Adventures of Sir Galahad

Adventures of Sir Galahad is the 41st serial released in 1949 by Columbia Pictures. Directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet, it stars George Reeves, Nelson Leigh, William Fawcett, Hugh Prosser, and Lois Hall. It was based on Arthurian legend, one of the very few serials of the time with a period setting that was not a western.

Adventures of Sir Galahad
Directed bySpencer Gordon Bennet
Produced bySam Katzman
Written byGeorge H. Plympton
Lewis Clay
David Mathews
Original screenplay
StarringGeorge Reeves
Nelson Leigh
William Fawcett
Hugh Prosser
Lois Hall
Music byMischa Bakaleinikoff
Musical director
Marlin Skiles
Stock music (composer)
CinematographyIra H. Morgan
Edited byDwight Caldwell
Earl Turner
Color processBlack and white
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
December 22, 1949 (1949-12-22)
Running time
252 minutes
15 episodes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$300,000-$400,000[1]

Plot

The Arthurian film cycle started with the Adventures of Sir Galahad serial. In this version, the youth Galahad, trying to emulate his father Sir Lancelot, wants fervently to be admitted to the Knights of the Round Table order. When he defeats Sir Bors and Sir Mordred in tournament, King Arthur agrees to knighthood, but only if Galahad can guard Excalibur for one night.

Unfortunately, during that night the sword is stolen by a mysterious personage known only as the Black Knight. Possession of Excalibur makes the holder invincible and without it the sovereignty of Arthur is endangered. Galahad is refused knighthood until the sword is found. Galahad, aided by Sir Bors, is hindered in his quest by Ulric, the Saxon King, who invades England, and by Merlin the magician, who harasses our hero at every turn.

Galahad suspects that the Black Knight is a traitor within Camelot who seeks the throne in alliance with the Saxons, while Morgan le Fay, Arthur's half sister and also a magician, helps him fight both Merlin's magic and the Saxons.

Cast

Chapter titles
  1. The Stolen Sword
  2. Galahad's Daring
  3. Prisoners of Ulric
  4. Attack on Camelot
  5. Galahad to the Rescue
  6. Passage of Peril
  7. Unknown Betrayer
  8. Perilous Adventure
  9. Treacherous Magic
  10. The Sorcerer's Spell
  11. Valley of No Return
  12. Castle Perilous
  13. The Wizard's Revenge
  14. Quest for the Queen
  15. Galahad's Triumph

Source:[3]

Production

The Adventures of Sir Galahad was based on Arthurian myth and legend, a setting that gave it "unique" opportunities for a serial.[4]

Sam Katzman said he was prompted to make it after reading a 1948 article which said J. Arthur Rank wanted to make a film about the Arthurian legend. "King Arthur and his knights are important to our kids," said Katzman. "I knew what would happen. If Rank made the picture there would be too much history and not enough action and that would spoil it all. So I decided to make The Adventures of Sir Galahad."[1]

Katzman elected not to feature the Holy Grail because "we don't want religious complications" and said there was some romance but not too much as "the kids don't want too much romance. We just suggest that Galahad might work something out later on."[1]

References
  1. Brady, Thomas F. (17 April 1949). "HOLLYWOOD UPSWING: Increased Production Breaks Downward Trend in Employment -- Fox Backs Out". New York Times. p. X5.
  2. Cline, William C. (1984). "3. The Six Faces of Adventure". In the Nick of Time. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 29. ISBN 0-7864-0471-X.
  3. Cline, William C. (1984). "Filmography". In the Nick of Time. McFarland & Company, Inc. pp. 249–250. ISBN 0-7864-0471-X.
  4. Harmon, Jim; Donald F. Glut (1973). "13. The Classics "You Say 'What Dost Thou Mean By That?' and Push Him Off the Cliff"". The Great Movie Serials: Their Sound and Fury. Routledge. p. 330. ISBN 978-0-7130-0097-9.
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