Excalibur: Why did this sex scene make the actors very uncomfortable?

Excalibura film for the legend

In 1981, British director John Boorman made one of his most significant films: Excalibur. Celebrated for its ambition, visual style and soundtrack, including great songs like Carmina Burana and compositions by Richard Wagner -, Excalibur engage in storytelling Arthurian legend, focusing on the origins and fate of Arthur (played by Nigel Terry) and his legendary sword “Excalibur”. The film, in competition at the 1981 Cannes Film Festival, also represents an opportunity for various actors to launch their film careers. Gabriel Byrne and Ciarán Hinds make their first appearance on the big screen, while Patrick Stewart and Liam Neeson reveal themselves to the general public.

Excalibur marks the spirits, notably by bringing great sensuality to his treatment of the Arthurian legend. There is so multiple sex scenes in John Boorman’s eighth feature film. And one, in particular, that made the male actors very uncomfortable.

There are love scenes fromExcalibur the one between Lancelot (Nicholas Clay) and Guinevere (Cherie Lunghi), during which the actor and actress walked around naked in the freezing cold, harassed by mosquitoes. There is a moment of passion between Liam Neeson and Helen Mirren, who in these shots will begin a love story that lasted four years. And there is also another sequence, central to the plot of the film and more complex. This shows how Uther Pendragon, future father of Arthur, takes the form of the Duke of Cornwall with the help of Merlin to join his wife Ygraine. A deceptive union for Ygraine, who thinks she is dealing with her rightful husband. From this relationship Arthur was born.

When John Boorman directs his daughter in a sex scene

In Excalibur, Uther Pendragon is played by Gabriel Byrne. The Duke of Cornwall is played by Corin Redgrave. And this is Katrine Boorman, John Boorman’s daughter, who lends her face and body to Ygraine. The scene shows Uther devoured by passion and who he does not spare Ygraine when it comes time to join her. Since it is Merlin’s ploy, Corin Redgrave and Gabriel Byrne alternate on screen, indicating that Ygraine thinks her lover is indeed her husband, when in reality it is Uther Pendragon’s reality. As told by the actress in the documentary Excalibur: Behind the Movieit was not she who was embarrassed, but rather her male partners:

Oddly it wasn’t that embarrassing for me. I think it was very uncomfortable and embarrassing for Corin Redgrave and Gabriel Byrne. They had to strip the clothes off a young woman, who is the director’s daughter by the way… But for me, after being captured by a knight in armour, under my father’s gaze, there was no more chance to retrace your steps.

A necessarily embarrassing sequence for the actors, who didn’t lash out at the demanding director by playing this scene with his daughter. And as for Gabriel Byrne, he also had to shoot the close-ups himself, imitating the sexual act with a pillow. A shoot as legendary as its screen achievement, and a more than memorable film debut for Katrine Boorman and Gabriel Byrne.

Source: Cine Serie

Ray

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