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Henry V (Branagh 1989) While all Shakespeare's Histories are about politics, Henry V must surely be the one that echoes most resonantly with our own time. Perhaps it was ever thus because Olivier's film, made in 1944, certainly answered the nation's need at that time for heroes performing heroic deeds in foreign lands. Branagh's film was made in the post Faulkland '80s and reflects a much more sombre attitude. Thus, while Olivier had censored any images that might damage that "mirror of all Christian kings", Branagh did not flinch from showing us both the arrest, manhandling and execution of the Cambridge conspirators and the execution of Bardolf, one of the drinking companions of his youth . It is not long before we realise there is a side to Henry closer to Machiavelli than King Arthur. I think at this very time however a most fascinating difference between the two films lies in the directors' treatment of the explanation of the Salic law that governed inheritance of the French crown. It is apparently a favourable interpretation of this law that can provide Henry with a reason to go to war. The preposterous reasoning of the Archbishop is treated as musical hall comedy in Olivier's film but as dark conspiracy in the Branagh version.  Branagh's Henry is certainly a man for our time. Noble of thought and expression, charming and witty, yet a cold politician who can deal ruthlessly with enemies past and present, Branagh reflects well Shakespeare's ambiguous portrait. Nonetheless even this director did not feel able to display Henry's dreadful war crime, the order after Agincourt: "Then every soldier kill his prisoners,/ Give the word through". The film's antiwar stance is strikingly exemplified by the scenes at Agincourt, with slow motion film of medieval butchery very reminiscent of Welles' depiction of the Battle of Shrewsbury. The cast in this film is marvellous, their acting impeccable and the verse beautifully spoken. The sound on the DVD is breathtaking. There are excellent reviews of this film at www.imdb.com Image from www.branaghcompendium.com |
Henry V
