The love scene, well, it’s not really a love scene, but the lustful, or full of lust, scene in the 1981 movie Excalibur (with its star-studded cast including Helen Mirrin, Gabriel Byrne, Nigel Terry, Nicol Williamson, Liam Neeson) is hands down the best ever.
It’s also one of the most common search terms new visitors use to find my blog.
Uther Pendragon is in such a damn fever to get Igrayne he can’t even be bothered to remove his armor. He rides into the castle, stomps up to Ygrayne’s room and well… What’s not to lust? Of course Uther is disguised as her husband, but he and Merlin have tricked her husband who’s gone off to die in battle because Uther wants this beautiful married lady all for himself.
Think King David and Bathsheba.
I’m a huge Arthurian Legend fan and IMO Excalibur is the only movie that’s done the story any justice whatsoever. It’s a great fantasy, and the sex scenes are, uh, well, sort of legendary. Hang on, now I know what to get hubs for Christmas…
Under the Christmas tree!
Oh, hate to say it, but I cannot watch that movie. The historical inaccuracies drive me out of my head.
Want something raunchy, weird, but oddly romantic? FLESH AND BLOOD, starring Rutger Hauer. In a few places it’s a little TOO historically accurate. Ah, but so much fun.
Historical accuracy, Jaye? We don’t need no stinkin’ historical accuracy! I like the movie cuz it’s a silly campy overly dramatic fantasy with some very lustful scenes! Actually I wish someone would make a movie of Bernard Cornwell’s The Winter King trilogy! Talk about your wonderful Arthurian legends!
I just can’t do plate armor and destriers in Dark Ages Britain. I willingly suspend my disbelief at movies that break the laws of physics, but I have to draw the line somewhere.
But I like destriers! And sex in plate armor is so so sexy!
You get him that he might get you a chastity belt - just for fun.
Oooh, Steph, grand idea!
Can’t believe I missed this one. I’ve never seen Excalibur. Now, you’ve piqued my interest, especially about the lustful scenes. Yum!
It’s a pretty interesting movie, Diana - ranks high on the fantasy outlandish scale. Quite wonderful, at least I think so.
Loved that movie, but what are you like, Oscar should give you oh never mind
But for one of the most beautiful love scenes and I don’t mean lust but real beautiful love you can’t beat John Woos 2008 Red Cliff between Zhou Zune and his wife absolutely beautiful filming and acting
Jaye,
The historical inaccuracies are a strength of the movie. An essential feature of the Arthur legend is the superimposition of late medieval values and technology on a story from post-Roman Britain. It just wouldn’t be true to the legend if it was true to history. I would argue that you can’t make a great Arthurian legend movie and be historically accurate.
Okay, Tom. I gotta rent that flick. Haven’t sen it. What should Oscar give me???
Well, William, I hope Jaye will answer but I feel the same. In the same way the medieval historians superimposed their ideas of chivalry on the scanty and primitive Arthur legend. I actually hated the Richard Gere, Sean Connery version.
pfft. King Arthur in plate armor is my “fried chicken,” Julia.
One of those anachronisms that ruins the story for you! I get it, Jaye, I really do.