Top 10 Movie Duels

King Arthur vs. the Black Knight, Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Everett

Ah, the Black Knight. Has anyone ever suffered from greater denial? His classic confrontation with Arthur, King of the Britons, in Monty Python and the Holy Grail took cinematic duels to a whole new hilarious level. Arthur, of course, doesn’t want to fight the Black Knight, who disappointed him by ignoring his invitation to join the Round Table (as the monarch explains, “You make me sad”). But Arthur has no choice when the knight blocks his passage. And that’s when limbs start to fly, demonstrating the Black Knight’s remarkable pain tolerance and capacity for self-delusion. “‘Tis but a scratch,” he insists after his left arm is sliced off. Besides, he’s “had worse.” And the right arm? “It’s just a flesh wound!” Undeterred by his lack of arms and sword, he kicks. And when he’s down to one leg, he head butts. When the Black Knight is but a head and torso, he continues to taunt his reluctant opponent, who is free to ride off on his imaginary horse.

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