I did not see the original - but was fortunate to see Rickard Burton reprise the role in 1980 when a revival played at the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center.
I then saw the next revival in 1981 with Richard Harris as Arthur.
I did not see the Robert Goulet revival - but loved the New York Philharmonic staged concert of it with Nathan Gunn and Marin Mazie. (Though critics were not kind to Gabriel Byrne as Arthur.)
. . . and I don't know how many times I've watched the film. Countless.
Adore CAMELOT!
"Two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. . ."
Now and then PBS runs a retrospective of Broadway numbers performed on the "Ed Sullivan Show," which includes Julie Andrews and Richard Burton doing "What Do the Simple Folk Do?"--such a charming number.
Thank you so much for those! I adore the original cast album of Camelot. I've long wished I could take a time machine to 1960 and see it with that wonderful cast.
People always say that the book to Camelot isn't great, but I saw a wonderful production of Camelot at the San Francisco Playhouse and thought it was structurally quite sound. The music is of course gorgeous, and the original cast recording is one of the best out there, especially with the amazing voices. Is there any post World War II love ballad as romantic and beautiful as If Ever I Would Leave You?
I don't think the book to CAMELOT is terrible, either. Unbalanced, sure. And I don't think it's able to top itself after that first absolutely magical scene. But it's perfectly fine. The score is lovely, too. The cast album is a prime example of the magic Goddard Lieberson created on record-- even if he did insanely cut the dialogue bridge between refrains of "Camelot." I understand why he did it, but it still makes me mad. He was famous for cutting dialogue on recordings, but interestingly enough, he spearheaded Columbia recording the entire original MOST HAPPY FELLA on 3 LPs and produced his crowning glory of a cast album.
So that is the reason I haven't been able to get Nimue's Follow Me out of my head lately (its Jeanne Carlyn, Erin Morley and Claire Moore I hear) hmmm... must be because the Lusty Month of May is upon us!
The pictures you've included are great works of art. I thank you for them.
In this video the uploader left their contact info, I wonder if perhaps they have more rare footage of Richard Burton, Julie Andrews and Robert Goulet available?
Who would you like to see in a revival of Camelot? I rather fancy Claire Lyon as Guenevere, her album On Stage has a delightful cover of the Lusty Month of May. I find her voice, her diction, her classical influences fit for a queen, and she is a lady of charm and appeal.
Now that I think about it, Lerner and Loewe must've had a fascination with the month of May. Not only is the month given a whole song in Camelot, but May is also referenced in My Fair Lady during "Just You Wait".
If I need to be honest, CAMELOT needs a revival more than anything before we ever get revivals of MAN OF LA MANCHA and MY FAIR LADY. The original production photos are a gem, just to see how a Broadway musical once had enough money for something of a simple but lavish look to the entire show.
Some productions today can still do that but economics have gotten in the way in recent years.
I love "Simple Folk," and all of Arthur and Guenevere's other scenes and numbers together. For me, the great weakness of the show is that I can't fathom how Jenny could fall for Lance when Arthur was around. Okay, Lance was good-looking and had a great ballad to sing, and he could work a miracle or two , but that's it. Arthur was a much more well-rounded, self-aware, honest, and funny character. No contest, IMO!
MCfan2, the newer revivals have taken care of the question of why Guinivere would fall for Lancelot, although I don't think that's why they've done it: Arthur is often cast as an older actor, probably after Burton and Harris started the trend by returning years later to the role.
I, too, love the cast album and the original book, but they're apparently nothing like the version that finally made it to the stage. Why, oh why, would they cut that wonderful men's chorus song, "Fie on Goodness," which is nonetheless on the original cast album?
Audrey, the Phantom Phanatic, who nonetheless would rather be Jean Valjean, who knew how to make lemonade out of lemons.
Here's Richard Burton in CAMELOT during the famous "Proposition" soliloquy. He is one of the best actors who have ever played King Arthur. After watching this I just think, why wasn't he in the movie instead of Richard Harris who tired way to hard.
They cut "fie on goodness" during previews of the original production. Back then many shows recorded the cast album before the shows opened .
Attend the tale of Bovine Boy
His party threads we all enjoy
But does he have Mad Cow Disease?
He doesn't eat beef - but cows skating? - oh please!!!
With cocoa!?!
And lemonade!?!
The heifer-mad poster of Broadway
(World)
Saw the original production at the end of its long run (two years was considered a long run then), but after the original cast was long gone. Still William Squire, a Welsh actor very much like Burton in looks and speech, was a great Arthur, although Kathryn Grayson, of the 40s MGM musicals, was not very good as Guenevere (they interpolated too many trills and runs into her songs, her long-ago specialty). Saw Burton 20 years later (too old by then) and Goulet on tour as Arthur (ditto), but so many wonderful songs in the score that I will always have a fondness for this show.