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Henry V is a 1989 British historical drama film written and directed by Kenneth Branagh in his feature directorial debut, based on William Shakespeare's history play of the same name. It stars Branagh in the title role of King Henry V of England , with Paul Scofield , Derek Jacobi , Ian Holm , Brian Blessed , Emma Thompson , Alec McCowen , Judi ...
On the eve of the Battle of Agincourt, which fell on Saint Crispin's Day, Henry V urges his men, who were vastly outnumbered by the French, to imagine the glory and immortality that will be theirs if they are victorious.
King Henry V: St. Crispin's Day Speech, Pre-Battle of Agincourt. Audio mp3 of Address delivered by Kenneth Branagh. what's he that wishes so? My cousin, Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin; If we are mark'd to die, we are enough. To do our country loss; and if to live, The fewer men, the greater share of honour. God's will!
The famous British victory over the French at the battle of Agincourt was Henry’s and medieval England’s greatest triumph (although Shakespeare could not resist improving on the facts in the scene where Henry is informed of 10,000 French deaths as opposed to only 29 on the English side).
- Overview
- Production notes and credits
- Cast
- Academy Award nominations
Henry V, British dramatic film, released in 1944, that was an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s historical play of the same name. It marks the triumphant directorial debut of Laurence Olivier, who also coproduced and starred in the film. It is widely considered among the best film adaptations of Shakespeare’s works.
The film, shot in Technicolor, opens with a panoramic view of Elizabethan London and then narrows to the Globe Theatre, where a performance of Henry V is about to begin. The film gradually dissolves into a cinematic depiction of the play instead of the Globe performance. Henry, king of England (played by Olivier), proves his mettle by leading a weary, divided, and vastly outnumbered English army of unarmoured archers to victory over the French knights of Normandy at the Battle of Agincourt (1415) in the Hundred Years’ War. On the night before the decisive battle, Henry delivers his stirring “Saint Crispin’s Day” speech, inspiring his men with the promise that “the fewer men, the greater share of honour.” Upon achieving victory, Henry courts Princess Katherine (Renée Asherson), the French king’s daughter, whereupon the film returns to the setting of the Globe Theatre.
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Classic Closing Lines
•Studio: Two Cities Films
•Director: Laurence Olivier
•Producers: Laurence Olivier and Filippo Del Giudice
•Writers: William Shakespeare (play), Dallas Bower (adaptation, uncredited), Alan Dent (adaptation, uncredited), and Laurence Olivier (adaptation, uncredited)
•Music: William Walton
•Running time: 137 minutes
•Laurence Olivier (King Henry V of England)
•Leslie Banks (Chorus)
•Robert Newton (Ancient Pistol)
•Renée Asherson (Princess Katherine)
•Picture
•Lead actor (Laurence Olivier)
•Art direction–interior decoration (colour)
•Score
- Lee Pfeiffer
Nov 11, 2021 · Henry V, which climaxes in 1415’s Battle of Agincourt, in which England triumphs in a David vs. Goliath face-off with French forces, was filmed on soundstages (and on adjacent fields) at ...
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After the Battle of Agincourt, King Charles VI of France (Paul Scofield) has to yield his daughter, Princess Katherine de Valois (Dame Emma Thompson) as a peace offering. In a bitter satire, this political marriage is then portrayed as the happy ending joining the two recent lovers.
