HENRY V - 1944

The original version of the film begins with a dedication to the commandos and airborne troops of Great Britain. We then travel to the Globe Theatre in 1600. The Chorus (Leslie Banks) enters and implores the audience to use their imagination to visualize the setting of the play. We then see, up on a balcony, two clergymen, The Archbishop of Canterbury (Felix Aylmer), and the Bishop of Ely (Robert Helpmann) discussing the current affairs of state. Henry (Laurence Olivier) then enters, and discusses with his nobles the state of France. A gift is delivered to Henry from the French Dauphin. The gift turns out to be tennis balls. Offended, Henry sends the French ambassador away, and prepares to claim the French throne, a throne that he believes is rightfully his.



We then see characters from Shakespeare's Henry IV plays: Nym (Frederick Cooper), Bardolph (Roy Emerton), and Pistol (Robert Newton). These characters resolve to join Henry's army, however, before they do, Falstaff (George Robey), another returning character, and one of the King's former mentors, dies. At this point, the film gradually ceases to be located in the Globe Theatre; instead the scenes are performed in stylized film sets reminiscent of a medieval Book of Hours.



At Southampton, the fleet debarks, and lands in France, beginning a campaign that tears through France to Harfleur, where Henry's forces lay siege. At the siege, Henry delivers his first rousing speech to his troops: "Once more... unto the breach! Dear friends, once more!" The troops charge on Harfleur, and take it as their own.



The troops then march to Agincourt, meeting the French forces. Before the impending battle, Henry wanders around the camp in disguise, to find out what the men think of him. The next day, before the battle, Henry delivers his famous Saint Crispin's Day speech.



The Battle of Agincourt then commences. This sequence is filmed on location in a realist style, unlike the stylized sets seen previously; however, the Technicolor is still very bright and somewhat larger than life, unlike the same scene in the later Kenneth Branagh version. The English archers let forth a volley of arrows that cuts deeply into the French numbers. The French, weighed down by their heavy armour, are caught in the fresh mud of the field, and are bogged down, which gives the English troops ample opportunity to ride out and fight them on equal terms. The French Dauphin (Max Adrian), seeing this disadvantage, rides out with several bodyguards and noblemen, and kills all the boys and squires in the English camp. Henry is angered by this and rides out to meet the French Constable (Leo Genn). Fighting each other, one-on-one, swords in hand, the Constable strikes Henry in the head, shaking him. Henry turns and continues to fight the Constable, who sheaths his sword in favour of a mace. The Constable then strikes Henry's hand, causing him to drop his sword. Henry, now disarmed, lashes out and strikes the Constable in the face with his gauntlet, presumably killing him.



The battle is won. Henry then proceeds to court the Princess Katherine (Renee Asherson); the film now returns to the stylized sets. Henry woos Katherine, and France is now under the control of England, as the French King, Charles VI adopts Henry as his successor. In the final moments of the play, we return to the Globe Theatre again, and the actors take their bows.



Director: Laurence Olivier

Writer: William Shakespeare

Contact: View company contact information for The Chronicle History of King Henry the Fift with His Battell Fought at Agincourt in France on IMDbPro.

Release Date: 17 June 1946 (USA) See more »

Genre: Biography | Drama | History | War

Tagline: Laurence Olivier's Presentation in Technicolor of Henry V

Awards: Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 6 wins



Cast: (Cast overview, first billed only)

Leslie Banks... Chorus

Felix Aylmer... Archbishop of Canterbury

Robert Helpmann... Bishop of Ely

Vernon Greeves... The English Herald

Gerald Case... Earl of Westmoreland

Griffith Jones... Earl of Salisbury

Morland Graham... Sir Thomas Erpingham

Nicholas Hannen... Duke of Exeter

Michael Warre... Duke of Gloucester



Laurence Olivier... King Henry V of England

Ralph Truman... Mountjoy - The French Herald

Ernest Thesiger... Duke of Berri - French Ambassador

Frederick Cooper... Corporal Nym

Roy Emerton... Lieutenant Bardolph

Robert Newton... Ancient Pistol



Runtime: 137 min

Country: UK

Language: English | French

Color: Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio: 1.85

Sound Mix: Mono

Certification: UK:U | USA:Approved (PCA #10900) | West Germany:16 | Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations: County Wicklow, Ireland

Company: Two Cities Films

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• France
• Globe
• Theatre
• Princess
• Henry
• KingBiography
• Drama
• History
• War
• Laurence
• Olivier
• Jose
• Nelson

[baloo3211]

excellent thanks

[theuofc]

A wonderful image. Thanks very much for this. Preview, promo, whatever...it's excellent viewing.

[chicotgs]

Isn't this just the block buster preview?

[al1936ful]

This looks more like a promotional short subject, not a prologue.