The Adventures of Sir Lancelot
| The Adventures of Sir Lancelot | |
|---|---|
 Titlecard from the colour episodes | |
| Created by |
Leslie Pointon (Head writer) Based on traditional legends |
| Starring | William Russell |
| Opening theme | Edwin Astley |
| Ending theme | Alan Lomax[1] |
| Composer(s) |
Edwin Astley Albert Elms |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 30 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Hannah Weinstein |
| Producer(s) |
Sidney Cole Dallas Bower Bernard Knowles |
| Running time | 25mins |
| Production company(s) | Sapphire Films |
| Distributor | ITP Co Ltd |
| Release | |
| Original network | ITV |
| Picture format |
Film 35mm 4:3 16 Black and white 14 Colour |
| Audio format | Mono |
| Original release | 15 September 1956 – 20 April 1957 |
The Adventures of Sir Lancelot is a British television series first broadcast in 1956, produced by Sapphire Films for ITC Entertainment and screened on the ITV network. The series starred William Russell as the eponymous Sir Lancelot, a Knight of the Round Table in the time of King Arthur at Camelot.
It is one of the very few British television series ever to have been screened on one of the major broadcast networks in the US (as opposed to on PBS or cable television stations). Its success on NBC led to it becoming the first British television series ever to be produced in colour, the last fourteen of the thirty half-hour episodes being shot on colour stock, although they were seen in colour only in the US.
As was common with other British television series of the time, the programme employed several American screenwriters who had moved to Britain after being placed on the Hollywood blacklist, often under pseudonyms. These included Ian McLellan Hunter and Ring Lardner Jr. The series was made at Nettlefold Studios in Walton-on-Thames.
Cast and characters
- William Russell as Sir Lancelot
- Ronald Leigh-Hunt as King Arthur
- Bruce Seton as King Arthur (first two episodes only)
- Jane Hylton as Guinevere
- Cyril Smith as Merlin
- Robert Scroggins as Brian, Lancelot's squire
- David Morrell as Sir Kay
Broadcast history
The series debuted in the UK on Saturday 15 September 1956, on London weekend ITV franchise holder ATV, and on the NBC network in the United States nine days later. The last episode was shown on 20 April 1957 in the UK and 16 September 1957 on NBC. It later transferred networks in the US to ABC, who repeated the episodes from October 1957 to September 1958.
Episode list[2]
Airdate is for ATV London [3] ITV regions varied date and order.
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Knight with the Red Plume" | Ralph Smart | Leighton Reynolds | 15 September 1956 |
| Sir Lancelot is challenged by the other knights before he can become a member of King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table. He has to prove his worth and is put through a series of rigorous tests. Guest stars: Andrew Crawford as Sir Gawaine, Peter Bennett as Leonides, Brian Worth as Sir Kay, Paul Hansard as Sir Lionel, Edwin Richfield as Sir Christopher | ||||
| 2 | "Ferocious Fathers" | Ralph Smart | Leighton Reynolds | 22 September 1956 |
| Sir Lancelot goes to the rescue of Urgan the Strong, whose castle is besieged by Sir Melius the Mighty and his two sons. Sir Lancelot drives off the invaders, and Urgan offers his daughter, Igrane, in marriage to the knight as a reward for his bravery. Guest star: Ballard Berkeley as Sir Urgan the Strong | ||||
| 3 | "The Queen's Knight" | Ralph Smart | Leslie Poynton | 29 September 1956 |
| Queen Guinevere is kidnapped by King Arthur's cousin, Sir Mordred. He and his father, King Pell, demand King Arthur's kingdom in exchange for the queen's life. | ||||
| 4 | "The Outcast" | Bernard Knowles | Leslie Poynton | 6 October 1956 |
| When Sir Lancelot requests that his squire be trained to become a knight of the Round Table, he meets with considerable opposition. Guest star: Patrick McGoohan as Sir Glavin | ||||
| 5 | "Winged Victory" | Arthur Crabtree | John Ridgely | 13 October 1956 |
| King Arthur entrusts Sir Lancelot with a secret battle plan for Prince Boudwin. The prince is besieged in his castle by King Mark and is badly in need of help. When Sir Lancelot and Squire Brian arrive, they are captured and King Mark attempts to persuade them to reveal the secret information. Guest stars: Nigel Green as King Mark, Douglas Argent as Prince Boudwin | ||||
| 6 | "Sir Bliant" | Bernard Knowles | John Ridgely | 20 October 1956 |
| Sir Bliant's three sons decide to break the truce King Arthur arranged between their father and Sir Rolf. They carry Sir Rolf's three daughters away as hostages and the distraught father comes to King Arthur for aid. | ||||
| 7 | "The Pirates" | Bernard Knowles | Leslie Poynton | 27 October 1956 |
