Arthur: King of the Britons

A fun but speculative documentary about King Arthur that contains a fair amount of special pleading and conjecture.

Richard Harris is a good host and interviews some interesting people but the case overall I wasn't that impressed by.

Starting with Tintagel, there's nothing to tie it archaeologically with Arthur and indeed no evidence of a 5th or 6th century castle there.

There's then a bit about the warlords of the time and how the Brits still had access to roads and horses. The section on swords was probably most interesting. The parts on Cadbury Hillfort and Glastonbury are again speculative as nothing that compelling is unearthed to suggest an undeniable connection.

I am dying to own this documentary on DVD. I hope it will be released soon. It's got to be one of the last projects of this type Richard Harris did, and it's excellent. It covers so many aspects of the studies that have been done over the years on who the real King Arthur might have been. The scenery is fantastic and Richard Harris's narration makes you really want to go see these places he talks about. One of the best documentaries I have ever seen on the subject.

At the end of his life, Richard Harris bequeaths to us what is known and reliably believed about King Arthur, who he portrayed in the film Camelot.

I agree that the locations in Britain are beautiful and that the computer animation of structures both being torn down and built up ... and swords materializing into Richard's hand for example ... are incredible.

As to the reviewer here who holds up the recent film King Arthur as an example of scholarship, he is as empty as his nom de plume. King Arthur is an excellent film which brings back the era of Roman decline, but takes great artistic license.

Just one example: archaeology dates Arthur as being in the late 400s and/or early 500s, while the King Arthur film has him at the very time of Rome's departure: 410.

The archaeological detective work that Richard Harris narrates is fascinating and gives Arthur real, historical embodiment and immortality.

It is a beautiful legacy that Richard Harris has helped to leave with us, and I found and freely viewed it on YouTube.

The roots of Arthurian Legend are brilliantly explored in this documentary hosted by the late,great Richard Harris. Although Professional and Amateur Arthur Historians may find it a bit too short,it still presents the facts and possibilities in a thorough fashion. Historian Geoffrey Ashe is interviewed about the legend and the historical events that inspired it,while Harris (who played Arthur on stage and screen) narrates on location from some of the most beautiful sites in England's history.

Arthur - King of the Britons features actor Richard Harris, who portrayed Arthur in the film Camelot.

He tries to unravel the story of the mythical king Arthur, using live action and computer graphics.

He travels throughout the British Isles visiting legendary locations such as Arthur's birthplace in Tintagel, Cornwall.

He also tries to find the mythical Isle of Avalon, where Arthur is said to have been buried.

Camelot is also recreated as are the battlefields where he won his greatest victories.

All together a well presented documentary with some very nice graphics.