"Henry V"-Kenneth Branagh-1989
Shakespeare, this is daunting; not only is he the greatest dramatist ever, and has the poetry to match his grand designs, he didn't write screenplays. The first problem is that you have around 5 hours of text. Remember you have audiences primarily standing during the performance at the original Globe theater. The first thing one must contend with is the pre-edit. What will you cut? How will you make sense of the play when you cut out half the text? Branagh solves this neatly by adding a narrator. This enables him to cover the missing scenes and link them to the parts of the play to be filmed.
The second problem is how is how to deal with the comedy? In the tragedies and histories Shakespeare always included comic scenes and characters. This was to appeal to the groundlings, the standing audience at the Globe. It also allowed for the movement of scenery, and a change of pace. Here Branagh brings back Sir John Falstaff, the greatest comic part he wrote. In addition to his death, we get a reprise of his life and his relationship to the young king. Bardolph, Pistol, et al are important to the play, so we are introduced to them.
Every director of Shakespeare has at his disposal the Veriorum edition which includes detailed notes as to how every scene was handled in previous productions. From Branagh's perspective, the only really relevant previous production was Lawrence Olivier's 1944 color movie. This a great film, and generally acknowledged to be Olivier's finest Shakespearian effort. Branagh was only 29 when he directed this film; it was his first directing job, and only his second film role.
This is a very good film. Branagh is excellent in the key speeches. We remember particularly the speech to the troops on St Crispin's day: "We few...This band of brothers..." The battle is suitably confused, chaotic, and brutal. The play and film don't end with the battle; there is a coda. The scene where Henry woos the crown princess of France is supposed to be light and humorous. This isn't the typical bawdy, risque comedy of Shakespeare. It isn't bad, but it lacks a certain spark.
One historical note; the death bill in the film is accurate to the play, but historical reality identifies the English deed at 400 and the French dead at about 6,000. Henry dies two years later. This puts England once again in turmoil.
This is definitely worth viewing; Olivier's Henry V is much harder to find, but it is a superior film.
Shakespeare, this is daunting; not only is he the greatest dramatist ever, and has the poetry to match his grand designs, he didn't write screenplays. The first problem is that you have around 5 hours of text. Remember you have audiences primarily standing during the performance at the original Globe theater. The first thing one must contend with is the pre-edit. What will you cut? How will you make sense of the play when you cut out half the text? Branagh solves this neatly by adding a narrator. This enables him to cover the missing scenes and link them to the parts of the play to be filmed.
The second problem is how is how to deal with the comedy? In the tragedies and histories Shakespeare always included comic scenes and characters. This was to appeal to the groundlings, the standing audience at the Globe. It also allowed for the movement of scenery, and a change of pace. Here Branagh brings back Sir John Falstaff, the greatest comic part he wrote. In addition to his death, we get a reprise of his life and his relationship to the young king. Bardolph, Pistol, et al are important to the play, so we are introduced to them.
Every director of Shakespeare has at his disposal the Veriorum edition which includes detailed notes as to how every scene was handled in previous productions. From Branagh's perspective, the only really relevant previous production was Lawrence Olivier's 1944 color movie. This a great film, and generally acknowledged to be Olivier's finest Shakespearian effort. Branagh was only 29 when he directed this film; it was his first directing job, and only his second film role.
This is a very good film. Branagh is excellent in the key speeches. We remember particularly the speech to the troops on St Crispin's day: "We few...This band of brothers..." The battle is suitably confused, chaotic, and brutal. The play and film don't end with the battle; there is a coda. The scene where Henry woos the crown princess of France is supposed to be light and humorous. This isn't the typical bawdy, risque comedy of Shakespeare. It isn't bad, but it lacks a certain spark.
One historical note; the death bill in the film is accurate to the play, but historical reality identifies the English deed at 400 and the French dead at about 6,000. Henry dies two years later. This puts England once again in turmoil.
This is definitely worth viewing; Olivier's Henry V is much harder to find, but it is a superior film.