| King Arthur and his men set off to capture a band of pirates they believe are hiding out in a coastal town. Actually, the pirates are just waiting for them to leave so they can raid the castle. | ||||
| 8 | "The Magic Sword" | Arthur Crabtree | Leighton Reynolds | 3 November 1956 |
| A cowardly knight wants to rescue a lady who is imprisoned by her brother. He comes to King Arthur, for advice on how to become courageous. Merlin instills confidence in the young knight by lending him Sir Lancelot's weapon and telling him it is a magic sword. Guest star: Dan Cunningham as Sir Bernard | ||||
| 9 | "Lancelot's Banishment" | Anthony Squire | Peggy Philips | 10 November 1956 |
| Sir Lancelot is banished from Camelot because King Arthur thinks he made a false claim against King Marhaus. Outside of Camelot, Lancelot encounters Marhaus and discovers an evil plot. | ||||
| 10 | "Roman Wall" | Arthur Crabtree | Harold Kent | 17 November 1956 |
| Sir Lancelot and his squire Brian go to the aid of King Boltan, who swears that ghosts have abducted his daughter. | ||||
| 11 | "Caledon" | Bernard Knowles | Leighton Reynolds | 24 November 1956 |
| While Sir Lancelot is on a mission for King Arthur, he is robbed and his horse is killed by a group of wild warriors. | ||||
| 12 | "Theft of Excalibur" | Bernard Knowles | H.H. Burns and Peggy Philips | 1 December 1956 |
| On St. Stephen's Day, King Arthur and his knights traditionally change places for one day with the court squires. During the day, one of the "squires-for-a-day" steals the Sword of Excalibur. | ||||
| 13 | "The Black Castle" | Bernard Knowles | Leslie Poynton | 8 December 1956 |
| A young knight's prospective father-in-law has been kidnapped and is being held prisoner. Sir Lancelot agrees to help the knight rescue the man. | ||||
| 14 | "Shepherd's War" | Bernard Knowles | Leslie Poynton | 15 December 1956 |
| A band of renegade knights is preying on the shepherds in the area. Sir Lancelot decides to champion the shepherds' cause, and masquerades as a shepherd to teach them how to fight the knights off. Guest star: Jennifer Jayne | ||||
| 15 | "The Magic Book" | Terry Bishop | Peggy Philips | 22 December 1956 |
| Sir Lancelot volunteers to defend an abbey and its occupants from invading Danes. | ||||
| 16 | "The Ruby of Radnor" | Lawrence Huntington | Hamish Hamilton Burns | 29 December 1956 |
| As punishment for rebelling at working with Merlin's pigeons, Squire Brian is sent on an errand delivering a crate of pigeons to a neighboring castle. En route, he becomes involved with a gang of thieves who stole the precious Ruby of Radnor. Guest stars: Colin Tapley as Everard, Edward Judd as Garth, Eric Corrie as Robert, Reginald Hearne as Hugo, Harold Goodwin as a peasant | ||||
| 17 | "The Lesser Breed" | Terry Bishop | Peggy Phillips | 5 January 1957 |
| King Arthur learns that a nearby village is being terrorized by a horrible monster. Sir Lancelot is sent to investigate. He discovers that the monster is really a Viking boat, and that it's the Vikings who are doing the terrorizing. Guest stars: Ann Stephens as Sella, Gerard Heinz as Eck, Wilfred Brambell as a fisherman | ||||
| 18 | "Witches' Brew" | Terry Bishop | Peggy Phillips | 12 January 1957 |
| A woman claiming mystical powers has convinced King Bors of Sagitaw that she is working evil against him. Sir Lancelot enlists Merlin's aid against her powers. Guest star: Maxine Audley as Eunice | ||||
| 19 | "Sir Crustabread" | Bernard Knowles | Leslie Poynton | 19 January 1957 |
| King Arthur gives Sir Lancelot a new name and sends him off to champion a lady who is being forced into marrying an unscrupulous man. Guest stars: Virginia Vernon as Lynette, Hector Ross as Baron Brayor | ||||
| 20 | "Maid of Somerset" | Bernard Knowles | Selwyn Jepson | 26 January 1957 |
| A young girl asks Sir Lancelot's aid. An evil monarch, King Meliot, is selling the young men of the village of Cheddar into slavery. Guest stars: Patricia Kneale as Ellen, Edward Judd as James, Eddie Malin as Paul, Reginald Hearne as the Chamberlain | ||||
| 21 | "Knight Errant" | Bernard Knowles | Peggy Philips and Selwyn Jepson | 2 February 1957 |
| After their father dies, two sisters inherit his tiny impoverished kingdom. Their guardian is eager to set up a rich marriage for the older girl, but she is not willing. | ||||
| 22 | "Double Identity" | Lawrence Huntington | Harold Kent | 9 February 1957 |
| Sir Richard of Taunton is attacked and beaten by three men and left for dead. His uncle plans to substitute his son, Richard's double, and gain control of the family estate. Lancelot is suspicious and starts investigating. Guest star: Howard Pays as Sir Richard / Sir Alfred | ||||
| 23 | "The Lady Lilith" | Lawrence Huntingdon | Leslie Poynton | 16 February 1957 |
