Tennessee Ernie Ford finds that chivalry and knighthood were a lot of bunk when scientists, with the aid of a time machine, transport him back to 6th century Camelot. He is befriended by Clarence but captured by Sir Bors, a Knight of the Round Table, and taken to the court of King Arthur. In addition to his disillusionment about knighthood, Ford is condemned to death at the stake by Merlin the Magician. Ford resorts to hill-folk magic of his own by consulting his Farmer's almanac and predicting a solar eclipse on the scheduled date of his execution. This proves enough for King Arthur, who frees Ford from the stake and elevates him to high rank in the court. Ford must still accept a challenge, however, before he is transported back to the 20th century.