Henry V [DVD]

Branagh's Henry V is very conscious of Olivier before him in the heroic mould. This time the budget does not permit a full scale cavalry charge and armies thousands strong at Harfleur and Agincourt. But then, Shakespeare himself had to represent these battles with fewer resources even than Branagh. In Branagh's case (as in Shakespeare's) the answer was to focus on the inidviduals. He conveys the visceral fear of battle against a superior enemy very well. We are touched by Mistress Quickly's farewell to Falstaff, and Nym/Bardolph/Pistol/Boy's farewell to the Boar's Head to which none will return unchanged. Branagh's production never forgets the gritty reality of personal grief, fear and tragedy (viz the hanging of poor old Bardolph), but still allows us the jingoistic buzz of the Agincourt scorecard 10,000 French to 29 English. Branagh's Henry V is on a much smaller canvas than Olivier's, but Shakespeare's was smaller still. Good job.

I adore this film. The acting is outstanding, particularly that of Kenneth Brannagh. The way Brannagh has adapted Shakespeare is a little bit risky, particularly when he imports a bit of another play (Henry IV) to explain how the king has "broken the heart" of Sir John Falstaff - but some explanation had to be made. He also cuts out some other stuff that a 20th century audience might not find very appealing in this King whom Shakespeare wants to practically canonise: like the king's order for all French prisoners' throats to be cut at Agincourt (act IV scene 7). I think the alterations are acceptable. He leaves out one bit of gruesome dialogue I'd rather he had left in, when Henry makes a little speech to the French herald to emphasize the fact that he will not be ransomed and the only profit they'll get out of him are his "joints" (act IV scene 3). He goes on to say that any English corpses left on the field will kill twice over because "the sun shall greet them", they'll rot and choke the air, "killing in replapse of mortality". Neat!
Shakespeare's king is an ambivalent figure, and Brannagh brings this out well, although not in quite the same way as does Shakespeare. I particularly like the scene after the battle, when Henry carries a dead boy off the field, through the scene of carnage where the muddy puddles are red with blood, passing a group of three French princes, one dead, kneeling in a way that refers to a pieta.
Shakespeare/Brannagh's Henry seeks war, but sees it as his duty. The reasons he has for seeing war as his duty relate to a particular kind of naked patriotism that does not appeal to me, but that does not detract from the attractiveness of the character: it gives a sense of "otherness", of time having moved on: and actually you get the feeling that Henry himself has "moved on" by the end of the film. There's a sensitive portrayal of human behaviour in the face of death. And on the eve of Agincourt, Henry has an ethical discussion with some of his soldiers: if soldiers kill on the orders of the king while doubting the justice of his cause, do they stand exempt from blame?
Oh, I do like this film!

In the history of cinema, there have been two magnificent versions of Shakespeare's greatest play, this and Olivier's. While Olivier's version is pretty good, for my money this is the best.

This really is a magnificent film. At its heart is the grand vision of Shakespeare, and his beautiful language. But Branagh has done something special in bringing it to the screen. He's used a range of modern Shakespeareans, almost every role is filled by a famous face. By using such a multitude of skilled actors, every line of Shakespeare's text is delivered professionally and in a way calculated to evoke the greatest response in the audience. The text is delivered fluently, yet accessible and understandable to the modern audience - no mean feat! Derek Jacobi makes a captivating narrator, Robert Stephens is a suitably rascally Pistol, Richard Briers is a revelation as Bardolph. Branagh himself excels in the central role, managing to portray the two sides of Henry's character, the martial and the roisterer, very well. I could go on, but there are so many good performances from famous names it would take all day.

Then there is the cinematography - never has the battle of Agincourt been brought to such visceral life on celluloid. Whereas Olivier when for grandeur with the silvers clad knights charging across the field, Branagh goes for gritty realism, that leaves you feeling quite exhausted by the time it's all over.

Branagh has taken a few liberties with text, by including a few scenes featuring Falstaff from Henry IV pt 2, but these are necessary to explain the two sides of Hal's character (and sets up one of the most moving scenes, where Mistress Quickly (Judy Dench) describes the death of the great Knight). There are also a few cuts and rearrangements, but these serve to keep the narrative flowing and make the film a bit more accessible. The text has been treated with much respect though, and the majesty of Shakespeare's language shines through. My favourite scene is one which Olivier cut - the unveiling of the traitors. I still get a shiver when I hear Branagh utter the line `Look then and know - I know your worth...' Classic.

The score is especially worthy of note. Patrick Doyle manages to evoke the period with a score that is by turns ominous and martial, punctuating the text perfectly. It's a match for Walton's score for Olivier's version.

The version being reviewed is the 2002 disc from Universal. This is a pretty basic release, in 16:9 widescreen and a stereo soundtrack. There are no subtitles or extras. The sound and picture are pretty clean and watchable, but I can't help feel that it's time (it's the 20th anniversary of the film this year) for a proper remastering and a special edition release.

This is a classic film, one that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys good cinema. It's done in a very accessible fashion, so not just for Shakespeare experts, this should appeal to all, and, like it did with me, will probably help get people interested in the Bard. Buy it, you won't be disappointed.