DIRTY KNIGHTS' WORK (1976)

 

PHENOMENALITY: *marvelous*
MYTHICITY: *fair*
FRYEAN MYTHOS: *adventure*
CAMPBELLIAN FUNCTION: *sociological*

DIRTY KNIGHTS' WORK seems a much better title than the dull alternates-- TRIAL BY COMBAT, A CHOICE OF WEAPONS-- for this light-hearted adventure. More than one reviewer has commented that this feels like an overlong episode of the 1960s AVENGERS series, except that it has two American actors for its putative "leads." That said, the story is less about those heroes, or their British ally, than about the villain, Sir Giles Marley (Donald Pleasence).

For reasons not explained until the film's climax, Marley organizes what looks like a British chapter of the Society for Creative Anachronism, whose members gather on Marley's spacious estate, dress up like knights of old and hold tournaments. But the Knights, perhaps taking a page from the 1973 movie MAGNUM FORCE, make it their business to seize criminals who escape the law and execute the unrighteous during their games.

Sir Edward Gifford (Peter Cushing in a role barely longer than a cameo) finds out about the Dirty Knights's work, so Marley has him executed. But Sir Edward's American-raised son John (David Birney) comes to his father's funeral and starts asking questions, He gains allies in another American woman, Marion (Barbara Hershey), and ex-police officer Colonel Cook (John Mills). 

The first half of the film, despite some wonky humor, is slow going. Then the second half shows good action sequences, well done despite a limited film-budget, reminding one of director Kevin Conner's strengths in that regard. (WORK appeared in between the first two of Conner's "Burroughs trilogy," AT THE EARTH'S CORE and THE PEOPLE THAT TIME FORGOT.) 

Mills and Birney have good chemistry, and the three "name actors" would have shone had the writers decided to give Barbara Hershey some Mrs. Peel-like fighting-skills. Instead, the outnumbered heroes receive some aid from Sidney (Brian Glover) one of the British gangsters abducted for execution by the Knights. WORK is a pleasing trifle, and it's fun to see Birney, usually known for serious dramatic roles, play a kick-butt brawler-type. But as I said, the main focus is on the weird society of the Avalon Knights, which puts Donald Pleasence in the focal-presence driver's seat.