Land of Lyonesse

Lines from Lord Tennyson decorate this watchable travelogue through Winchester, Glastonbury, and Cornwall

A harmony of sight and sound, this film invokes the Victorian poet laureate Lord Tennyson and the legend of King Arthur in its bid to promote English cultural history, particularly that of the West Country. Works like The Passing of Arthur, In Memoriam, and Crossing the Bar are quoted on a picturesque tour of wonders, man-made and natural, from Winchester Castle to Glastonbury Tor.

The titular Lyonesse refers to a land in Arthurian legend, supposedly lost off the coast of Tintagel, Cornwall - which is just one of many locations pictured here. A travelogue which covers plenty of ground, this film acknowledges a variety of backers in its opening titles, and all signs point to a high-budget production. Tennyson's verses are given an extra lift by the voiceover, which is courtesy of the actor George Dewhurst.