Nigel Green did get to play the leading hero in The Face Of Fu Manchu, and was the definitive Hercules in Jason and the Argonauts (easily the best thing in the movie and the part he will always be remembered for). However, he had an aloof, somewhat sinister and enigmatic quality about him that casting directors quickly noticed: hence his frequent casting in villainous and mysterious character actor supporting parts. He had the height and presence to be a leading man, but he was never what casting directors would judge to be a pretty romantic lead. His enormous charisma and gravitas is apparent in Zulu, Jason and the Argonauts, The Ipcress File, Gawain and the Green Knight and other pictures, but most of his career was spent being the supporting actor.
As for Gawain and the Green Knight, I haven't seen it since 1983. The distibutors, United Artists, sold it for television many years ago. It occasionally turns up on television stations around the world (who buy it cheap as part of three-for-one style package deals), but these screenings are rare. This is a little known movie, and it was disowned by its director because its distibutors re-cut it against his wishes. He remade it as Sword Of The Valiant ten years later, but this was an even bigger disaster (creatively and financially). The original 1973 Gawain is still a fascinating picture, and one I would dearly wish to see again.
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