Adapted from William Shakespeare’s
Henry the Fifth. Directed by Kenneth Branagh (1989). Starring Kenneth Branagh, Richard Briers, Robbie Coltrane, Judi Dench, Ian Holm, Derek Jacobi, Paul Scofield, and Emma Thompson. Colour. 130 minutes.
As numerous commentators have observed, Kenneth Branagh’s directorial debut, Henry V, in which he also takes the lead role, inevitably invites comparison with Laurence Olivier’s 1944 film of the play in which he, too, played Henry and made his debut as a film director. Indeed, Branagh’s opening sequence, in which the Chorus speaks while walking through a deserted studio film set, clearly invokes Olivier’s opening in the Globe theatre’s auditorium and tiring house. Branagh, however, whilst paying homage to his predecessor, also offers a
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Citation: Fraser, Duncan. "Henry V (1989) -- film adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry the Fifth". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 22 November 2017 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=19509, accessed 09 May 2024.]
