Camelot DVD: Review By Brokaw

May 9th, 2007 by Brokaw
This is a first class performance of the legendary tale.
  • OVERALL
    4.5
    SUPERB
  • Feature
  • Extras
  • Replay Value
THE GOOD
This is a first class performance of the legendary tale.
THE BAD
The bonus features are lacking, but the performance more than makes up for that!
THE FEATURE
Long before the motion picture, Camelot was a Broadway play. Written by legendary writers Lerner and Loewe, this new DVD puts viewers in the front row of a 1982 performance at New York's Winter Garden Theater. Playing the optimistic King Arthur is Richard Harris, who starred in the 1967 film version of the classic tale of idealism and love.

Arthur envisions a world where laws govern, violence is obsolete, and might is used for right. With his Queen Guenevere (Meg Bussert) by his side he sets up the round table where knights gather and no one is more important than the other. Lancelot (Richard Muenz) hears of the idealistic king and his round table and travels from France to join this new order. Lancelot and Arthur become best friends, and soon Lance and Guenevere discover a strong attraction between them, thereby putting in jeopardy everything good Arthur has accomplished. When Arthur's illegitimate son arrives to claim his heritage to the throne, he sets out to destroy everything his father has built.

This tale of heroics, love, and justice is a wonderful musical with songs like "I Wonder What the King is Doing Tonight," "If Ever I Would Leave You," and the title song, "Camelot," which inspired Jacqueline Kennedy to compare her husband's administration to that of the idealistic King Arthur.
THE EXTRAS
The DVD contains some biographies of writers Lerner and Loewe and Richard Harris. Also included are comments written by Meg Bussert.
THE VIDEO
Full Screen, 4:3 ratio. Everything is clear and puts viewers right up on the stage with the actors.
THE AUDIO
Dolby Digital. Stereo. Great audio. It is as though the performers are right next to you. The songs all sound crisp and clear.
THE FINAL WORD
This production was originally broadcast on HBO in 1983. Now it is available on DVD for everyone to enjoy. It is an enchanting video, and provides a wonderful viewing experience. It's different from the movie, so if that is the only version of this story that you know, you deserve to watch this DVD and see the story unfold the way it was originally written. This is pure entertainment!

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