| The Lady Lilith has been running the castle of Goodhue since it was left to her by the late Sir William when she was 14-years-old. Sir Liones petitions for a ruling at the court of the king because the law says that no property can be inherited by a woman. Facing a difficult choice, the King Arthur suggests the best solution would be for Sir Liones to marry the Lady. Guest stars: Shirley Cooklin as Lady Lilith, Richard Leech as Sir Liones, Edward Judd as Abel, Eric Corrie as the Seneschal, Reginald Hearne as a blacksmith | ||||
| 24 | "The Bridge" | Peter Maxwell | Peter Key | 23 February 1957 |
| While preparing for knighthood, Squire Brian uncovers a plot by King Marhaus of neighboring Mercia. The king wants it to appear that the villagers of Poltifax have violated a treaty over the use of their bridge so that he will have an excuse to invade their town. Zena Walker as Angela, Derek Aylward as King Marhaus, Jack May as Caradoc, Eric Corrie as the Priest, Edward Judd as Sir Grint | ||||
| 25 | "The Ugly Duckling" | George More O'Ferrall | Leslie Poynton | 9 March 1957 |
| While on a visit to castle Lamorack, Sir Lancelot and Merlin try to help their host when he receives a note threatening his daughter's life. Merlin learns that the note is false, written by the girl herself in a bid for attention. Later, the girl disappears and another note arrives; this time it's genuine. Guest stars: Carol Marsh as Sybil, Jeanette Hutchinson as Amora, Hector Ross as Sir Egbert, Avice Landone as Lady Lamorak, Ian Whitaker as Gault, David Morrell as Sir Kay, Edward Judd as Sir Christopher | ||||
| 26 | "Knights' Choice" | Peter Maxwell | Peggy Phillips | 16 March 1957 |
| After the death of a knight of the Round Table, a young man enters a tournament that will decide who will fill the vacancy. But the other knights object to the young contestant because of his shabby appearance. Sir Lancelot intercedes for him. Guest stars: Alison Leggatt as Morgana Le Fay, Robert Hardy as Rupert, Derek Waring as Balin, Reginald Hearne as Sir Julian, Edward Judd as a sentry, Eric Corrie as Herold | ||||
| 27 | "The Missing Princess" | Desmond Davis | Leslie Poynton | 23 March 1957 |
| When a king breaks a treaty between his country and a tribe of women, his sister is taken hostage. Sir Lancelot sets forth to rescue the princess. Guest stars: Mary Steele as Anne, Linda Gray as Marta, John Horsley as Athelred, Reginald Hearne as Evanston, Mary Manson as Helga | ||||
| 28 | "The Mortaise Fair" | Lawrence Huntingdon | Leslie Poynton | 30 March 1957 |
| While visiting Mortaise Castle, Queen Guinevere is presented with a priceless jewel from the Rajah of Kaipur. Shortly afterward there is a fire, and during the excitement the jewel is stolen. Guest stars: Martin Benson as Hassin, Chin Yu as Vuleika, William Franklyn as Baron Mortaise, Eric Corrie as Osbert, Edward Judd as Ronk | ||||
| 29 | "The Thieves" | Bernard Knowles | H.H. Burns | 6 April 1957 |
| King Arthur and Sir Lancelot disguise themselves as thieves in order to test the validity of a statement by Lancelot. The knight believes that the thieves of the kingdom are criminals only because they are starving. | ||||
| 30 | "The Prince of Limerick" | Lawrence Huntington | Leslie Poynton | 13 April 1957 |
| A prince in love with King Anguish's daughter Kathleen is banished from the court because he possesses nothing but the ability to write rhymes. Sir Lancelot, hearing of the young couple's plight, travels to Anguish's court to help them.Guest stars: Lynne Furlong as Princess Kathleen, Jerome Willis as Prince, Tony Quinn as King Anguish | ||||
DVD
The complete series of 30 episodes was released as a DVD boxed set in the UK by Network DVD in 2004. Of the 14 episodes made in colour, only 12 are presented in colour due to financial reasons. The other two colour episodes ('The Ugly Duckling' and 'The Missing Princess') are taken from black and white prints. In the US, the series was released as a DVD boxed set on 19 August 2008 by The Timeless Media Group with 14 episodes presented in colour, taken from US public domain prints.
References
- ↑ Terrace, Vincent (2009). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2007 (Volume 1). Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-3305-6.
- ↑ http://ctva.biz/UK/ITC/SirLancelot.htm
- ↑ Before 1968 ATV transmitted weekdays in the Midlands and weekends in London. See History of ITV
- Thompson, Raymond H. (1991) "Television Series". In Lacy, Norris J. (Ed.), The New Arthurian Encyclopedia, pp. 445–446. New York: Garland. ISBN 0-8240-4377-4.
- Vahimagi, Tise (1994). British Television: An Illustrated Guide. Oxford. Oxford University Press / British Film Institute. ISBN 0-19-818336-4.
External links
- The Adventures of Sir Lancelot at the Internet Movie Database
- Episode guide at The Historical Adventure Series Guide website.
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