Kenneth Branagh provides a textbook case of how to adapt Shakespeare for the screen. This movie has an amazing cast (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097499/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast), and is a fine way to spend two hours and 17 minutes.
A ★★★★½ review of Henry V (1989)
It’s been a heck of a long time since I watched the Branagh Henry V — but having seen a fine stage production of the play last weekend, I wanted to do so. And I wasn’t disappointed. Whether it’s the cast of remarkable luminaries (Brian Blessed, Ian Holm, Judi Dench, Robbie Coltrane, Paul Scofield, Emma Thompson, even a very young Christian Bale), the fine costuming and production work, or the remarkable oratory skills of Branagh himself in the t…
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And the St Crispin's Day speech really delivers.
Was this really twenty-six years ago? Christ…
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It's one of my favs…actually, all his Shakespeare movies are great. Also love Much Ado About Nothing.
+Victor Powell I've had the opportunity to visit the villa where that was filmed. Circling back to that film (and Brannagh's other works) is definitely on my list.
+Dave Hill Nice!
I also love Ian McKellen's Richard III and Branagh's Hamlet movies.
+Stan Pedzick Trivia for Branagh's Henry V: Ian McKellen turned down the role of the King of France (taken instead by Paul Scofield).
+Victor Powell *
+Colm Buckley, I saw Kenneth Branagh play Henry V onstage with the Royal Shakespeare Company 30 years ago! As good as this film it is, the stage production outshines even this in my mind. (Trivia: Ian McDiarmid, aka Emperor Palpatine in the Star Wars movies, was the narrator in that production.) Kenneth Branagh’s deliverance of the “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers” speech was breathtaking!