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George and the Dragon

George and the Dragon 2004

Directed by

Tom Reeve

Tom Reeve

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George and the Dragon Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for George and the Dragon (2004). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.


George, [James Purefoy] returns from crusade and bids farewell to his Muslim friend Tarik, [Michael Clarke Duncan], as he plans to go home to start a farm, while Tarik intends to travel to Spain to seek the legendary mercenary El Cabillo, [Val Kilmer]. Before parting, they rescue Father Bernard, [Jean-Pierre Castaldi], a convicted priest who has escaped his hanging, from a pursuing mob. George and Father Bernard travel to England together.

The king’s daughter Luna, [Piper Perabo], is carried off by a dragon. Her betrothed, Lord Garth de Guerney, [Patrick Swayze], obsessively searches for her, and with dragons dismissed as legends, the abduction is blamed on Picts. George, now alone, returns to the house of his father, Sir Robert, [Paul Freeman]. Sir Robert recounts stories of fighting a dragon when he was younger and gives George a relic of his battle—a dragon horn. Despite his father’s encouragement to continue his adventures, George is determined to acquire land and establish a smallholding. Robert advises him to visit King Edgar, [Simon Callow], and ask for land. Unbeknownst to him, he is followed by Wryn, [Rollo Weeks], a boy from the village.

Luna has not been harmed by the dragon, who she calls Adelaide, and she defends its cave and its egg from a small group of Picts. In Spain, Tarik finds El Cabillo but is defeated by him in a duel after El Cabillo cheats, and Tarik is left for dead. On the road, George encounters Lord Garth, who is impressed by George and takes him to meet the king. George volunteers to accompany the search for Luna along with Garth and the aged guardian of the King’s household, Elmendorf, [Bill Treacher]. El Cabillo and his men also travel to England and begin hunting for the princess, hoping for a ransom.

Garth’s party is ambushed by a group of Picts, which they fight off. Elmendorf and George pursue a small group and encounter Wryn, then stumble upon the dragon’s cave. Luna tells them that Adelaide has apparently died from a wound, but Luna is determined to protect Adelaide’s egg, which she has named Smite. She prevents George from destroying it and insists they take it with them.

They arrive at a nunnery, where Bernard is now staying. The nuns reluctantly agree to keep the egg secret. Garth also arrives at the nunnery and is pleased to see Luna safe, but she tells him she will not marry him. Elmendorf confides in George that Garth was selected as Edgar’s successor because he would be a strong ruler, but that Luna only agreed to the betrothal because she was told to.

Unwilling to give up on his dreams of rule, Garth abducts Luna and Bernard, intending to marry her by force and then launch a coup against the king. Bernard reluctantly performs the ceremony in an abandoned castle, but George and Elmendorf arrive before it is concluded, closely followed by El Cabillo. El Cabillo reveals himself to be Tarik, who took the title by defeating the previous El Cabillo. However, Tarik’s second-in-command Bulchar, [Stefan Jürgens], betrays him and the mercenaries attack. During the battle, Smite hatches. Wryn blows the dragon horn, awakening Adelaide.

Garth’s men arrive and attack the mercenaries, followed by the royal army led by King Edgar and Sir Robert. Garth offers George the chance to rule with him, but George refuses, leading to a three-way battle between them and Bulchar. In the confused melee that ensues, Elmendorf sacrifices himself to save Luna and appoints Wryn as his successor.

Finally, Adelaide appears, driving off the mercenaries, but George is trapped inside the ruined keep with the two dragons. George notices the broken lance protruding from Adelaide’s hide and realises that his father was telling the truth about fighting a dragon. He emerges from the keep holding the bloody lance and is hailed as a hero and a saint for slaying the dragon, but a furious Luna rides off. George pursues her and is intercepted by Garth. As they battle in the shallows of a lake, Adelaide appears and devours Garth. Luna realises that George saved Adelaide by removing the lance.

George and Luna agree that the dragons’ survival must remain a secret, and George throws the dragon horn into the lake to stop it being used again. Luna then asks that they travel to investigate rumours of a unicorn near Glastonbury.

