leeper@mtgzz.UUCP (m.r.leeper) (06/18/85)
TRISTAN AND ISOLDE (a.k.a. LOVESPELL)
A film review by Mark R. Leeper
For those unfamiliar with the tale, the love story of Tristan and
Isolde goes back to the Sixth Century (it is thought) and has been re-told
many times in many different forms. It is probably best known either for
having been included in Malory's MORTE D'ARTHUR or for having been the
subject of a Wagnerian opera. Malory sort of cheated to include the story
since until that time the story had never been associated with Arthurian
legend, but Malory liked the story so gave Tristan a knighthood and a place
at the Round Table.
A film of the story (entitled TRISTAN AND ISOLDE) was made in the mid-
Seventies in Britain, but when it was released in 1979, it was under the
title LOVESPELL (as near as I can piece together the details). As the story
goes, the Irish Isolde had an uncle nobody cared much for. The uncle is
killed by Tristan, the dashing nephew of Mark, the King of Cornwall. Mark
comes to Ireland to make claims against Isolde's family and forms a fast
friendship with Isolde. After Mark returns to Cornwall, he decides to marry
Isolde and sends his nephew Tristan with the proposal. Big mistake. By the
time Tristan gets Isolde to Cornwall, it isn't Mark she loves. She
faithfully marries Mark, but eventually runs off with Tristan. That is just
the beginning of the story, of course. The story is sort of Britain's own
version of Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare only re-told that story,
incidentally).
The idea of re-telling the story was perhaps a little uninspired, of
course. But this re-telling will probably be the version I'll remember.
The photography is atmospheric and the story moves along. The production is
almost lavish, considering that the most spectacular sights of the time were
castles that are still standing. The musical score is well-constructed
enough, though a piece borrowed from the Russian film ALEXANDER NEVSKY seems
out-of-place. The cast is quite good, with Richard Burton top-lined as
Mark, King of Cornwall. (I like that name--Mark. Good name for a king.)
Nicholas Clay (EVIL UNDER THE SUN) seems a little wimpy to be the great
lover of legend. For those who enjoyed the mythic feel of LADYHAWKE, this
is a good film to watch for. Rate it +2 on the -4 to +4 scale.
Mark R. Leeper
...ihnp4!mtgzz!leeper