy with his sword.

* LiteralAssKicking: When finishing the fight against the knights who were about to ambush Arthur, Lancelot stings the butt of the last standing enemy with his sword.

Very much a SpiritualSuccessor to 1952's ''Literature/{{Ivanhoe}}'' (which was also directed by Richard Thorpe and also starred Robert Taylor) in chivalric spirit and tone, and lavish production values.

* QuicksandSucks: Mordred has a pond of quicksand down the cliff his castle stands on. He has a {{turncoat}} soldier who tipped him on where to find Arthur [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness thrown in it]] at one point, and Lancelot falls in it as well at the end of the DuelToTheDeath against Mordred. Lancelot is then saved by his horse.

* QuicksandSucks: Mordred has a pond of quicksand down the cliff his castle stands on. He has a {{turncoat}} soldier who tipped him on where to find Arthur [[[[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness thrown in it]] at one point, and Lancelot falls in it as well at the end of the DuelToTheDeath against Mordred. Lancelot is then saved by his horse.

* QuicksandSucks: Mordred has a pond of quicksand down the cliff his castle stands on. [[YouHaveFailedMe He has a henchman who failed him thrown in it]] at one point, and Lancelot falls in it as well at the end of the DuelToTheDeath against Mordred. Lancelot is then saved by his horse.

* AnachronismStew: Like most literary and movie depictions (until ''Film/KingArthur'' that is), Arthurians myths are portrayed with [[TheLateMiddleAges Late Middle Ages]] clothes, armors, weapons, {{Jousting Lance}}s, English language and stone castles. The real trouble starts when the end of Roman Britannia (circa 410 AD) is mentioned right at the beginning...

* AnachronismStew: Like most literary and movie depictions (until ''Film/KingArthur'' that is), Arthurians myths are portrayed with [[TheLateMiddleAges Late Middle Ages]] clothes, armors, weapons, {{Jousting Lance}}s and stone castles. The real trouble starts when the end of Roman Britannia (circa 410 AD) is mentioned right at the beginning...

* BittersweetEnding: Even though he has been avenged by Lancelot eventually, Arthur dies.

* BitterweetEnding: Even though he has been avenged by Lancelot eventually, Arthur dies.

* QuicksandSucks: Mordred has a pond of quicksand down the cliff his castle stands on. He has a henchman who failed him thrown in at one point, and Lancelot falls into it at the end of the DuelToTheDeath against Mordred. Lancelot is then saved by his horse.

* AnachronismStew: Like most literary and movie depictions (until ''Film/KingArthur'' that is), Arthurians myths are portrayed with [[TheLateMiddleAges Late Middle Ages]] clothes, armors, weapons, {{Jousting Lance}}s and stone castles. The trouble starts when the end of Roman Britannia (circa 410 AD) is mentioned right at the beginning...

Very much a SpiritualSuccessor to 1952's ''Literature/{{Ivanhoe}}'' in chivalric spirit and tone, and lavish production values -- and it was made by the same team.

Very much a SpiritualSuccessor to 1952's ''Literature/{{Ivanhoe}}'' in chivalric spirit and tone, and lavish production values.