George and the Dragon Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of George and the Dragon (2004) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.


Farewell at the crusade; Bernard rescue

George bids farewell to Tarik at the end of their crusade, planning to return home to start a smallholding. Tarik intends to travel to Spain to seek the famed mercenary El Cabillo. Before parting, they incidentally rescue Father Bernard from a pursuing mob.

End of crusade On the road after the crusade

Tarik's duel with El Cabillo in Spain

Tarik locates El Cabillo in Spain, but the duel is crooked as El Cabillo cheats and defeats him. Tarik is left for dead and begins to recover his own path. This encounter sets Tarik on a separate course from George.

In Spain Spain

George returns home; horn relic unveiled

George arrives at his father Sir Robert's hall where old dragon stories resurface. Sir Robert tells of his own dragon fight and passes a dragon horn relic to George. He urges George to seek land from King Edgar, while a village boy named Wryn shadows him.

After returning home Sir Robert's hall

Luna is carried off by Adelaide

The king’s daughter, Luna, is carried off by a dragon she calls Adelaide. The abduction sparks a frantic search led by her betrothed, Lord Garth, while dragons are treated as legends and blamed on the Picts. The kingdom braces for a perilous rescue.

During the abduction Dragon's lair / kingdom outskirts

George joins the Luna search party

George, now alone, journeys toward England and meets Lord Garth who invites him to join the search for Luna along with Elmendorf, the king’s aging guardian. El Cabillo and his men also travel to England, drawn by the same prize for their own ends. The expedition broadens with rival aims but united purpose.

After Luna's abduction England

Ambush and dragon cave discovery

Garth’s party is ambushed by Picts, and Elmendorf and George pursue a smaller group that leads them to a dragon’s cave. Luna reveals that Adelaide has apparently died from a wound, but she guards Adelaide’s egg, Smite, and insists they take it with them. The revelation deepens the danger and the moral stakes.

Pursuit Dragon's cave

Nunnery sanctuary and Luna's refusal

The group reaches a nunnery where Bernard is staying and the egg is kept secret by the nuns. Garth arrives and is pleased to see Luna safe, but she makes clear she will not marry him. The political tension tightens as loyalties shift in the shadows.

After egg's concealment Nunnery

Elmendorf explains royal politics

Elmendorf confides in George that Garth was chosen by Edgar to be his successor because of strength, not consensus. He notes that Luna only agreed to the betrothal because she was told to. The political dynamics foreshadow the looming coup.

Before further events Nunnery

Garth's bold abduction and failed ceremony

Garth abducts Luna and Bernard with the plan to marry by force and topple the king. Bernard reluctantly performs a ceremony in an abandoned castle, but George and Elmendorf arrive to interrupt it. El Cabillo is revealed to be Tarik, whose second-in-command Bulchar betrays him as mercenaries attack.

During attempted ceremony Abandoned castle

Smite hatches and Adelaide awakened

During the chaos, Smite hatches and a dragon-crazed alarm spreads. Wryn blows the dragon horn, awakening Adelaide and signaling the wider conflict to come. The stage is set for a dramatic clash.

During battle Castle vicinity

Royal army arrives; Elmendorf's sacrifice

Garth’s forces clash with mercenaries and the royal army led by King Edgar and Sir Robert. Elmendorf sacrifices himself to save Luna and names Wryn as his successor, ensuring a change in leadership after the chaos.

Final confrontation Ruined keep

Lance reveal and hero's rise

Adelaide drives off the mercenaries, but George remains trapped inside the ruined keep with the two dragons. He discovers a broken lance protruding from Adelaide’s hide, proving his father’s dragon story true and earning him a hero’s status.

Climax Ruined keep

Garth falls; Luna's anger and aftermath

George emerges, hailed as a hero and saint for slaying the dragon, though Luna rides off in anger. The couple faces the consequences of the battle and the fragile political order of the realm. Trust must be rebuilt amid the ruins.

