Christmas 1183—King Henry II (Peter O'Toole) summons his sons Richard (Sir Anthony Hopkins), Geoffrey (John Castle) and John (Nigel Terry) to join him and his scheming but imprisoned wife, Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine (Katharine Hepburn), at Chinon for a planned reunion where he hopes to name his successor. Also, joining the estranged family are King Philip of France (Timothy Dalton) and his sister, Princess Alais (Jane Merrow), who also happens to be Henry’s mistress. All three sons desire the throne, but each has some flaw. Each person present are masters of double-dealing and deceit, and with the fate of Henry's empire at stake, each key player attempts to stake their claim.
Released in 1968 by Avco Embassy Pictures, The Lion in Winter is a drama which I unequivocally love. The film succeeds on every level, and to receive a script like this and a cast like this all in the same movie seems like a director’s dream come true. The acting is brilliant and the cast formidable. Hepburn and O'Toole have a plethora of talent, and whenever the two are together in a scene, their chemistry just overflows. Katharine Hepburn is a total delight, her portrayal of strong-willed Eleanor is witty, beautiful and dignified. She owns almost every scene she is in and takes total possession of the role.
Equally engaging is Peter O'Toole as the sly, robust and boisterous Henry. Any other actor would have almost certainly faded away when sharing a scene with Ms. Hepburn, but O'Toole holds his own, and the two actors end up counterbalancing each other. Sir Anthony Hopkins makes his screen debut bringing depth to the role of Richard, a man whose bravery and burly warrior stance are merely a shield protecting his sensitivity and tenderness. Also making an auspicious screen debut, and dripping with smug charm, is Timothy Dalton as the inexperienced yet witty Phillip. John Castle as neglected middle son, Geoffrey; Nigel Terry as the pathetic youngest son, John and Jane Merrow as the demure Princess Alais are all uniformly excellent.
The witty, rich and biting script by James Goldman is ferocious, and easily one of the film’s strongest features. Critics of the film are quick to note that the sharp yet steady dialog is anachronistic, but this is intentional and never falters. The direction by Anthony Harvey is meticulous and strategic—his camerawork is unpretentious, favoring the actors and the dialogue. He builds this tension, keeping the viewer guessing what the next move will be amongst this duplicitous, Machiavellian clan.
When the film was released, it received several Academy Award nominations including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor. However, it won only three, John Barry for Best Music Score; James Goldman for Best Adapted Screenplay and Katharine Hepburn for Best Actress (tying with Barbra Streisand for Funny Girl). Though the movie may not be factually accurate, it is spiritually accurate. With its ingenuous plotting and bold, rich characters, The Lion in Winter is engrossing and extremely watchable. It is a timeless tour-de-force picture that is second to none and deserving of all of it accolades.
- Directed by--Anthony Harvey
- Produced by--Joseph E. Levine
- Written by--James Goldman
- Starring--Peter O'Toole, Katharine Hepburn, Anthony Hopkins, Timothy Dalton and Nigel Terry
- Music by--John Barry
Comments