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178 user 45 critic

The Lion in Winter (1968)

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2:45 | Trailer

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1183 A.D.: 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.

Director:

Writers:

(screenplay), (play)
Reviews
Popularity
4,756 ( 268)
Won 3 Oscars. Another 12 wins & 18 nominations. See more awards »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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William Marshal
Kenneth Ives ...
Queen Eleanor's Guard
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Bishop of Durham
Fran Stafford ...
Lady in Waiting
Ella More ...
Lady in Waiting
Kenneth Griffith ...
Strolling Player
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Strolling Player
Karol Hagar ...
Strolling Player
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Storyline

It's Christmas 1183, and King Henry II is planning to announce his successor to the throne. The jockeying for the crown, though, is complex. Henry has three sons and wants his boy Prince John to take over. Henry's wife, Queen Eleanor, has other ideas. She believes their son Prince Richard should be king. As the family and various schemers gather for the holiday, each tries to make the indecisive king choose their option. Written by Jwelch5742

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

The most significant reserved seat attraction of the year!


Certificate:

PG | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

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Details

Country:

|

Language:

Release Date:

30 October 1968 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Le lion en hiver  »

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Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,339, 16 December 2016, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$18,177, 20 January 2017
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Company Credits

Production Co:

 »
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Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (70 mm)

Sound Mix:

(70 mm prints)| (35 mm prints)

Color:

(Eastmancolor) (uncredited)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Cinematographer Douglas Slocombe worked out a rich lighting pattern that was meant to give the film the look of illuminated manuscripts from the historical period. See more »

Goofs

Henry says to Eleanor: "Sleep, and dream of me with croutons. Henry, à la mode." The word "crouton" dates from the 17th century. The phrase "à la mode" dates from the 15th century. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Henry II: Come for me!
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Connections

Referenced in The West Wing: H. Con-172 (2002) See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
THE film of 1968!
20 December 2002 | by See all my reviews

What were those Academy fools thinking?! They ignore a powerhouse performance by Peter O'Toole and trounce Anthony Harvey's inspiring direction! But the final indignity was in giving the best picture award to an over-praised, undeserving, insignificant musical called OLIVER! If they had a least half a brain in their heads they could've given to FUNNY GIRL but they only shoot themselves in the foot when the deserving go unrecognized. It only goes to show the Academy's just jealous. The script and Kate's performance at least were given the royal treatment but it still leaves bitter resentment when Cliff Roberston, one of Hollywood's most less-than-adequate actors cops the best actor away from O'Toole... possibly Hollywood's most underrated, not to mention unrecognized actors of the highest caliber. Hepburn's Eleanor of Aquitaine had witty lines, quiet but still present anger and fire underneath the surface but O'Toole as Henry II gave the more powerful performance... an aesthetic that echoed Taylor and Burton for WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? only Taylor was the gutsy performer and Burton doled out the cut-lows and the intellect. To coin a phrase from the British... "he (O'Toole) was bloody robbed!"

The story is set in Britain, 1183. Henry II is on the throne and has ten years earlier imprisoned his wife Eleanor of Acquitaine after co-conspirating a civil war against him. She and their three sons (Richard, the eldest, a brave warrior on the battlefield, whom Eleanor wants to succeed Henry as king; Geoffrey, the quietly vicious, unappreciated middle son of whom neither of them love with a plot for every occurrence and John, the piggish, dirty, thieving brat is their youngest whom Henry for some unknown reason wants on the throne) are all requested to appear at their palace of Chinon for the Christmas holidays. Also invited is young King Philip II of France whose elder sister Alais is the treasured and much-loved mistress to Henry. Philip wishes to have Alais mearried off to one of Henry's sons (preferably Richard) in order to form an alliance between England and France made between Henry and Philip's father, the late King Louis. But meanwhile, Philip is also plotting with all three boys and Eleanor to tear Henry's kingdom apart. Eleanor is merely in on it to get back at Henry for loving Alais (whom she had raised as a surrogate daughter) and the late Rosmund, an old rival of Eleanor's whom Henry replaced her with.

This film has it all: infidelity, betrayal, family dysfunction and a script that crackles with venom, wit and plot-twisting motivation. See it if only for O'Toole and Hepburn's first-rate performances.


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