Excalibur (1981)

Gabriel Byrne: Uther Pendragon

Photos 

Quotes 

• Uther : The sword. You promised me the sword.

  Merlin : And you shall have it; but to heal, not to hack. Tomorrow, a truce; we meet at the river.

  Uther : Talk. Talk is for lovers, Merlin. I need the sword to be king.

• Uther : [Uther is dying after being ambushed]  Nobody shall wield Excalibur but me!

  [drives Excalibur into the stone as he dies] 

  Merlin : [casting a spell]  He who pulls the sword from the stone... *he* shall be king!

  [looking at the infant Arthur] 

  Merlin : You, Arthur; you're the one.

• Uther : Where have you been?

  Merlin : I have walked my way since the beginning of time. Sometimes I give, sometimes I take, it is mine to know which and when!

  Uther : You must help me, Merlin!

  Merlin : Must I?

  Uther : I am your King!

  Merlin : So! You need me again now that my truce is wrecked! Years to build and moments to ruin! And all for lust!

  Uther : For Igrayne! One night with her. You don't understand, you're not a man. Use the magic. Do it!

  Merlin : [considering]  Igrayne... You will swear by your true Kingship... to grant me what I wish, then you shall have it.

  Uther : [kneeling]  By Excalibur, I swear it!

  Merlin : What issues from your lust, shall be mine. Swear it again!

  Uther : I SWEAR IT!

• [Uther and Cornwall meet] 

  Merlin : Show the sword! Behold! The Sword of Power! Excalibur! Forged when the world was young, and bird and beast and flower were one with man, and death was but a dream!

  [to Uther] 

  Merlin : Speak the words!

  Uther Pendragon : One land, one king! That is my peace, Cornwall!

  Lord Cornwall : Lord Uther, if I yield to the Sword of Power, what will you yield?

  Uther Pendragon : Me yield?

  Merlin : He has given, now you must.

  Uther Pendragon : The land from here to the sea shall be yours if you enforce the King's will!

  Lord Cornwall : Done!

  Merlin : [to himself]  Good.

  Lord Cornwall : King Uther, let us feast together! To my castle!

• Uther : Merlin! You come when you're not asked, and pay no heed when I call you!

  Merlin : Oh, I have slept... for nine moons. What I did for you wasn't easy. Now, you must pay me. The child is mine, Uther... you swore an oath.

  Uther : They were hasty words, Merlin. This is flesh and blood!

  Igrayne : Uther, is this true? Don't let him take the child!

  Uther : I swore an oath, Igrayne. I made a pact with Merlin.

  Igrayne : It was you; *you* came to me that night! YOU ARE THE FATHER!

  Uther : To kill and be King... is that all?

  Merlin : Perhaps not even that.

  Uther : You strike me with words hard as steel!

  Merlin : You betrayed the Duke. You stole his wife. You took his castle. Now, only fools trust you; now, only a fool would. You're not the one, Uther. Give me the child; I will protect him.

  Uther : TAKE HIM... TAKE THE DEVIL CHILD!

  [Igrayne bursts into tears] 

• Uther : Merlin! Where are you? Call your dragon to weave a mist to hide us!

• Uther : I must have her.

  Knight : Are you mad? The alliance!