Henry V (1989)
John Thompson 
In honor of St. Crispin's Day approaching, let's discuss the 1989 film adaptation of William Shakespeare's Henry V. One of the best Shakespeare adaptations of all time.
Directed and Written by Kenneth Branagh
Music by Patrick Doyle
Starring Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Derek Jacobi, Brian Blessed, Ian Holm, Alec McCowen, Charles Kay, Judi Dench, Robbie Coltrane, Robert Stephens, Christian Bale, Richard Briers, Geraldine McEwan, Richard Easton, Michael Williams, Christopher Ravenscroft, and SIR PAUL SCOFIELD
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 66 | November 2, 2022 9:43 PM |
Oh for a muse of fire. that would ascend. The brightest heaven of invention, A kingdom for a stage, princes to act and monarchs to behold the swelling scene!
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 1 | October 20, 2022 3:49 AM |
I've only seen the scene with Emma Thompson and Geraldine McEwan and the English lesson, and I liked it because I completely understood it, even with my bad French.
| by Anonymous | reply 2 | October 20, 2022 3:49 AM |
Costume designer Phyllis Dalton ("The Princess Bride", & Branaugh's "Much Ado About Nothing") won the Academy Award for this film. It was cited in my undergrad design classes.
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | October 20, 2022 3:52 AM |
R2 Watch the entire film now! It is a real treat and Shakespeare done right. Most of the cast have RSC backgrounds- Scofield, McCowen, Kay, Jacobi, McEwan, Ravenscroft, Stephens, Dench, etc.
Most of the time in Shakespeare movies, directors cast actors who have no business doing Shakespeare (e.g. Ethan Hawke, Claire Danes, etc.)
| by Anonymous | reply 4 | October 20, 2022 3:53 AM |
How are your delbows feeling, R2?
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | October 20, 2022 3:54 AM |
The Non Nobis, Domine always gets me.
Conducted by Sir Simon Rattle and performed by the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 6 | October 20, 2022 3:55 AM |
Side Note: I forgot to mention that Dalton was first nominated for "Doctor Zhivago" and won. She was nominated a second time for "Oliver!", but lost to Danilo Donati for "Romeo & Juliet". The Oscar for "Henry V" was her second win from three total nominations. I only mention tjhis because "Doctor Zhivago" is discussed here every so often.
| by Anonymous | reply 8 | October 20, 2022 4:02 AM |
Since I missed the first 4 I don't think I'll see this.
| by Anonymous | reply 9 | October 20, 2022 4:02 AM |
R9 That's not how it works?
| by Anonymous | reply 10 | October 20, 2022 4:07 AM |
I can't think of a bad performance in this.
| by Anonymous | reply 11 | October 20, 2022 4:20 AM |
I liked Christopher Ravenscroft the best
| by Anonymous | reply 12 | October 20, 2022 4:29 AM |
Haha R5, et toi? Le foot et le count?
R4, I think I shall!
| by Anonymous | reply 13 | October 20, 2022 12:17 PM |
Thoroughly enjoyable, Doyle's score fantastic, well done all hands.
| by Anonymous | reply 14 | October 20, 2022 12:34 PM |
Maybe I prefer the Olivier ultimately, but this one is fabulously dark and a great cast. I know it's fashionable to dump on Branagh, but those early Shakespeare movies are pretty wonderful.
| by Anonymous | reply 15 | October 20, 2022 12:36 PM |
R15 The Olivier was of its time and era, and Branagh's of his. The former had a touch of magic a about it. The later one a grittier realism. Both worked brilliantly within those frameworks.
I will say, though, that much as I liked Doyle's score for the Branagh, it still comes behind Walton's gorgeous score for the Olivier HENRY V. Walton also did the haunting score for Olivier's HAMLET and his RICHARD III.
| by Anonymous | reply 16 | October 20, 2022 12:53 PM |
R15 and R16 I agree with both of you, except Olivier's did not age well whereas Branagh's has.
| by Anonymous | reply 17 | October 20, 2022 2:13 PM |
R17 Yes, the Olivier has, as they say, "dated" a bit. But, on balance, that's part of its charm today, I feel. And it was a groundbreaker of sorts, as it moved from theatre to "real".
| by Anonymous | reply 18 | October 20, 2022 9:14 PM |
R18 I still think Branagh's version is better. It is more real
| by Anonymous | reply 19 | October 20, 2022 9:51 PM |
The music sounds dated and shitty.
| by Anonymous | reply 20 | October 21, 2022 12:27 AM |
R20 it works for the movie
| by Anonymous | reply 21 | October 21, 2022 1:30 AM |
Michael Maloney was a good and cute Dauphin.
