Shakespeare's historical plays have as much interest value as his comedies and tragedies and should be known more, 'Richard III' being the best known of them perhaps namely for the title character. Written in two parts, 'Henry IV Part I' (actually both parts) is definitely no exception to that and mixes comedy and drama expertly. Of the two parts, talking about the plays and not quite yet the production, there is a slight personal preference for the richer second part.
'The Hollow Crown' is a fascinating and must see way of making Shakespeare's historical king plays better known and more accessible to audiences. There are performances of both parts of 'Henry IV' in the series, both from the Henriad tetralogy, and from personal perspective both were outstanding. Although the first part is rated slightly higher for me the second part in a tough comparison has the very slight edge (although part of it is to do with the play itself) . The BBC also did both parts as part of their uneven but very interesting BBC Television Shakespeare series in 1979, both excellent and among the best of that series but 'The Hollow Crown's' productions are even better.
Production values are of higher quality here, although BBC's 1979 production was one of that series' better looking ones in a series where low budget tended to show. The photography could easily pass for that for a film, this was not a made for television look here. A lot of homework was done in the settings and costumes, making them as detailed and evocative as possible and succeeding extremely well on both counts. There are no issues with the music fitting or being appropriate. Never found it intrusive while still having the right amount of beauty and intensity, better than the music for a lot of films in recent years.
Richard Eyre directs remarkably, he always is a thoughtful director (have not liked every theatre and opera production he's done, a prime example being 'Manon Lescaut') and he opens up the drama more than enough without resorting to excess, didn't find anything distasteful. Not always easy when some of the comedy is as broad as it is and easy to overdo. The comedy is genuinely hilarious without being over-the-top and the more emotional scene have poignancy. A big highlight is Henry's dressing down of Hal, that was one powerful scene in every sense. He also excels in the little details, like that stinging slap in that aforementioned scene that even the viewer feels so much its authenticity.
Cannot say anything bad about the performances. Tom Hiddleston brings tremendous charisma and energy to Hal, one of my favourite roles of his (in both parts) and do think he is better in 'Henry IV' personally than in 'Henry V'. Simon Russell Beale is a very larger than life Falstaff in how he is made up and in interpretation, he looks as if he was enjoying himself and found myself enjoying him enormously here too. With Jeremy Irons, there are roles post-'Lolita' (where his film choices, not performances really, became more hit and miss) that did fully show his strengths and how brilliant an actor he is and his powerful Henry IV is one of them, one of the biggest examples of this actually. The character interaction is handled intelligently, the father and son one between the two Henrys and the friendship between Hal and Falstaff particularly so.
All in all, outstanding although the richer in drama and characterisation second part is even better. 10/10
'The Hollow Crown' is a fascinating and must see way of making Shakespeare's historical king plays better known and more accessible to audiences. There are performances of both parts of 'Henry IV' in the series, both from the Henriad tetralogy, and from personal perspective both were outstanding. Although the first part is rated slightly higher for me the second part in a tough comparison has the very slight edge (although part of it is to do with the play itself) . The BBC also did both parts as part of their uneven but very interesting BBC Television Shakespeare series in 1979, both excellent and among the best of that series but 'The Hollow Crown's' productions are even better.
Production values are of higher quality here, although BBC's 1979 production was one of that series' better looking ones in a series where low budget tended to show. The photography could easily pass for that for a film, this was not a made for television look here. A lot of homework was done in the settings and costumes, making them as detailed and evocative as possible and succeeding extremely well on both counts. There are no issues with the music fitting or being appropriate. Never found it intrusive while still having the right amount of beauty and intensity, better than the music for a lot of films in recent years.
Richard Eyre directs remarkably, he always is a thoughtful director (have not liked every theatre and opera production he's done, a prime example being 'Manon Lescaut') and he opens up the drama more than enough without resorting to excess, didn't find anything distasteful. Not always easy when some of the comedy is as broad as it is and easy to overdo. The comedy is genuinely hilarious without being over-the-top and the more emotional scene have poignancy. A big highlight is Henry's dressing down of Hal, that was one powerful scene in every sense. He also excels in the little details, like that stinging slap in that aforementioned scene that even the viewer feels so much its authenticity.
Cannot say anything bad about the performances. Tom Hiddleston brings tremendous charisma and energy to Hal, one of my favourite roles of his (in both parts) and do think he is better in 'Henry IV' personally than in 'Henry V'. Simon Russell Beale is a very larger than life Falstaff in how he is made up and in interpretation, he looks as if he was enjoying himself and found myself enjoying him enormously here too. With Jeremy Irons, there are roles post-'Lolita' (where his film choices, not performances really, became more hit and miss) that did fully show his strengths and how brilliant an actor he is and his powerful Henry IV is one of them, one of the biggest examples of this actually. The character interaction is handled intelligently, the father and son one between the two Henrys and the friendship between Hal and Falstaff particularly so.
All in all, outstanding although the richer in drama and characterisation second part is even better. 10/10