The movie I was so eagerly waiting was entitled...
...and it opened (as had so many earlier Disney classics) with a book...
The legend Disney had inscribed on the hilt of that sword in that anvil on that stone was a direct quote from the volume on which the film was based, T H White's 1938 novel The Sword in the Stone. But, beyond that, it referred back to a book published by Caxton in 1485 – Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur...
Then stood the realm in great jeopardy long while, for every lord that was mighty of men made him strong, and many weened to have been king. Then Merlin went to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and counselled him for to send for all the lords of the realm, and all the gentlemen of arms, that they should to London come by Christmas, upon pain of cursing; and for this cause, that Jesus, that was born on that night, that he would of his great mercy show some miracle, as he was come to be king of mankind, for to show some miracle who should be rightwise king of this realm...
And when matins and the first mass was done, there was seen in the churchyard, against the high altar, a great stone four square, like unto a marble stone; and in midst thereof was like an anvil of steel a foot on high, and therein stuck a fair sword naked by the point, and letters there were written in gold about the sword that said thus:-Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil, is rightwise king born of all England.
The iconic moment in the ancient legends when young Arthur succeeds where countless others have failed in drawing the sword free of the anvil and stone has been visualised in many ways across the centuries...
...through to the climactic moment in that Disney movie...
I'm mentioning all this because 'The Sword in the Stone' is the title of the second episode of my new BBC radio dramtisation of T H White's cycle of Arthurian novels, The Once and Future King broadcast tomorrow, Sunday 16 November at 3:00 pm (repeated Saturday 22 November at 11:00 pm and on iPlayer for 30 days after transmission).
As a teaser here's young Wart (Edward Bracey) with a little encouragement from Merlyn's owl, Archimedes (Bruce Alexander), doing the legendary deed that will change his life – and mythology! – for ever!
Meanwhile, if you've not yet caught up with Episode 1, 'The Coming of Merlyn', you've still time to do so here.
The Once and Future King stars Paul Ready as Arthur and David Warner as Merlyn...
...and you can listen to them and other cast members (and the dramatist!) talking about the six-part series, here – as well as the behind the scenes secrets of a walking, talking mustard pot!
Many of the images above can be found (together with details of the artists responsible for them) on The University of Rochester's Camelot Project.
3 comments:
Thanks, I'll enjoy that. I've just picked up a vintage copy of White and treated myself to the Disney while it was on special offer, so now I'll zip off and hear your radio production.
I'm also just catching your adaptation of Pilgrim's Progress, as it is regarded as the best way in to the text. There are only a few days left for it but it really ought to be permanently available for teachers to refer to.
It's a fascinating story - Malory himself constantly refers to 'The French Book' as his own source material so he wasn't claiming originality. I have been very lucky to read an original 'Chronicle of the Brut' - a history book of the time that has Arthur and Merlin down as pure historical fact. I love the idea that, when the knights were in church and the sword first appeared, they had to wait until the end of the service before they were allowed outside to see what had happened....
Thank you both...
You're right, Boll: no skiving off from church to look at swords stuck in anvils on stones! Say your prayers first! :)
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