After the confrontation Lakeside area / castle grounds

Secret kept; horn cast; unicorn quest begins

George and Luna vow to keep the dragons’ survival a secret and George throws the dragon horn into the lake to prevent its misuse. They decide to pursue rumors of a unicorn near Glastonbury, signaling a new chapter for their bond and future governance.

Resolution Lakeside / Glastonbury outskirts

George and the Dragon Characters

Explore all characters from George and the Dragon (2004). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.


George (James Purefoy)

A knight returning from crusade who longs to settle on a farm, George is practical yet guided by a strong sense of duty. He grows from cautious ambition into a decisive leader as he protects Luna and confronts would-be usurpers. His decisions balance personal desire with the needs of the kingdom, and his courage ultimately crowns him in a saint-like light after the dragon slaying.

⚔️ Hero 🛡️ Loyal 🧭 Adventurous

Luna (Piper Perabo)

The king's daughter who is abducted by the dragon Adelaide, Luna shows resilience and independence, defending the dragon's cave and its egg Smite. She refuses a political betrothal and questions the motivations of those around her, including Garth. Her loyalty to the dragon family and her own autonomy shape the story's emotional core.

👑 Princess 🛡️ Determined 🐉 Dragon ally

Tarik (El Cabillo) (Michael Clarke Duncan)

Tarik is George's ally and a mercenary hunter who travels from the crusader world to Spain in search of El Cabillo. He is skilled but falls when he is defeated by the mercenary El Cabillo, only to later reveal himself as the man who took the title of El Cabillo after defeating the previous bearer. He embodies themes of loyalty, ambition, and identity.

⚔️ Mercenary 🗡️ Dual identity 🧭 Travel

Garth (Patrick Swayze)

Garth is Luna's would-be fiancé and the kingdom's ambitious rival who abducts Luna to force a marriage and mount a coup. He embodies ruthlessness and a hunger for power, challenging George and the king's authority. His downfall comes during the climactic conflict with the dragons and royal forces.

👑 Villain 🔥 Ambition 🗡️ Rival

Elmendorf (Bill Treacher)

Elmendorf is the elder guardian of the King's household, a seasoned advisor who guides George and shares the king's confidences. He sacrifices himself to save Luna and ensures a smoother succession by naming Wryn as his successor. His loyalty and wisdom anchor the royal protection.

🛡️ Protector 🗝️ Loyalty 🏰 Advisor

Sir Robert (Paul Freeman)

Sir Robert is George's father, a veteran knight who recounts dragon-fighting stories and passes down a relic—the dragon horn. He encourages George to pursue land but supports his son's courage and sense of duty. His memory and guidance influence George's path and choices.

🗡️ Veteran 🧭 Mentor 🐉 Dragon folklore

Wryn (Rollo Weeks)

Wryn is a village boy who follows George and becomes part of the rescue party. He provides youthful courage and loyalty, and he ultimately inherits Elmendorf's guidance role after the sacrifices in the climactic battle. His presence helps humanize the larger quest.

🧒 Loyal 🕊️ Sentinel 👣 Apprentice

Adelaide

Adelaide is the dragon whose presence drives the kidnapping and the later battle. She defends her cave and egg and interacts with Luna's compassion, showing a protective, familial side rather than merely monstrous, complicating the moral landscape of the story.

🐉 Dragon 🥚 Dragon egg 🌀 Mythic creature

Smite

Smite is the dragon egg Luna shields, which hatches during the climactic battle. The egg represents new life and hope for dragon survival, anchoring a secret the characters decide to protect. Its existence shifts the moral balance of the war between dragons and humans.

🥚 Egg 🐉 New life 🗺️ Folklore

Father Bernard (Jean-Pierre Castaldi)

Father Bernard is a convicted priest who escapes hanging and is saved by George and Tarik. He travels with the group to the nunnery, where the egg remains secret, and his presence underlines the tension between law, faith, and personal morality. His actions influence key plot turns in the pursuit of Luna.

🙏 Priest 🕊️ Faith 🧭 Moral complexity

Sister Angela (Caroline Carver)

Sister Angela is a nun who becomes a keeper of the dragon egg's secret at the nunnery. She represents the cautious protection of sacred mysteries and offers quiet support to the central rescue mission. Her role emphasizes themes of restraint and guardianship.

