The Lion in Winter (TV 2003)

King Henry II (Patrick Stewart) keeps his wife, Eleanor (Glenn Close) locked away in the towers because of her frequent attempts to overthrow him. With Eleanor out of the way he can have ... See full summary »

Director:

Andrey Konchalovskiy

Writers:

James Goldman (play), James Goldman (teleplay)

Stars:

Glenn Close, Andrew Howard, Antal Konrád

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Glenn Close	...	Eleanor of Aquitaine
Andrew Howard	...	Richard
Antal Konrád	...	Toastmaster
John Light	...	Geoffrey
Soma Marko	...	Young Prince John
Jonathan Rhys Meyers	...	Philip
Rafe Spall	...	Prince John
Patrick Stewart	...	King Henry II
Yuliya Vysotskaya	...	Alais
Clive Wood	...	William Marshall

Storyline

King Henry II (Patrick Stewart) keeps his wife, Eleanor (Glenn Close) locked away in the towers because of her frequent attempts to overthrow him. With Eleanor out of the way he can have his dalliances with his young mistress (Yuliya Vysotskaya). Needless to say the queen is not pleased, although she still has affection for the king. Working through her sons, she plots the king's demise and the rise of her second and preferred son, Richard (Andrew Howard), to the throne. The youngest son, John (Rafe Spall), an overweight buffoon and the only son holding his father's affection is the king's choice after the death of his first son, young Henry. But John is also overly eager for power and is willing to plot his father's demise with middle brother, Geoffrey (John Light) and the young king of France, Phillip (Jonathan Rhys Meyers). Geoffrey, of course sees his younger brother's weakness and sees that route as his path to power. Obviously political and court intrigue ensues.

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Plot Keywords:

king henry ii | mistress | wisecrack humor | adultery | battle | 

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Taglines:

All of Britain and half of France were his kingdom. But there was one thing Henry II would never control . . . His Family. (DVD)

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Genres:

Drama | History | Romance | War

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 May 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

O Leão no Inverno

Filming Locations:

Budapest, Hungary

Company Credits

Production Co:

Flying Freehold Productions, HCC Happy Crew Company, Hallmark Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

153 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

Eleanor refers to syphilis in one of her speeches, an impossibility in 1183 England. Syphilis was not named such until 1530 by Hieronymus Fracastorius. Regardless of whether Europe even had the disease prior to 1200, it could not have been known by that name to the Queen.

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Quotes

John: He has a knife, a knife!
Eleanor of Aquitaine: Of course he has a knife! I have a knife. We all have knives. It's 1183 and we're all barbarians!

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Connections

Version of The Lion in Winter (1968)

User Reviews

New adaptation for TV from classic film as brilliant as the original

This splendid picture is set in Christmas 118 3, the medieval monarch Henry II (Patrick Stewart) finds surrounded by astute and ambitious relatives who want to regain politics and personnel rewards . The king pretends announce his heir and invites his estranged wife Eleanor of Aquitaine (Glenn Close) imprisoned by conspiracy , also comes the King Philip II of France (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) . Both of whom confront wits over the succession to the English throne and much else . The heir election between the three sons , the valiant Richard (Howard) , the opportunist Geoffrey (Light) and the the vain , useless John (Spall) will originate intrigues , blackmails and hates . The grown brothers are fraught with tension rapidly changing alliances and completed with a cutting edge psychological manipulation . In spite of possession a kingdom spread all Great Britain and halve France , there's one thing which Henry II never could to control : his own family .

The film is inspired by true events , thus occurred certainly the sons' rebellion incited by Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine for the marriage King Henry II inherited the occidental France , however the coup failed and Henry ordered her entry into a convent but she was freed when died Henry and Richard Lionheart was crowned until the third crusade (intervening along with Philip II and conquered Acre ) when was crowned John with no Land . This English domain over France will cause length conflict known as ¨Hundred Years War¨ (1339-1453) . Besides , there appears famous knight William Marshall (Clive Wood) and is mentioned the enemy archbishop Thomas Becket whom ordered to kill (played in previous film by Richard Burton and again Henry II performed by Peter O'Toole) . Besides , Philip Augustus II Capeto (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) who truly combated Henry II and his sons Richard and John whom defeated in Bouvines(1214) battle .

This television movie is an excellent costumer drama with superb dialog and magnificently characterized medieval personages . Patrick Stewart and Glenn Close make triumphant characterizations . This is a brilliantly script-written picture , being rendered from his own play by James Goldman . The atmospheric and spectacular musical score being magnificently composed by Richard Hartley . Sensational production design by Roger Hall . The film was well directed by Andrei Konchalovsky (Siberiada). The flick will appeal to medieval drama buffs and historical cinema enthusiasts .