| by Anonymous | reply 22 | October 21, 2022 1:36 AM |
R21 I think the score worked very well for the film, as well. But one reason I prefer Walton's score for Olivier's HV is that it holds up so much better. It's, er, "real" music, for lack of a better term. It's very evocative without being sentimental, and, of course, sounds very English. Walton was a higher grade of composer than Doyle, and that's not to disrespect Doyle. whose work I like.
| by Anonymous | reply 24 | October 21, 2022 2:12 AM |
Emma's French was impeccable. An incredibly strong adaptation.
| by Anonymous | reply 25 | October 21, 2022 2:16 AM |
This was one of my favorite films when I first came across it as a teenager. It's been years since I watched it and this thread is a good reminder to revisit it. My take on Shakespeare really changed after I read/watched this play- the St Crispin's Day speech, particularly Branagh's version, was so invigorating. It was such a treat to see a young Emma Thompson as well.
| by Anonymous | reply 26 | October 21, 2022 2:20 AM |
I think Emma Thompson speaks French fluently.
However, the French negotiations do take a little time.
| by Anonymous | reply 27 | October 21, 2022 2:27 AM |
It's terrible and what Branagh knows about playing Henry V and doing Shakespeare would fit into a bunghole beside Caesar's ashes.
| by Anonymous | reply 28 | October 21, 2022 2:27 AM |
[quote] However, the French negotiations do take a little time.
In other words, Shakespeare wrote twice as many words as is needed. They must be cut for a film version.
| by Anonymous | reply 30 | October 21, 2022 2:59 AM |
Paul Scofield has a bit part and looks quite ill. His eyes are rheumy.
And who is that ugly chav looking over his shoulder?
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 31 | October 21, 2022 3:07 AM |
R31 Sir Paul Scofield was great in this!
| by Anonymous | reply 32 | October 21, 2022 3:14 AM |
How great was Sir Paul Scofield in this?
| by Anonymous | reply 33 | October 21, 2022 3:15 AM |
R33 Sir Paul Scofield is always great
| by Anonymous | reply 34 | October 21, 2022 3:21 AM |
Sir Paul Scofield was great for a few measly minutes.
Unfortunately No-Lips Branagh and his equally-annoying shrew of a wife was hogging the camera.
That overlong wooing scene is painful with such a charmless couple.
| by Anonymous | reply 35 | October 21, 2022 3:25 AM |
[quote] Olivier's did not age well whereas Branagh's has.
So you're saying that a 33 year old movie has aged better than a 76 year old movie?
That sounds like commonsense to me.
| by Anonymous | reply 36 | October 21, 2022 3:59 AM |
The Original and The Best.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 37 | October 21, 2022 5:29 AM |
Listen to the music score.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 39 | October 21, 2022 10:54 PM |
If love the original so much, why don't you make a post about it?
| by Anonymous | reply 40 | October 21, 2022 11:16 PM |
My college roommate looked so much like Kenneth Branagh at that time. Seeing this is triggering of my love/hate relationship with that face.
| by Anonymous | reply 41 | October 21, 2022 11:20 PM |
Happy Saint Crispin's Day!
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 42 | October 25, 2022 2:46 PM |
For R42:
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be rememberèd—
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers
| by Anonymous | reply 43 | October 25, 2022 3:20 PM |
I don't watch Shakespeare because he is hard to understand, especially spoken as dialog. Ok I'm an idiot but i have to read him slowly on the page to understand anything.
| by Anonymous | reply 44 | October 25, 2022 3:25 PM |
R44 watch with the subtitles on, it is helpful.
| by Anonymous | reply 45 | October 25, 2022 6:38 PM |
[quote]Most of the time in Shakespeare movies, directors cast actors who have no business doing Shakespeare
Fuck you, R4!
| by Anonymous | reply 46 | October 25, 2022 6:44 PM |
What I like about this movie is that when it was released, there were no "stars." I think that makes it more real.
The only "star" in 1989 was Sir Paul Scofield. Even then, he was a very private and shy person. Most Americans don't know who he is.
Maybe Christian Bale, as he was coming off Empire of the Sun.
This was Branagh and Thompson's first movie.
Richard Briers was a television star.
Judi Dench, Alec McCowen, Robert Stephens, Brian Blessed, Ian Holm, Charles Kay, and Derek Jacobi are more stage actors.
| by Anonymous | reply 48 | October 25, 2022 10:54 PM |
Judi Dench, Brian Blessed, and Derek Jacobi were well known at that time for their tv work as well; Ian Holm was a familiar face from a lot of movies, if not a "star."
| by Anonymous | reply 49 | October 25, 2022 10:57 PM |
R49 fair enough. Holm just blends into movies. It wasn't until he was Bilbo in LOTR that he became famous.
| by Anonymous | reply 50 | October 25, 2022 11:09 PM |
[quote] What I like about this movie is that when it was released, there were no "stars." I think that makes it more real.
