The Lion In Winter Review

 

The Lion in Winter

Director: Anthony Harvey

Stars: Peter O'Toole, Katharine Hepburn, Anthony Hopkins, John Castle, Nigel Terry, Jane Merrow and Timothy Dalton.

Running Time: 134 mins

Release 29 December 1968

in 1183 Ad an ageing and conniving King Henry II's (O'Toole) plans a reunion with his family; his three sons want to inherit the throne the warrior prince Richard (Hopkins), The sly strategist Geoffrey (Castle) and the fool John (Terry), his scheming imprisoned wife Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine (Hepburn) and his young mistress Princess Alais (Merrow) and the young french king Phillip (Dalton) whom he plans to make a agreement with. Everyone engages in deception and treachery to get what they want.

Being honest i've never seen O'Toole in a film before (not in a cameo role) but I do know of him, he's a well regarded actor. He's absolutely phenomenal in this as the ageing strong King Henry II, who is rather embittered and has a quick fiery tempter and has become incredibly conniving, battle & emotionally hardened due to his long reign on the throne which he fought for. He's a very intelligent king and knows what he wants and knows how to get it.

He's gotten tired of his scheming wife Eleanor, they no longer love each other and as he has not annulled her he's locked her up in a tower and has done for 10 years so that he can retain what he has. He only brings her out for royal events to show face. He has a new mistress Princess Alais, he is no stranger to mistresses, he is with her as he loves her and she's much younger than his wife, though he plans to marry her off to one of his sons so that they can become king despite the fact that he loves her. It's a conflict within him.

For a king he does not dress as you would expect a king too, well what I would expect, he dresses like a pauper and a common man, to show he is the king that represents the people, he only wears regalia at special occasions. He's absolutely fantastic in the role in every single scene he is in exchanging venomous verbal barbs with his family or King Phillip. It's an absolute joy and delight to watch, every single one of them. It's a very passionate and whole hearted performance and he really brings the character to life.

I have not seen Hepburn in a film but she steals the film in this along with O'Toole. She's absolutely perfect in the role as the old brassy, sharp, deceitful, deceptive, spiteful Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, she's an equal match to Henry. She really knows how to hurt Henry and her three boys mostly Henry which she relishes . Especially as she recalls the rumours of her illicit affair with Henry's father which makes Henry reel. She has some of the greatest lines in the film one of my favourites is 'I could peel you like a pear, and even God, himself, would call it justice'

I knew that Hepburn is an American actress (the only American in this film) and she does not have a clear cut English accent (it sounds more American) I have no problem with that, it has no effect on her performance at all. She is an absolute delight to watch on screen. I was surprised to find out she was considerably much older than O'Toole when she did this she was in her early sixties and him in his mid forties though that does not really matter. She looked far more regal than Henry does. I have to say it she just inches in her performance over O'Toole.

Anthony Hopkins plays Prince Richard, Eleanor's favourite successor to King Henry's throne. A warrior who would rather fight in battle than watch it from a distance, he is quickly angered and intelligent like his father and sees he is the right heir to the throne. This is Hopkins second feature film role and I have to say he's absolutely excellent in it. I know that Anthony Hopkins is a classically trained and he really excels in this as the warrior prince. I have to say he rather looks like Russell Crowe in this film well in my eyes anyway especially with the hair cut. He's just as deadly with a sword as he is with words. He has mixed feelings about his mother one minute he loves her the next he loathes her. This film also mentions Richard's rumoured homosexuality with his relationship with King Phillip II. Which some films don't even mention Oliver Stone's Alexander comes to mind.

I really felt sorry for Richard as he gets emotionally manipulated by his Mother they are fantastic scenes especially one scene towards the end of the film I have to see this is one of my favourite roles that Hopkins has done. It's a very passionate role.

John Castle plays Geoffrey, the most intellectual and strategic son, he's no-ones favourite heir to the throne. To me he feels like the outsider of the three brothers, being honest his role reminds me of Tom Hiddleston's Loki in The Thor and Avengers film. He mostly takes a back seat in the arguments unless he wants to play his hand other than that he sits back and watches the fall out and enjoys it with a sly smirk on his face. He looks out the corners of his eyes constantly like a snake and he'll turn on anyone when it benefits him, I love the line he said to John ' If your a prince, there's hope for every ape in Africa'. I can't say I have never heard of Castle before but i'll look out for him in other films now.

Nigel Terry plays the foolish son John, the youngest and most spoilt of the three brothers, he has let his father down many times yet continues to forgive him. He believes his father loves him the most and that he should inherit the throne and is his Fathers favourite heir. He is slow and idiotic and believes the throne is his birthright. I can't say i've heard of Terry either but he plays a great character in this.

Timothy Dalton plays the new French King Phillip II who's come to visit King Henry to reach an agreement. This was Timothy Dalton's first film and he looks really young in this. (he was 24) He does not put on a French accent though that's not really important. As he is a new king and he's rather young, Henry mocks him by referring to him as 'boy'. He's also rather flamboyant and very well spoken far removed from Henry in some regards. I know Dalton from Hot Fuzz and the Bond films and I have not seen him anything else and he really surprised me in this he was great in the small role that he had and is just as deceitful as everyone else in this.

Jane Merrow plays Henry's young mistresses Princess Alais. She is planned to marry John as he is Henry's favourite heir but he also wants to keep their relationship going as he can do whatever he wanted. Her role is rather small but it's a pivotal one especially to Henry as to where his loyalty lies. She's fallen in love with Henry and is loyal to him. Though she is unsure of Henry's feeling towards her. She also has one of the best lines in the film 'Kings, Queens, Knights everywhere you look and i'm the only pawn. I haven't got a thing to lose - that makes me dangerous'.

The script is absolutely phenomenal in this it's very modern for it's time and it's incredibly sharp and well written and darkly funny in some places I loved it, one of the best scripts for a film in my opinion and the acting accompanies it perfectly. It's written by James Goldman who wrote the play of the same name.

John Barry did the music he's most famously known for doing the soundtrack to most of the Bond films before his death and I was really surprised by his score to this it's phenomenal it suits the atmosphere too a tee and really does add to the film and evoke a lot of emotion.

Anthony Harvey has done a spectacular job filming this it looks so beautifully shot. It was shot in France, Ireland and Wales and it looks so spectacular and scenic.The sets are spectacular too and look and feel very real, the attention to detail is painstaking from the sets to the props it's brilliantly done.

I don't want to say much more as I don't want to spoil it for you but I have to say it's the best drama i've ever seen and makes a great study in script and acting. If you love period dramas you'll love this and once you've seen it you'll remember most of the phenomenal dialog which is incredibly sharp and incendiary I loved it. I can only hope for a Blu-Ray release.