The symbol of the Grail as a mysterious object of search and as the source of the ultimate mystical, or even physical, experience has persisted into the present century in the novels of Charles Williams, C.S. Lewis and John Cowper Powys. Joseph Campbell has stated that The Grail Quest is the central myth of western civilization. It continues to fire our imaginations and souls to the present day. The best representation of the Arthurian Cycle in film is undoubtedly Excalibur by John Boorman . Produced in 1981, no film has come close to capturing the essence of the grail quest and 6th century Britain as this excellent movie.
Arthurian scholars continue to debate theories and investigate the original manuscripts.
One of the best respected authors is Geoffrey Ashe who has produced numerous excellent studies.