Synopsis
Olivier mustered out of the navy to film this adaptation of Shakespeare’s history. Embroiled in World War II, Britons took courage from this tale of a king who surmounts overwhelming odds and emerges victorious. This sumptuous Technicolor rendering features a thrilling re-creation of the battle of Agincourt, and Sir Laurence in his prime as director and actor.
Cast
| King Henry V | Laurence Olivier |
| Chorus | Leslie Banks |
| Ancient Pistol | Robert Newton |
| Princess Catherine | Renee Asherson |
| The Constable of France | Leo Genn |
| King Charles VI of France | Harcourt Williams |
| Duke of Bourbon | Russell Thorndike |
| Duke of Orleans | Francis Lister |
| The Dauphin | Max Adrian |
Credits
| Director | Laurence Olivier |
| Producer | Laurence Olivier |
| Screenplay | Alan Dent and Laurence Olivier |
| Based on the play by | William Shakespeare |
| Editing | Reginald Beck |
| Art director | Paul Sheriff |
| Cinematography | Robert Krasker |
| Costumes | Roger Furse |
| Music | William Walton |
| Conducted by | Muir Mathieson |
| Played by | The London Symphony Orchestra |
Disc Features
- Audio commentary by film historian Bruce Eder
- Theatrical trailer
- “Shakespearean Royalty”: A chronology of England’s rulers
- Stills galleries: the “Book of Hours” and production photos
- Subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired
- Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition
From the Current
Henry V
by Jun 21, 1999Laurence Olivier’s Henry V today seems like nothing less than a miracle in answer to the Chorus’s call for “a muse of fire that would ascend the brightest heaven of invention.” It’s a dazzling adaptation of a Shakespeare play, made (in Technicolor, no less) in the midst of World War...
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