🕊️ Sister 🛡️ Guardian 🏰 Nunnery

George and the Dragon Settings

Learn where and when George and the Dragon (2004) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.


Time period

Medieval fantasy era

The events unfold in a world of knights, kings, and dragons, a setting reminiscent of the medieval period. Chivalric duties collide with political intrigue as a coup threatens the throne. The presence of crusade-era echoes, a dragon, and a relic horn situates the story firmly in a mythical medieval landscape.

Location

England, Spain, Glastonbury

The story moves between the English realm and the Spanish landscape as Tarik seeks El Cabillo and the princess Luna is hunted. Key locations include the king's hall, a nunnery, a dragon's cave, and a ruined castle where battles unfold. Glastonbury is referenced as a distant rumor of magic near a unicorn, grounding the tale in a familiar medieval setting. The journey spans rural villages, royal courts, and perilous keeps, defining a classic fantasy quest.

⚔️ Medieval kingdoms 🏰 Castles and courts 🗺️ Cross-continental journey 🐉 Dragon lore

George and the Dragon Themes

Discover the main themes in George and the Dragon (2004). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.


🛡️

Heroism and Duty

George's shift from a land-bound dreamer to a protector mirrors the knightly ideal of duty over personal comfort. He joins the perilous search for Luna, risking his life for others and for the realm's stability. The dragon encounter and his ultimate slaying of Adelaide cement his status as a heroic figure, though the victory carries moral complexity.

👑

Power and Succession

Garth's kidnapping plot and bid for the throne reveal the dangers of political ambition. The king's choice of an heir and Elmendorf's secret loyalties create a chessboard of competing claims to rule. The rebellion is thwarted not just by might but by alliances and sacrifices that redefine rightful leadership.

🐉

Dragons and Secrets

Dragons Adelaide and her egg Smite anchor the story's mythic layer, with Luna protecting the egg and George uncovering the truth behind dragon lore. The dragon horn and the awakening of Adelaide drive crucial plot turns and force characters to confront hard truths about power and survival. The decision to keep dragons' survival a secret underscores the episode's theme of restraint and responsibility.

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George and the Dragon Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of George and the Dragon (2004). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.


In a mist‑shrouded 12th‑century England where the echoes of crusades still reverberate across the rolling countryside, the world feels both grounded in harsh medieval reality and tinged with lingering legend. Kingdoms vie for power, peasants tend to their fields, and stories of dragons—once thought to be mere myth— linger like half‑remembered prayers. The film’s tone balances the gritty texture of feudal life with a quiet, almost reverent awe for the unknown forces that may yet stir beneath the earth.

George returns from distant holy wars, his armor dulled by travel and his spirit tinged with a yearning for a simpler existence. Beside him, his steadfast companion Tarik—a seasoned warrior from far‑off lands—offers a glimpse of camaraderie that transcends borders. At home, Sir Robert, George’s proud father, embodies the old codes of chivalry, reminding his son of a time when knights faced beasts as much as they faced foes. Yet George’s heart is torn between the pull of duty and his desire to lay down roots, to cultivate a modest farm and claim a piece of land where peace might finally be found.

When the kingdom’s ruler, King Edgar, summons George, a new obligation is laid before him: to find the kingdom’s missing princess, Princess Lunna, who vanished under mysterious circumstances involving the realm’s last surviving dragon. The royal decree carries both a promise of land and the weight of a kingdom’s hope, thrusting George into a quest that will test the very limits of his bravery and honor. Along the way, other noble figures—including the ambitious Lord Garth—add layers of intrigue, each bearing their own expectations of what the rescue might mean for the crown and its people.

The story unfolds as a richly textured tapestry of medieval life, mythic wonder, and personal duty. As George steps onto a path fraught with ancient secrets, the film invites viewers to wonder what lies beyond the known world—whether the dragons of legend still breathe, and how a simple man’s quest for peace might intertwine with the fate of a kingdom on the brink of change.

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