IMDb > The Lion in Winter (1968)
The Lion in Winter
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The Lion in Winter (1968) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 43 | slideshow) Videos
The Lion in Winter (1968) -- Trailer for this classic period piece set in 1183

Overview

User Rating:
8.1/10   12,394 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 8% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Anthony Harvey
Writers:
James Goldman (play)
James Goldman (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Lion in Winter on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
30 October 1968 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | History more
Tagline:
The most significant reserved seat attraction of the year!
Plot:
1183 AD: King Henry II's three sons all want to inherit the throne, but he won't commit to a choice. They and his wife variously plot to force him. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Won 3 Oscars. Another 11 wins & 16 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(9 articles)
Swank's 'Amelia' Performance Gets First Oscar Kiss
 (From Get The Big Picture. 20 October 2009, 3:02 PM, PDT)
Anthony Harvey Recalls Directing "The Lion In Winter" At Loews Jersey City
 (From CinemaRetro. 1 May 2009, 1:14 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Possibly the best dialogue ever written for a film... ever. more (140 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Peter O'Toole ... Henry II

Katharine Hepburn ... Eleanor of Aquitaine

Anthony Hopkins ... Richard
John Castle ... Geoffrey
Nigel Terry ... John

Timothy Dalton ... King Philip of France

Jane Merrow ... Alais
Nigel Stock ... Capt. William Marshall
Kenneth Ives ... Queen Eleanor's guard
O.Z. Whitehead ... Bishop of Durham
Fran Stafford ... Lady in Waiting
Ella More ... Lady in Waiting
Kenneth Griffith ... Strolling player
Henry Woolf ... Strolling player
Karol Hagar ... Strolling player
David Griffith ... Strolling player (as Mark Griffith)
Create a character page for: ?

Directed by
Anthony Harvey 
 
Writing credits
James Goldman (play)

James Goldman (screenplay)

Produced by
Joseph E. Levine .... executive producer
Jane C. Nusbaum .... associate producer
Martin Poll .... producer
 
Original Music by
John Barry 
 
Cinematography by
Douglas Slocombe 
 
Film Editing by
John Bloom 
 
Casting by
Paul Lee Lander 
 
Art Direction by
Peter Murton 
 
Costume Design by
Margaret Furse 
 
Makeup Department
Bill Lodge .... makeup artist
A.G. Scott .... hair stylist
 
Production Management
Basil Appleby .... production manager
Jim Brennan .... unit manager
René Brun .... production manager: France
Víctor Merenda .... production manager: France
John Quested .... production supervisor
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Al Burgess .... second assistant director
Kip Gowans .... assistant director
Patrick O'Brien .... second assistant director
 
Art Department
Ted Clements .... assistant art director
Peter James .... set dresser
Gilbert Margerie .... art director: France
Gus Walker .... construction manager
 
Sound Department
Chris Greenham .... sound editor
Gerry Humphreys .... dubbing mixer (as Gerry Humphries)
Simon Kaye .... sound recordist
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Browne .... chief electrician (as Michael Brown)
Robin Vidgeon .... assistant camera
Michael Walter .... grip
Chic Waterson .... camera operator
Keith Blake .... clapper loader (uncredited)
Bob Penn .... still photographer (uncredited)
Robert Willoughby .... special still photographer (uncredited)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
David Baker .... wardrobe
Vi Murray .... wardrobe
 
Editorial Department
Lesley Walker .... assistant editor
 
Music Department
John Barry .... conductor
Sidney Margo .... music contractor (uncredited)
Robert Richards .... orchestrator (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Pamela Carlton .... continuity
Jilda Smith .... production secretary
Emanuel Azenberg .... play associate producer: Broadway (uncredited)
Walter Hyman .... play producer: Broadway (uncredited)
Alan King .... play producer: Broadway (uncredited)
Eugene V. Wolsk .... play producer: Broadway (uncredited)
 
Crew believed to be complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
134 min | UK:137 min (70 mm version)
Country:
UK
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Eastmancolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.20 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Mono (35 mm prints)
Certification:
Iceland:16 | Australia:PG | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:11 | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Germany:16 | Portugal:M/12 (DVD rating) | Singapore:PG | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | UK:A (original rating) | UK:15 (video rating)
Filming Locations:
Abbaye de Montmajour, Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône, France more
Company:
AVCO Embassy more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Katharine Hepburn is descended from Elinor of Aquitaine in numerous lines, from both Elinor's marriage to Louis VII, King of France, and Elinor's marriage to Henry II, King of England. more
Goofs:
Continuity: For a moment Eleanor appears in front of Henry and Alais. Then she puts her hands one on the other, about her breast, and says to Henry she wants to watch him to kiss Alais. In the following shot her hands had changed position. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Henry II: Come for me!
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in The 76th Annual Academy Awards (2004) (TV) more

FAQ

Is this movie based on a novel?
Is this movie based on real events?
more

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
42 out of 52 people found the following comment useful.
Possibly the best dialogue ever written for a film... ever., 11 July 2000
10/10
Author: A-Ron-2 from Storrs, CT

I love this film. I love this film. I am not sure that I can say that phrase enough when describing this movie. Lion in Winter is quite simply one of the strangest and most beautiful movies that I have ever seen. It is some wierd amalgam of a 'home for the hollidays' type family drama, and Machiavellian political intrigue.

The essential plot is that it is 1183 and Henry II must declare his successor to the Plantagenet throne. He invites his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine (played by Katherine Hepburn), who is in exile, and his sons to along with king of France, to Christmas dinner. Over the course of the evening truths are told and arguments are had, the film rolls over all of the conventions of the many genres that it plays with and turns them into something new and beautiful.

The film could have been written by Machiavelli himself, and often smacks of the Mandragola. The film demonstrates family disfunction within a very interesting, medieval paradigm. While the film is about issues such as family, loyalty and love, ultimately is most gratifying as a vehicle for O'Toole and Hepburn to chew the scenery and dig into a few truly juicy roles.

It is fantastic film that any lover of dialogue driven drama-comedy should rent and watch over and over again.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (140 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Lion in Winter (1968)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Which son would you choose? dave_wlogan
Over rated? katfish38
WHich is your FAVORITE line? irot13
hated the ending hgonzalez-3
Which actor stole the movie? lawgirl24
Things I learned from watching Lion in Winter android_movie
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Lion in Winter Young Bess Juana la Loca Edward II Elizabeth: The Golden Age
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Drama section IMDb UK section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.