To follow your logic-- the film would have been even MORE real if those professional thespians were replaced with handmaidens, blacksmiths, clergymen, swordsmen, and a French king.
| by Anonymous | reply 51 | October 25, 2022 11:13 PM |
[quote] Sir Paul Scofield . . . Most Americans don't know who he is.
Of course, R48.
| by Anonymous | reply 52 | October 25, 2022 11:19 PM |
[quote] [R44] watch with the subtitles on, it is helpful
Naw. It's poetry and I'm a retard when it comes to poetry. But subtitles can barely deliver plain prose dialog. Much less period English.
Shakespeare is cool on stage or film if I've read and studied the play beforehand. Or turned into cinema as Kurosawa did. But a filmed play I'm unfamiliar with is problematic.
| by Anonymous | reply 53 | October 26, 2022 12:43 AM |
This grumpy chav looks like the Artful Dodger and James Corden.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 54 | October 26, 2022 1:14 AM |
^ No, he looks like one of the hobbits who has lost his way in Mordor.
| by Anonymous | reply 55 | October 26, 2022 1:39 AM |
Brian Blessed was hot af in this
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 56 | October 26, 2022 12:49 PM |
Kenneth branagh has no lips.
| by Anonymous | reply 57 | October 26, 2022 1:08 PM |
It should be remember-ed that Henry was a soldier-king and little else (or as some have put it, a thug). He was probably far more like the chav in the Branagh poster than the rarefied creature of Olivier and Shakespeare. He was weak on the domestic front, and frequently brutal.
So, whilst acknowledging that Olivier was only representing the hero of the St Crispin's Day miracle at Agincourt (and it WAS the archers who did the French in) as Shakespeare meant him to be portrayed, the truth is that Branagh's chav is probably closer to the historical mark.
They're both fine films, each in its own way.
| by Anonymous | reply 58 | October 26, 2022 8:27 PM |
[quote] He was weak on the domestic front
Do you mean in bed, R58?
| by Anonymous | reply 59 | October 26, 2022 11:20 PM |
[quote] Brian Blessed
I refuse to believe that Vanessa Redgrave fornicated with this big-voiced, foul-mouthed, fat, unemployable drunkard.
| by Anonymous | reply 60 | October 26, 2022 11:27 PM |
[quote] He was probably far more like the chav in the Branagh poster than the rarefied creature of Olivier and Shakespeare
R58 Are you saying that chav Branagh is being anti-Shakespeare?
| by Anonymous | reply 61 | October 26, 2022 11:30 PM |
R59 I have no information on that score, and if he was, no one would have dared to say so, because it would have been as much as her life was worth.
R61 Not at all. It was just a far more rugged presentation than Olivier's, and, therefore, closer to what's known of the real man. Whether that's what Branagh intended is doubtful. I think he intended it to be a more realistic portrayal in the broader sense, but, as it happens, it is more like what is known about Henry. One thing that is true is that Henry the soldier did not shy away from danger and plunged into the hand to hand fighting when it came down to it. This was one of the things that gained him the loyalty of his troops.
I always wondered if the film company The Archers was a bit of an homage to the archers who won Agincourt for Henry, and to the pride in archery that characterised English sport and military prowess in the pre-modern era. Robin Hood, you know, and all that . . .
What else is true: The English lost 400 men out of about 6,000, most of them in the lower ranks. The Duke of York was the only high-ranking noble killed in the battle. The French lost 6,000 out of 15,000. The archers and their longbows made up just over half the English forces. And it is was also true that the English forces were sick, tired, and hungry.
It is also true that Henry made a speech to his troops the night before, but not beginning, "What's he that wishes so?"
| by Anonymous | reply 62 | October 27, 2022 12:07 AM |
I love this movie and everything about it.
| by Anonymous | reply 63 | November 2, 2022 7:28 PM |
Oh, R63, tell us about the other movies you love. I'm sure you have an interesting, analytical point of view.
| by Anonymous | reply 64 | November 2, 2022 7:30 PM |
[quote] I always wondered if the film company The Archers was a bit of an homage to the archers who won Agincourt for Henry, and to the pride in archery that characterised English sport…
There's an English website run by old enthusiasts that will give you the exact motivation and date for that choice of company name.
However it may not be functioning at the moment.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 65 | November 2, 2022 9:24 PM |
The thing is, grabbing the French crown is just the beginning. It's the holding that's difficult. Even if warmonger Henry V hadn't dropped dead shortly after Agincourt he would have lost it eventually. England was never going to rule France,
The man is revered today because he was the only English King to defeat the French. That's it. And he was brutal about it, even for the times. But hell, eventually spinning debacles like Charge of the Light Brigade and Dunkirk into vainglorious celebrations gets tiresome and embarrassing. Enter Henry V again and forever.
I prefer his peaceable, timid, mentally unstable son who founded Kings College and Oxford.
| by Anonymous | reply 66 | November 2, 2022 9:43 PM |
