Customer Reviews

Camelot: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1967 Film)

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I know this opinion may be controversial,but as far as I am concerned,this is the best recording of "Camelot" ever done. Although Richard Burton was a magnificent actor,his performance on the original cast LP was too uninflected--he simply sang the songs and recited the lines. Julie Andrews is one of my favorite musical stars, but she came across on the album as full of sweetness and devoid of the sweeping romantic passion Guenevere is supposed to have. Robert Goulet,on the other hand,was immensely successful with his songs.

In contrast, Richard Harris,on this CD (and NOT the mediocre 1980's revival),gives the performance of his life as King Arthur,avoiding,under Joshua Logan's direction, the outrageous hamming of the later stage revival. His Arthur is human,touching,and vulnerable,and Harris fills his songs with all sorts of voice inflections (he half-speaks,half-sings) that give the role true depth (those who want to see his entire performance should see the film - his acting is postively Shakespearean). Vanessa Redgrave,with a small, but appealing and immensely sexy singing voice, also brings out more of the character of Guenevere. Gene Merlino, who dubbed Franco Nero's Lancelot, is just OK with the songs, but even his "acting" is good. The sumptuous orchestrations are far more imposing than Robert Russell Bennett and Phil Lang's were in the stage version, and Bennett was a very good orchestrator, so you can imagine how good these new ones are.

After wearing out my cassette of this soundtrack, I decided to buy the CD. Mistakenly bought the original Broadway cast production, I felt it lacked alot of the nuances, intensity & drama of the movie soundtrack. We LOVE this CD. My children have listened to it since they were 2 or 3 years old, & now at 9 & 11 yrs old, still don't care for Broadway show/type musicals or soundtracks except for this one. I have always felt there was something magical about the story, the movie & the music - apparently have passed it on to another generation.

I owned this (the movie version) years ago as a record and loved it. Then I got rid of my records and switched to CD's. After several years I was missing my Camelot music. So I bought the Broadway cast version with Julie Andrews & Richard Burton (how could I go wrong?!?). I was quite disappointed and over the next couple years only listened to Camelot, perhaps, once more. Finally, I realized that I needed to buy the movie version of Camelot with Vanessa Redgrave and Richard Harris. Wow, I am delighted once again!! Now I find myself humming the songs and looking forward to hearing Camelot again.

The film version of CAMELOT ended up being a none-too-flattering vision of the original Lerner-Loewe musical. Directed by Joshua Logan and starring Richard Harris and Vanessa Redgrave, the movie was a modest success, it's long running-time and slow pace the main factors it it's failure. The soundtrack album is a delight, however. Vanessa Redgrave makes for an interesting Guenevere, singing in a charming speak-sing fashion (a la Rex Harrison in MY FAIR LADY), and makes the role her own. Those asking why Julie Andrews missed out on recreating her stage role should be aware that Miss Andrews was approached but had commitments to several films at the time (STAR!, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE and TORN CURTAIN).

Richard Harris went on to play King Arthur again in several big revivals of CAMELOT including the 1982 London production w/ Fiona Fullerton as well as the Australian tour shortly afterward. Franco Nero (with a voice dubbed by Gene Merlino) is a romantic Lancelot. Redgrave is most charming with her flirtatious "Take Me to the Fair", though her "Simple Joys of Maidenhood" is lovely, and the resignation to her fate in "I Loved You Once in Silence" is truly heartbreaking.

If you liked the movie, Camalot, with Vanessa Redgrave and Richard Harris, go ahead and buy this album. The technical quality is good. However, if you didn't, Camalot, 1960 Original Broadway Cast, is much more satisfying in my view (or ear). Julie Andrews and Richard Burton can sing with greater richness and better pitch, and are wonderful on this recording. After umpteen years listening to the vinyl Original Cast, I "upgraded" my collection with a CD by buying the Movie Soundtrack based upon reviews at Amazon. I have tried listening to it many times, but I don't think those people sing well. I am now buying the Original Cast.

Unlike some truly odoriferous Schlockbusters in the overstuffed dustbin of 60's musical history (Paint Your Wagon, Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang, Song of Norway, etc.) Camelot remains standing as one of the crown jewels.

Despite Joshua Logan's ponderous direction, vertigo-inducing use of closeups ad nauseam and a few outdated attempts to hitch the film to the emerging groove of 60's free love, Camelot does not deserve the moniker of turkey so ascribed to it over the years. It was given a cool critical reception (ummmmm....didn't something called "The Sound of Music" fare worse at the pens of the critics?) but did relatively well financially and retains a beauty, poignancy and majesty that continues to endear it to filmgoers.

