Uryens was moved by Arthur's words and saw which way the wind was blowing.

Similar scene when Arthur draws the sword and hands it to his brother Kay. At first Kay says he drew it, then immediately recants and says Arthur did it. I didn't see any conflict between him and the sword in making that choice. He just did it on his own. Shows him as a man with integrity who although tempted, overcomes that temptation for power and relents. Uryens makes that same choice, although I think the actor overacted it a bit. Although Uryens is a bit of a loudmouth, he still had the integrity of a knight.
Still like how it throws off Merlin when he does it.

• or so the Germans would have us believe

The Ureyens character was well acted.

jimicapone wrote:
My friends & I are debating on whether the sword controlled Uryens to knight Arthur because he was the rightful heir or Excalibur somehow made it clear to Uryens (mentally?) thus changing Uryens mind
What's the difference? In your second scenario, if Ureyens didn't change his mind after Excalibur's initial nagging, it's hard to imagine that Excalibur would've just given up and let Ureyens kill the king for which the land had waited two decades. Excalibur would've kept at him like Harry Mudd's wives. The sword effectively "controlled" Ureyens however you articulate it.

Wow, that is an incredible interpretation. Thank you.

From the beginning it is shown that the land and mother nature and Merlin are one, and all part of the same 'magic' of the soul of the Earth. Merlin is a representation of this magic in a human form that barely ages. When this magical soul of the earth decides to take a leading part in the evolution of humankind's consciousness it puts forward Merlin to give instructions and forms a sword as a regal tool to spread co-operation among people with compassion and justice to all. The land crystallises this sword from the water of a mysterious lake. Water has always been the symbol of the Feminine Principle in life, and so it is fitting that an elegantly clothed, beautiful woman,a representative of Mother Nature and all that is magical and fertile, submerged supine in the water, would raise this powerful symbol of the land(the Earth), imbued with its own magical connection to the land as shown by the green light glistening along its blade ( green equals fertility and nature), and deliver by hand to the chosen human. This human, Arthur, becomes the representative of the land and a more acceptable form than the weird Merlin, as Arthur is now magically connected to it, to give governance and leadership.
In the scene with Uryens the sword is seen glistening with its green light of the fecund earth, showing it is of one mind with the earth. Uryens in the first few seconds shows he wants to take the opportunity to kill Arthur and take the kingship and finish the whole confontation. He struggles to turn the blade so that the edge is pointed downward for the purpose of killing, but Excalibur is of one mind with the land and magically connected to it, and resists Uryens movement so that the blade of the sword keeps turning itself back to a flat presentation to Arthur. All of this movement is subtly manifested by Uryens(Keith Buckley) shifting fingers and contorted facial expressions. Uryens can't make the sword do what he initially wants. He realises that he is in the presence of a far greater power that cannot be resisted and sees that Arthur is the one of pure heart and chosen by this power, and so he then willingly performs the knighting. Therefore the sword Excalibur didn't control Uryens mind but with its connection to the mind of the land it resisted the wrong action of turning the blade for a cutting stroke; and then Uryens realised that there was only one right action and did it wholeheartedly.

it brought out what is best in Uryens.
Agree with this. I always thought it had the ability to have Uryens see the truth of who Arthur was.that he was in fact the rightful kingand overwhelmed him with the desire to be good and honorable and to do that which is right according to the oaths of a knight.
An absolutely beautiful scene.

I'm reminded of another scene when Lancelot lies dying in Arthur's arms and Arthur tells him "you are what is best in men". I think this is part of the power of Excalibur, it brought out what is best in Uryens.

Actually, if I remember correctly. He is shaking like that because the water was cold as heck that day and he was shivering uncontrollably in that armor.

I'd agree with you. Once Uryens held Excalibur he instantaneously realized how powerful and difficult the sword is to control. Whereas he just witnessed how
naturally
Arthur could 'wield' the sword compared to him. Uryens quickly knighted Arthur and handed said basically this guy is a winner.

