ONCE UPON A CLASSIC: A CONNECTICUT YANKEE IN KING ARTHUR'S COURT (TV)
Summary
One in this series of dramatic adaptations of classic works of literature. This episode is an adaptation of Mark Twain's 1889 comedic novel, in which a wily American inventor finds himself transported back to sixth-century England. Host Bill Bixby opens the story in 1879 Hartford, where Hank Morgan gets into an argument with a co-worker and is struck on the head. When he awakens, he is greeted by a knight, Sir Sagramore, who drags him off to the nearby kingdom of Camelot. Sagramore announces that he has slain a "fire-breathing monster," who transformed into a human man at the moment of death, and demands his reward, the hand of the Lady Alisandre. Merlin, however, declares that Hank is not a monster in disguise, and a confused King Arthur orders Hank tossed into the dungeon. Merlin notes Alisandre's "ill-advised" interest in the stranger and suggests that their fates are entwined, and Hank is soon sentenced to be burned at the stake. Young Clarence informs him of the date, the 20th of October in the year 528, and Hank realizes that a solar eclipse will take place that day. Thinking quickly, he pretends that he is causing the event and demands his freedom, threatening to block out the sun forever, and though Merlin urges the king to do away with the stranger, Arthur fearfully gives in to Hank's demands.
Hank is appointed the king's "right-hand man" and begins making big changes to the kingdom, using his knowledge of the future. He declares that Merlin is a "bunko artist," and when he explains the advantages of a telegraph system, Arthur knights him "Sir Boss," much to Sagramore's disgust. Merlin searches Hank's chambers and accuses him of spreading "profane knowledge" to the peasants, though Hank argues that knowledge should be for everyone, not just the elite, and accuses him of using Arthur as a "puppet" through his chicanery. Hank flirts with Alisandre, whom he has nicknamed "Sandy," and news that a fountain believed to contain miraculous waters has stopped flowing soon reaches the castle. Arthur summons both Merlin and "Sir Boss" to remedy the situation, and though Merlin performs some impressive "magic," Hank easily uses modern-day technology to repair the fountain and quickly negotiates for a percentage of the money that will come in with a new surge of visitors.
Arthur declares that Hank has completed his "quest" and is now worthy of a seat at the Round Table, and Sagramore declares that he and the other knights are disgraced by his presence. Hank surprises Alisandre with a looking-glass, though she declines his advances, admitting that she fears him. Later, Hank urges Arthur to get to know his subjects in order to earn their true affection, and Arthur disguises himself as a peasant and visits a nearby home, comforting a sickly child as she dies. Sagramore, learning of Arthur's trip into the woods, arranges for the two "peasants" to be captured, though Hank quickly uses the telegraph wire to contact Clarence. Clarence confronts Sagramore and the two brawl, while elsewhere Arthur's protests that he is the king are ignored as he and Hank are prepared for hanging. Clarence arrives on a bicycle in the nick of time, however, followed by many more knights, and a grateful Arthur knights Clarence for his services. Hank announces that Sagramore was the one to plot against Arthur, and Sagramore challenges him to a swordfight – but Hank pulls out a 19th-century gun and shoots him, causing him to be transported back to present day. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: WQED / PBS
- DATE: November 30, 1999 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:58:38
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:82262
- GENRE: Drama, fantasy/science fiction
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, fantasy/science fiction; Time travel; Arthurian legend; Literature - Adaptations
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1976-1980
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - McDonald's restaurants
CREDITS
- Jay Rayvid … Executive Producer
- Chiz Schultz … Producer
- Shep Greene … Co-Producer
- Lisa Cantini-Seguin … Associate Producer
- David Tapper … Director
- Mark Twain … Based on the book by
- Stephen Dick … Adapted by
- Alden Shuman … Music by
- Bill Bixby … Host
- Richard Basehart … Cast, King Arthur
- Roscoe Lee Browne … Cast, Merlin
- Frederick Coffin … Cast, Sagramore
- Tovah Feldshuh … Cast, Sandy / Alisande
- Paul Rudd … Cast, Hank / Sir Boss
- Dan Shor … Cast, Clarence / Sir Paragraph