Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Leslie Banks | ... | Chorus | |
Felix Aylmer | ... | Archbishop of Canterbury | |
Robert Helpmann | ... | Bishop of Ely | |
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Vernon Greeves | ... | The English Herald |
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Gerald Case | ... | Earl of Westmoreland |
Griffith Jones | ... | Earl of Salisbury | |
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Morland Graham | ... | Sir Thomas Erpingham |
Nicholas Hannen | ... | Duke of Exeter | |
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Michael Warre | ... | Duke of Gloucester |
Laurence Olivier | ... | King Henry V of England | |
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Ralph Truman | ... | Mountjoy, The French Herald |
Ernest Thesiger | ... | Duke of Berri French Ambassador | |
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Frederick Cooper | ... | Corporal Nym |
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Roy Emerton | ... | Lieutenant Bardolph |
Robert Newton | ... | Ancient Pistol |
In the inspired Olivier concept, Shakespeare's play begins as a performance in the Globe Theatre, shifting in broad cinematic terms to an epic narrative of Henry V, who had developed from a dissolute youth to a purposeful monarch. Proving his ability as a soldier and skillful leader, he unites the dissident factions in the English army and goes on to crush the French, against enormous odds, at Agincourt. Arranging a treaty with the French court, he woos Princess Katharine to whom he is formally betrothed as part of the peace agreement. Written by alfiehitchie
Laurence Olivier's production of Shakespeare's Henry V adds some creative and colorful touches to Olivier's usual fine performance in the lead role. Like the play itself, it's not as deep as the best of Olivier's Shakespeare films, but it works quite well and is an entertaining movie.
In the early scenes, the movie combines the play itself with a very detailed look at how the play would have been staged in Shakespeare's own day. It's very interesting, and is nicely done. It takes advantage of the slower parts in the early scenes to draw attention to the stage, the players, and the crowd, giving you a very good feel for what the theater was like then. Olivier also uses this device to liven up considerably the long historical discourse of the Archbishop of Canterbury in the play's second scene.
After the early scenes, when the real action begins, the movie wisely pulls away from the theater setting and concentrates on the story itself. Olivier is always good in this kind of role, and the photography and settings do a good job of setting off the action. It is noticeable, though, that Olivier chose to omit several scenes or portions of scenes that have some of the commands showing Henry's harsher characteristics, so that the movie concentrates much more on the king's heroic side. What's left still works fine, but it does lose a little depth without this balance. The rest of the cast is certainly adequate, though most of them are overshadowed by Henry. A couple of the exceptions are Robert Newton, very well cast as Pistol, and Esmond Knight, who works well as Fluellen.
Some minor aspects may keep it from being one of the best Shakespeare adaptations, but it's creative, distinctive, and good entertainment. You can rarely go wrong with anything that combines Olivier and Shakespeare.