First Knight (1995)

"Sean Connery makes a splendid King Arthur.  Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
"...a medieval festival for the eye and ear...  Susan Wloszczyna, USA Today
"A handsome, entertaining twist on the King Arthur legend.  Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle
"A magnificent epic full of spectacular battles, blazing passion and gran performances.  Jeanne Wolf, Jeanne Wolf's Hollywood
"...all the elements of a crowd-pleaser.  Barbara Shulgasser, San Francisco Examiner

Editor's Note Lancelot (Richard Gere) is a rogue with no ties, no enemies, and no fear- until he meets Lady Guinevere of Leonesse (Julia Ormond). She has promised to marry King Arthur (Sean Connery), not only because his armies can protect her country, but because she truly loves him. But her chance encounter with Lancelot as she prepared to enter Camelot stirs conflicting and powerful emotions within her. Arthur welcomes both into his city with open heart, little foreseeing how his great capacity for love and trust opens the doors for his own betrayal.

	Ben Cross
	Christopher Villiers
	John Gielgud
	Julia Ormond
	Liam Cunningham
	Richard Gere
	Sean Connery
	Jerry Zucker - Director
	Adam Greenberg - Director of Photography
	Jerry Goldsmith - Musical Score
	Hunt Lowry - Producer
	Jerry Zucker - Producer
	William Nicholson - Writer
	David Hoselton - Writer
	Lorne Cameron - Writer

On the way to meet King Arthur, her future husband and ally, Lady Guenevere and her retinue are attacked by Arthur's mortal enemy, the malicious Malagant. Prince Malagant wants possession of Guinevere's land, which lies between Arthur's kingdom and his own. However, the daring Lancelot intercedes and foils the attack. In return, this roaming-sword-for-hire asks for a kiss from the lovely Lady -- a request that Guinevere coldly refuses.| They meet again when Lancelot turns up at one of Camelot's public tournaments, and proves to Arthur that he deserves to become the King's first knight. So when Malagant strikes again, kidnapping Queen Guinevere, Lancelot once more serves as her rescuer. But now, Guinevere's reaction is no longer chilly -- and the two proceed to fall in love, betraying Arthur's trust and friendship. Rolling Stone
"...Gere is persuasively ardent and athletic....Connery is every inch the noble king..." 08/10/1995 p.64

USA Today
"...Knight is a medieval festival for the eye and ear, with rich blue hues and stirring fanfares..." 07/07/1995 p.1D

Entertainment Weekly
"...Zucker gives the Camelot legend a makeover....A true adult fairy tale..." 07/14/1995 pp.34-5

Variety
"...An agreeably intelligent, mature and well-mounted telling of the legendary King Arthur story. Admirably acted by Sean Connery and Julia Ormond..." 06/26/1995

Los Angeles Times
"...[Ormond] is appropriately fetching and feisty....FIRST KNIGHT's large-scale action set pieces are capably done..." 07/07/1995 p.F1

Boxoffice Magazine 8 of 10
First Knight is a stirring, passionate rendering of the tale of King Arthur, Lady Guinevere, Sir Lancelot, the Knights of the Round Table and the one brief shining moment of the legendary city called Camelot. Sean Connery is no less than excellent as Arthur, commanding, wise and benevolent, a leader to the end, with a sense of humor to boot. - Christine James

Washington Post 7 of 10
As Arthur, of course, Sean Connery is irresistible. Connery is the perfect Arthur/Richard the Lion-Hearted/Robin Hood because he manages to convey that these heroes recognize their idealism as a form of boyishness, and he invests them with a bit of self-deprecation and a trace of stubbornness. - Eve Zibart