It seems that this film version is dreadful compared to the play, but I never saw the play, so perhaps that was a good thing. I liked the movie, and perhaps I wouldn't have had I seen the play. Well, yeah, Richard Harris, Vanessa Redgrave, and Franco Nero aren't the world's greatest singers, and in their hands the songs aren't especially memorable, but they're still pretty good songs. What really made the movie good was the power of the dramatic scenes, however. Harris is in top form in these, and Redgrave is quite good, too. Nero isn't nearly as good, but, oh, well. It appears that the play went more for comedy, but the film is helped by playing up the drama, because it's so well-done. You really do feel for these people as they're torn apart by their love for each other. Watching Harris realizing that his wife and best friend love each other, and watching Redgrave cry at the thought of never seeing them again is pretty affecting. Redgrave also makes it clear that even though she saves the passion for Lancelot, she still loves Arthur, which is nice to know. The dramatics the best part of the film. So perhaps the film wasn't as good as the play, but it's still not too bad in its own right.