While Julie Andrews had the pipes and Burton had the name, she was too virginally sweet to even consider looking at another man yet alone pulling the trigger and he was too solemnly regal and lofty to convey the torment, loneliness and sad optimism of Arthur. Vanessa Redgrave gave us a Guinevere who was amazingly sexy, kittenish,self-centered yet frail, compassionate and torn between the man she worships and the man she loves. Harris' Arthur is so well crafted and real in terms of his high ideals and the soul-shredding path he trods to protect his vision and the two people he loves despite their betrayal. Franco Nero's Lancelot is understandably schizophrenic in going from a self-obsessed, priggish windbag to a very fallible and deceptive man who suffers from having to live a lie with his best friend who also happens to be his lord and king. Not an easy bit of business pulling it off but the three did with great depth, texture and all around heartbreak.

John Truscott's costume and production design remains a lightning stroke of genius and originality whose work obviously influenced the earthy, organic Victorian/Gothic Revival look that became the hallmark of the late 60's early 70's hip counterculture. Edward Carrere's sets, not just the use of the Alcazar and Coca Castles in Spain but the astounding Camelot castle set on the Burbank Studio lot (later used in "Kung Fu")gave a awesome sense of time and place without alluding to any particular time.

All that being said, real kudos go to Alan Jay Lerner and Fritz Loewe for the timeless beauty and effervescently classiness of their music and lyrics...akin to Dom Perignon for the ears. Expanding the closed in confines of the stage experience, Alfred Newman - one of the true geniuses produced by the studio music system - created a symphonic, sweeping score that runs from trumpet fanfares and luscious offerings of those "Newman Strings" to poignant love ballads with mandolin or even harpsichord. After composing the truly massive and physically draining scores for "How the West Was Won" and "The Greatest Story Ever Told" Newman told longtime collaborator and vocal arranger Ken Darby that "the well is almost dry." His masterful arrangements for Lerner & Loewe's score proved that with genius the water always manages to bubble up from deeper recesses in the soul.

What's the point? With the soundtrack of Camelot only available in an old analog pressing of the '67 Warner Brothers album, isn't it about time that we get the entire symphonic score of the film along with unused cues, outtakes and recording session rehearsals? Why doesn't Varese Sarabande or TCM's Rhino Music take on a special edition of Camelot that will give justice to the majesty and awesome beauty of the score? If this long winded missive falls under the eyes of Rudy Behlmer or Lukas Kendall, who have spearheaded the recovery and proper presentation of so many classic films, why don't they consider putting Camelot in their crosshairs? Along with a commemorative booklet with photos and liner notes, this would be just as welcome an addition to our collections as Miklos Rozsa's "El Cid", Bronislau Kaper's "Mutiny on the Bounty" and, God willing, Dmitri Tiomkin's "Fall of the Roman Empire."

Who better than these gentlemen to realize the importance of honoring greatness and our musical heritage. Jack Warner, Richard Harris, Alfred Newman, David Hemmings and Messrs. Lerner and Loewe, thank you very much and God rest you.

The singing is not in the same leage us the Broadway CD. This is a movie. So, the ambience is different. While the singers Richard Harris and Vanessa Redgrave are quite competent, the underscoring is something out of this world. Veteran Alfred Newman (the wonder boy conductor who started out conducting George Gershwin`s musicals in the twenties) and his longtime associate vocal director, Ken Darby put together a magical score that is definitive and gave life and meaning to Lerner and Loewe`s music and lyrics. Newman deservedly won his last Oscar for music adaptation. If you listen carefully to the scoring, you will realise it can be regarded as a wonderful music score in its own right. All through the picture, the music glows and dazzles and rejuvenates somewhat ploddish direction by Joshua Logan. Please have both Broadway and movie CDs. Both have their own merits. Enjoy.

As a huge fan of Broadway musicals and Arthurian Legend, this play is truely one of my favorites. The music had so much depth and passion and is performed beautifully by these gifted actors. I constantly listen to the soundtrack and repeatadly watch the movie. I assure you, buy this CD!

i absolutely love this cd. i've listen to my recorded tape ever since i can remember and it's just the best version i've ever heard. it's much much much better than the julie andrews version. in my opinion, vanessa redgrave suits gweneviere much better than julie andrews. her voice is huskier and more dramatic. i can't help but think of a motherly nun when i think of julie andrews.

Vanessa Redgrave and Richard Harris are wonderful on this soundtrack, and the sound is so crisp and clear. While the 1960 Original Broadway Cast album (with Julie Andrews and Richard Burton) is clearly superior and is the album of choice, here we have a unique interpretation of one of Lerner and Loewe's best scores. My only gripe is the changing of lyrics in some places, most notably in "Simple Joys of Maidenhood."