Lovespell

1981 film

December 1981 (1981-12)

Running time

97 minutesCountriesIreland, United KingdomLanguageEnglish

Lovespell is a 1981 fantasy romantic tragedy film featuring Richard Burton as King Mark of Cornwall. It was directed by Tom Donovan. It is based on the classic saga of Tristan and Isolde.

Production

Filmed in Ireland in 1979 as Tristan and Isolde^[1] this film was eventually released for limited screenings in theaters in 1981 as Lovespell.

Harry Hamlin auditioned for the film as well as Clash of the Titans opting to do the latter so he could work with Laurence Olivier.^[2] Nicholas Clay also read for the role of Perseus in Clash of the Titans but when Hamlin got the role, Clay ended up as Tristan in Lovespell.^[3]

Plot

Lovespell is based around a love triangle between King Mark of Cornwall (Richard Burton), Isolt (Kate Mulgrew), and Tristan (Nicholas Clay). Mark discovers Isolt's love for Tristan, and banishes Tristan. However, while being away, Tristan is mortally wounded. Isolt persuades Mark to go and take Tristan back to Cornwall. Mark says if he returns casting white sails Tristan is alive and if they are black Tristan is dead. Mark returns with Tristan barely alive with white sails, but casts black sails when Tristan reveals his plans to run away with Isolt as soon as he has recovered. This causes Isolt to kill herself by throwing herself off the White Cliffs of Dover. Mark helps Tristan swim to the shore, and as Tristan and Isolt's hands touch they both die, while Mark, knee deep in the water, looks on.

Cast

Richard Burton as King Mark of Cornwall
Kate Mulgrew as Isolt
Nicholas Clay as Tristan
Cyril Cusack as Gormond of Ireland
Geraldine Fitzgerald as Bronwyn
Niall Toibin as Andred
Diana Van der Vlis as Alix
Niall O'Brien as Corvenal
Kathryn Dowling as Yseult of the White Hand
John Jo Brooks as Father Colm
Trudy Hayes as Anne
John Scanlon as Bishop
Bobby Johnson as William the Guard
John Labine as Eoghanin

References

^ O’Donoghue, Jack. "Acting Talent or Fame 1979". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
^ Grebey, James (June 8, 2021). "Harry Hamlin Answers Every Question We Have About Clash of the Titans". Vulture.com. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
^ Alter, Ethan (June 11, 2021). "'Clash of the Titans' at 40: Harry Hamlin reveals the story behind his on-set romance with Ursula Andress". Yahoo! News. Retrieved June 12, 2021.

External links

Lovespell at IMDb
Blowen, Michael (Aug 16, 1982). "Movie review: Tristan and Isolt founder in a sea of nonsense". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2010.