Henry V (1989)

Director:

Kenneth Branagh

Writers:

William Shakespeare (play)
Kenneth Branagh (adaptation)

Release Date:

8 November 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | History | Romance | War

Tagline:

The great adventure of a king who defied the odds to prove himself a man.

Plot:

The gritty adaption of William Shakespeare's play about the English King's bloody conquest of France.

Plot Keywords:

King | France | Battle | England | King Of France

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 9 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Derek Jacobi	...	Chorus
Kenneth Branagh	...	Henry V
Simon Shepherd	...	Gloucester
James Larkin	...	Bedford
Brian Blessed	...	Exeter
James Simmons	...	York
Charles Kay	...	Canterbury
Alec McCowen	...	Ely
Fabian Cartwright	...	Cambridge
Stephen Simms	...	Scroop
Jay Villiers	...	Grey
Edward Jewesbury	...	Erpingham
Ian Holm	...	Fluellen
Danny Webb	...	Gower (as Daniel Webb)
Jimmy Yuill	...	Jamy

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for a bloody battle.

Runtime:

137 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Netherlands:16 | South Korea:12 | Brazil:Livre | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Chile:14 | Germany:12 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Crowlink, East Sussex, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

For the french version of the film Gérard Depardieu dubbed Kenneth Branagh.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the army crosses the river, rain is clearly falling into the water in the foreground but not in the background, which is glassy smooth.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Chorus: O! 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. Then should the war-like Harry, like himself, assume the port of Mars; and at his heels, Leash'd in like hounds, should famine, sword, and fire crouch for employment.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Defector (#3.10)" (1989)

ONCE SEEN, NEVER FORGOTTEN

Branagh's masterpiece is not only the best rendition of Shakespeare ever put on the screen but also a contender as one of the best movies ever made.It is so far superior to Olivier's camp pantomime as to make even the suggestion of comparison laughable.The large section of film from Henry's stirring pre-battle speech at Agincourt followed by the battle itself culminating in his walk across the carnage of the site after his famous victory is film-making of rare quality indeed and the music that accompanies all of this is moving and memorable.Branagh himself makes Henry a likeable,amiable but ultimately brave and determined king and his seduction of the French princess in the closing minutes bring this wonderful work to a satisfying conclusion.This gifted actor/director of the old school has made further Shakespeare movies since this and will undoubtedly make more but "HENRY V" will most likely be his crowning achievement.