I only agree that it did seem to have an actual power radiating from it and it made him move awkwardly as he tried to control it. I don't think it brainwashed him in anyway. There is a hesitation when he is first holding it and I'm sure he was tempted as his men were urging him to keep it but I believe that when he moves the sword towards Arthur it was only with the intention of knighting him. While I'm sure feeling the power of Excalibur made an impression on him it was Arthur's courage (and his trust that Uryens would nit harm him) that convinced Uryens that Arthur was the true king.
He's taking the knife out of the Cheese!
Do you think he wants some cheese?

sorry but you've slipped up there - the actor playing Uryens is Keith Buckley.
Also the standard of Patrick Stewart's acting can vary like every other actor, for instance his trying to extract Excalibur was quite hammy and beyond a simple strenuous effort, especially the way he let go of it as if he was part of a corny 1920s silent film; other than that he is always eminently watchable. Not only was he overly dramatic then, but the sword pulling every time, with every actor who tried, was done quite obviously for show rather than reality, since they all tried to lift it with only their arms, clutching it around the grip and their grimacing faces in full view instead of doing the obvious course of action to extricate the sword which would be getting up on the boulder and taking hold of the crossguard with both hands and dead-lifting the sword, making the strongest movement the human body can make using the largest muscle groups in the back and hips and legs. In fact they all seemed to be trying not to make any serious lifting effort so that the sword would stay in place,consequently they huffed and puffed to cover that little deception of drama.

Just watched it yeseterday, Patrick was observing the knighting scene with his daughter from the castle wall.

I can't believe how wrong I was. Thanks for correcting me. The most amazing part is I can actually SEE Patrick Stewart in my mind when remembering that scene I guess it just proves how urgently I need to rewatch that movie.
"
Occasionally
I'm callous and strange."

No, the guy who played Uryens was Keith Buckley; Patrick Stewart played Leondegrance of Cameliard, who was always loyal to Arthur, and whose castle Uryens and the other anti-Arthur knights were attacking.
What I don't get was how long Arthur and Merlin must have been hiding out in the woods before they went to Leo's castle to help him. I mean, it must take a long time to put together a siege, but they really only show Arthur and Merlin in the woods for one night.

FYI the man in question is Patrick Stewart, of Star Trek fame (among many other things). He was also a Royal Shakespeare Company member. He never had a bad acting day.
"
Occasionally
I'm callous and strange."

Regardless of what Uryens was thinking (keep it or not), it is apparent that Uryens became aware that he cannot 'wield' it naturally to lead men(like Arthur can). In fact, the quivering suddenly disappears into a type of auto-pilot the moment he begins to knight Arthur.
Excalibur only allowed him to wield it for knighting Arthur.
Great acting by the man who played Uryens.

If you are trying to not offend me, no worries, no offense taken.

I am agreeing with you. Honestly, (not to offend anybody on this board) I thought it was fairly obvious.

Yes, I think that is precisely the kind of thought that went through his brain at that moment. Hence the visible hesitation and struggle.
"
Occasionally
I'm callous and strange."

could have been the beginning of the reign of Uryens the Wise. One swift slash and.

I do believe the sword is enchanted, I just don't believe it is embued with mind-controlling powers. it is a weapon of the Otherworld and has some qualities that make it a superior weapon, and it's a very powerful symbol, but I just don't see any indication that it has amind of itw own or that it can take control of others' minds. It's not the One Ring.
"
Occasionally
I'm callous and strange."

Your explanation is exactly what my friend argues. I lean that way a little, but if you listen closely to the scene, you hear a humming sound when Uryens is holding the sword. The same sound is audible when he tries to pull Excalibur from the rock
also when Arthur calls upon its power fighting Lancelot
That to me, signifies the sword is enchanted, along with the green glow at times. Either way, I appreciate your time discussing this with me. Only one of my friends has replied to my email as of yet.

I don't think the sword has any power of mind-control over anyone. But it is a very strong symbol, and I think that is what the scene shows: you can practically see Uryens's "little grey cell" working at full speed, hesitating, then reaching a conclusion and acting on it. It's not every day someone willingly gives you the symbol of kingship over all the country and you literally hold in your hands the power to either kill him and become king, or renounce evil and do the right thing. There is something very Christ-like in Arthur's subjection to Uryens. I think it is all the "mind-control" required in that scene. The battle of wills takes place inside of Uryens's conscience, not between his will and the sword's.
One of my favorite scenss too, BTW.
"
Occasionally
I'm callous and strange."