Henry V

1989 Drama

Kenneth Branagh makes his feature-film directorial debut with this adaptation of William Shakespeare's +Henry V. After the Chorus (Derek Jacobi) introduces the play, young king of England Henry V (Kenneth Branagh) begins an angry dialogue with King Charles of France (Paul Scofield). The king's son, Dauphin (Michael Maloney), insults Henry and the argument escalates into war. In flashback, Henry is seen as a young man drinking in a tavern with Falstaff (Robbie Coltrane), Bardolph (Richard Briers), Nym (Geoffrey Hutchings), Pistol (Robert Stephens), and Mistress Quickly (Judi Dench). Meanwhile, Henry and his captain, Fluellen (Ian Holm), assemble an army and invade France. The French greatly outnumber the British troops, yet Henry leads them to victory in the Battle of Agincourt after delivering his famous St. Crispin's Day Speech. Throughout this struggle, Henry also courts Katherine (Emma Thompson) and eventually wins her over. more..

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Derek Jacobi,Brian Blessed, Ian Holm, Simon Shepherd

Reviews

  • - The San Francisco Chronicle

    26 April 2013

  • Straightforward, energetic, updated Bard. 28-year-old star-director-adapter Kenneth Branagh's spellbinding version of Shakespeare's Henry isn't superior to Olivier's 1944 version - it's different, and complementary to it.

    - TV Guide

    26 April 2013

  • What works best in the film is the over-all vision. Branagh is able to see himself as a king, and so we can see him as one.

    Roger Ebert - The Chicago Sun-Times

    26 April 2013

  • Henry V emerges a first-class epic film, so entertaining that it needs no apologies for being based on a 400-year-old play.

    - USA Today

    26 April 2013

  • One of the things that make

    Jay Carr - The Boston Globe

    26 April 2013

Awards

  • Best Costume Design

    Academy Awards (1990)

  • Best Direction

    BAFTA Awards (1990)

  • Best Foreign Film

    Chicago Film Critics Association Awards (1990)

  • Best Actor

    European Film Awards (1990)

  • Best Film

    Evening Standard British Film Awards (1990)