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1968
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THE
LION IN WINTER
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STARRING:KATHARINE
HEPBURN,PETER O'TOOLE,JOHN CASTLE,TIMOTHY DALTON,ANTHONY HOPKINS,JANE
MERROW,NIGEL TERRY
BASED
ON THE PLAY BY JAMES GOLDMAN
SCREENPLAY
BY JAMES GOLDMAN
PRODUCED
BY MARTIN POLL
DIRECTED
BY ANTHONY HARVEY
GENRE:DRAMA/HISTORY
RATED:AUSTRALIA:PG/UK:15/USA:PG
RUNNING
TIME:134 MIN
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Treachery,
vengeance, and politics are the order of the day in director Anthony
Harvey's spirited adaptation of James Goldman's lauded play The
Lion in Winter.
The film is set on Christmas Eve 1183 AD, and focuses on a dysfunctional
royal family lead by the insatiable King Henry II (Peter O'Toole).
His wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine (Katharine Hepburn), is as cunning
and devious as her husband and has been imprisoned for the last 10
years due to her attempts to overthrow the King.
Out of their large brood of children, three sons battle for the right
to be successor to the crown: Richard (Anthony Hopkins) is a blood
thristy warrior who has his mothers support, yet his secret homosexual
relationship with King Philip of France (Timothy Dalton) threatens
his chances; the mousy John (Nigel Terry) is the youngest and has
been tapped by the King to take his place; and Geoffrey (John Castle)
delights in playing all sides against each other while establishing
himself for the throne.
As a result a tangled web of political intrigue is weaved as all parties
manipulate each other through the use of Goldman's cunning, at times
humorous and always enthralling dialogue which results in some gripping
verbal sparring matches between a top class cast of actors.
Although his love for the zoom in/zoom out can irritate, director
Anthony Harvey does a wonderful job staging his scenes while taking
full advantage of the films art direction and various locations in
Ireland, Wales, and France. Special mention should be given to a sequence
involving a verbal quarrel between Henry and Philip whilst his sons
hide behind tapestries in Philip's room.
The magnificent John Barry provides an emotionally in tune score which
heightens key scenes in spectacular fashion, however the films sound
effects are overwhelming.
Katharine Hepburn and Peter O'Toole provide great chemistry as the
contradictive monarchs who hold a great deal of respect - even love
- for each other, yet wish to destroy one another through political
games and civil wars. O'Toole is simply ferocious, and Hepburn spits
out venom when her New England accent meets Goldman's words.
Supporting turns are well cast and performed admirably, especially
by Anthony Hopkins and Timothy Dalton who both appear in their film
debuts. |
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