Lovespell (1981)
I guess I’m too much of a Camelot fan to be able to enjoy this movie. Richard Burton played King Arthur on Broadway from 1960-1963 in Lerner & Loewe’s musical, and twenty years later in Lovespell, he rejoins the medieval time period. He plays King Mark of Cornwall, and he falls in love with young Isolt, played by a pre-Star Trek Kate Mulgrew. Maybe because of protocol, or maybe because he had a business meeting, or maybe because he was an idiot, but when he decided to propose marriage to her, he sent his faithful knight Tristan to do the deed. If you’re aware of the Tristan and Isolt legend, you’re one-up on me. I didn’t know what I was getting into, even though it was pretty obvious Tristan and Isolt were going to get together, and Richard Burton was going to get his heart broken.
Anyway, if you don’t know the legend, I won’t spoil it for you, but legends become legends because they are very sad. Lovespell is no exception. Just be prepared. If you like Romeo and Juliet or Camelot, you’ll like this one. It’s very well done; the way it’s filmed takes the audience to the time period effortlessly. Still, I struggled to understand Isolt’s heart. Why wouldn’t she want Richard Burton? I would.
More Richard Burton movies here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 's Tristan & Isolde here!
Anyway, if you don’t know the legend, I won’t spoil it for you, but legends become legends because they are very sad. Lovespell is no exception. Just be prepared. If you like Romeo and Juliet or Camelot, you’ll like this one. It’s very well done; the way it’s filmed takes the audience to the time period effortlessly. Still, I struggled to understand Isolt’s heart. Why wouldn’t she want Richard Burton? I would.
More Richard Burton movies here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 's Tristan & Isolde here!