Anthony Harvey (director)
(studio)
12 (certificate)
134 (length)
17 February 2025 (released)
6 d
Made in 1968 (set in 1183) written by James Goldman based on his play, The Lion in Winter has had a spanking 4K restoration and looks magnificent. The cold winter Christmas exteriors together with the fireplace and candle lit interiors brilliantly used to convey the intrigue of the story.
Henry II (Peter O’Toole) forced by the death of his heir summons a Christmas Court, where he will choose a new one. His remaining sons Richard (Anthony Hopkins), Geoffrey (John Castle) and John (Nigel Terry) vie with each other for his favour.
Henry has made a choice but is complicated by the interventions of his estranged wife Eleanor of Aquitaine (Katharine Hepburn) and the young king of France Philip II (Timothy Dalton), who each has their motive and affections.
Directed by Anthony Harvey it’s a verbal labyrinth of intrigue, backstabbing, broken promises and shifting alliances. In the middle of this is Alais (Jane Merrow), lover of Henry, promised to John and hated by Eleanor.
The film overcomes its obvious stage origins gripping from the start. Goldman’s devilishly complicated story and sparkling writing provides the actors with plenty to work with. O’Toole is brash, aware of his power yet fragile, while Hepburn schemes away knowing full well who she is dealing with and how far to push, revelling in the wordplay which brought a best actor Oscar award in 1969, tying with Barbara Streisand for Funny Girl.
The feuding brothers are a little stereotyped being a warrior, schemer and dullard though Hopkins, Castle and Terry respectively carry these off brilliantly. So to is Dalton as the vulnerable king yet to find his feet.
The film and writing are also darkly comical as Eleanor refers to Richard’s campaigns as his ‘slaughters’ and Henry II very much on edge, continuously cruelly barbs his sons.
The film won Oscars for best actor, adapted screenplay and John Barry’s score. Bearing in mind he had scored the Bond series to date, and the memorably stirring Zulu, it’s not surprising that this one tends to get overlooked. Which is a shame as note for frame probably works better than any of the aforementioned.
UHD, DVD & BLU-RAY EXTRAS:
New The Heart of a Lion: An Interview with Sir Anthony Hopkins
New Shooting Stars: An Interview with Camera Assistant Robin Vidgeon
Interview with John Castle
Interview with John Bloom
Anthony Harvey Audio Commentary
New Behind the Scenes stills gallery
New 2024 Trailer
The Lion in Winter will be available on UHD, Blu-Ray and DVD from 17 February 2025.