Knight Hank, the Terror of the Round Table

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Movie
German title Knight Hank, the Terror of the Round Table
Original title A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1949
length 106 minutes
Rod
Director Tay Garnett
script Edmund Beloin
production Robert Fellows
music Victor Young
camera Ray Rennahan
cut Archie Marshek
occupation

Knight Hank, the terror of the Round Table (Alternative title: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court ) is an American comedy film from the year 1949 . It is a literary adaptation of the novel A Yankee at the Court of King Arthur by Mark Twain .

action

In 1905, the blacksmith Hank Martin visits Pendragon Castle and is asked to be received by Lord Pendragon during the tourist tour. He tells him that he remembers Lady Alisande La Carteloise without knowing why. He can only explain it in such a way that he tells him his story.

It was a thunderstorm night when Hank fell off his horse, hit his head and suddenly woke up in 528. Sir Clarence Sagramore threatened him with his knife and his lance, so that he could be captured and brought up to King Arthur as a monster. Since Sagramore describes the capture as a great bloodthirsty fight, everyone is frightened and demands that Hanks be executed the next morning. Sagramore apologizes to Hank in his dungeon, but without a trick, Hank will not be able to escape his death sentence. Then he notices a lens with which he can focus light and create fire. He uses that the next morning to convince Arthur and Merlin that he is a wizard. Hank is released, re-dressed and allowed to take part in the evening dance at the court. He learns that some members of the court, including Arthur's niece Morgan Le Fay and Merlin, are trying to overthrow Arthur. While dancing, he falls in love with Alisande and comes closer to her.

She later visits Hank in his new smithy and confesses to him that she was promised Lancelot long ago , which is why she has a remorse for her feelings towards him. But Hank is sure and kisses her. A short time later, Lancelot looks for him and challenges him to a duel in a tournament . Since Hank cannot fight, however, he has to fight himself with some daring maneuvers and with the help of a lasso, not only defeating Lancelot, but also amusing the audience. That's reason enough for Alisande to see Hank as a dishonorable weakling who turned Lancelot into an idiot. Hank is amazed and retires to his forge, where he builds a pistol . He is approached by a young lady who asks him to use his magic to heal the sick. He himself cannot help anyone, but believes that Arthur does not know how bad things are for the people under his leadership and that he should be let know.

Hank seeks out Arthur to convince him to travel incognito through the country to see for himself how bad the people are. Together with Sagramore, they experience how they are whipped for lack of respect and captured by slave hunters. At the public auction that followed, all three were bought by Merlin in order that, as he said, they would later work in his mines to the death. During the subsequent escape, Hank and Artus are caught so that they are led to the scaffold the next morning, June 21, 528 at around 12 noon . Thanks to his book from the future, however, Hank knows that there will be a solar eclipse from 12:01 to 12:05 . He pretends to be a magician again who will make the sun disappear until they come free themselves. During those four minutes, people are so shocked that they publicly demand his release. Arthur and Hank are released. Hank rides to Merlin's castle by the sea, where Alisande is being held captive. He duels a knight, shoots him with his pistol, falls and wakes up in Connecticut.

This is the story Hank tells Lord Pendragon and wishes he were still with Alisande. On Pendragon's advice, Hank goes to the balcony and meets a woman who is confusingly similar to Alisande and whom he falls in love with.

criticism

“Imaginatively and ingeniously staged Mark Twain film, which is at the same time a parody of medieval court life and a satire on the social conventions of America. Amusing entertainment, played convincingly and of additional interest due to the color dramaturgy. "

- Lexicon of international film

publication

The film had its world premiere on April 7, 1949 in New York City before it was shown in Germany for the first time on May 12, 1988 on Bavarian Radio .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Ritter Hank, The Horror of the Round Table in the Lexicon of International FilmsTemplate: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used , accessed on May 12, 2012