Camelot - Cast

Richard Harris:King Arthur

Vanessa Redgrave:Queen Guenevere

Franco Nero:Lancelot

Richard Harris was the perfect King Arthur and he went on to play the role later in stage versions. Vanessa Redgrave, although an acclaimed Academy Award winning actress, was, at best, fair in the role of Guenevere. Her singing, especially, was weak and this was one time where dubbing would have been a plus to the movie. Franco Nero's lack of English is apparent in his acting, which was unduly stiff and unnatural. His singing was dubbed by Gene Merlino. It's a shame that Julie Andrews and Robert Goulet, who originated the roles on Broadway, were not cast in the movie.

Richard Harris(1930-2002)

Richard Harris was born in Ireland but studied acting at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He originally wanted to be a director and he produced and directed his first production while he was still a student. Unfortunately, it was a total financial disaster, and, although it was a critical success, Harris lost all of his money and eventually turned to acting instead of directing. He began as a stage actor in West End productions in London.

His first film role came in 1959 and he made several others after that but it wasn't until his role in "This Sporting Life" in 1963 that he received critical acclaim for his acting. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his part in that film.

After the film of "Camelot," Harris launched a singing career, recording several albums. He had a hit recording of MacArthur Park which reached #2 on the hit charts in 1968. He also recorded "My Boy," which later became a hit for Elvis.

Harris' film roles dropped in the 1980s but, with his Academy Award nomination for "The Field" in 1990, his career once again picked up. One of his last roles was in the first two Harry Potter films.

Vanessa Redgrave(1937-)

Vanessa Redgrave was born into a distinguished acting family (her father was Sir Michael Redgrave), so it was natural for her to become an accomplished actress. In 1954, at the age of only 17, she went to the School of Speech and Drama and four years later, she was in her first play on the West End of London. Early in her career, she acted with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Redgrave made her first film in 1958, but then didn't make another one until 1966. However, since 1966, she has acted continuously in movies, making over 80 films.

Vanessa Redgrave has received six Academy Award nominations and she won as Best Supporting Actress in 1977 for her role in "Julia." She won a Tony award for best actress in 2003 for her role in a revival of Eugene O'Neill's "Long Day's Journey into Night."

Franco Nero(1941-)

Franco Nero, born Francesco Sparanero, had been starring in Italian westerns for a year when John Huston discovered him in 1965. "Camelot" was his first English language film, and his lack of familiarity with the language was clear in his acting in the movie.