Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #21274 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-09-08
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Dutch, Danish, German, Italian, Norwegian, Finnish, Portuguese, Swedish, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
In this 12th-century version of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Henry II of England (Peter O'Toole) and his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine (Katharine Hepburn), meet on Christmas Eve to discuss the future of the throne. These two are having slight marital problems, as she is kept in captivity most of the year for raising a rebellion against him, and he flaunts his young mistress. Then there are the problems raised by their three treacherous and traitorous sons. James Goldman won an Oscar for the brilliant screenplay, based on his Broadway play. It is a tad wordy, as the action is kept to a minimum, but those words are sharp as daggers. The humour is wicked and black and delivered with very dry, dead-on precision. Sparks fly and the screen sizzles whenever Hepburn and O'Toole tango, which is often. Both were nominated for Academy Awards for their vigorous performances. (She won, he didn't.) There is also an infamous homoerotic exchange between Philip of France (Timothy Dalton) and Richard the Lionhearted (Anthony Hopkins). Both actors were making their feature film debuts. --Rochelle O'Gorman, Amazon.com

Synopsis
Set over the Christmas of 1183, this classic of royal costume dramas concerns Henry II's effort to choose a worthy successor. Powerful Henry II (Peter O'Toole) favours his youngest son John (Nigel Terry), while his strong-willed wife Eleanor (Katherine Hepburn) feels the honour should be bestowed upon eldest son Richard the Lionhearted (Anthony Hopkins, in his screen debut). This disagreement leads the family to a war of wills that will stress every bond of love, trust, and honour. This acclaimed adaptation of James Goldman's play was also the first film for Timothy Dalton. Academy Award Nominations: 7, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor--Peter O'Toole. Academy Awards: 3, including Best (Adapted) Screenplay, Best Actress--Katharine Hepburn (shared with Barbra Streisand for her role in Funny Girl).

Customer Reviews

A cocksure, swaggering piece of cinetheatre aimed at impressing Americans
What an over rated film this is. Not easy to get into, its verbosity is either a turn on or a turn off, depending on your taste, and once into its stride, it does not open out as I for one was hoping it would. Theatrical, with that high camp style that British cinema developed in the 60s to make full use of actors like O'Toole, Burton, Harvey, Williamson, Harris, to name a few of that physical brand of stage trained screen actor, it tends to screech its own greatness at you, telling you that with this great cast and with this stylish dialogue, what we have here is a great film of a fashionable era in history and a rather cool dynasty. That sort of thing...well it was made in the late 60s, and now seems very much a victim to the pervasive attitudes and style. Doesn't wear the change of eras well, looks very dated in its style now, but perhaps the one thing we can thank it for: Introducing another stage trained young actor, one who would after a bit of time eclipse all that old 60s crowd in terms of talent.

This, and a much toned down Henry 2nd than O'Toole's previous film version are the only reasons I'm giving it two stars instead of one. But Hepburn's performance is the one over the top this time, the dialogue is at times hysterical, the language at times laughable, and the character portrayals lurid and cartoon like, especially that of Prince John. The outing of Richard the Lionheart is a wild stab in the dark, and other points of history are stretched beyond reasonable limits for sensationalism alone. Then you have the structure of this set bound drama, at times looking like a second rate sit-com with characters hiding behind curtains and hearing things they shouldn't. I think I've been quite generous giving this christmas pudding of a film two stars, really.

A right Royal Christmas
If a family meets for Christmas very often it ends in disaster as all the family troubles not having bespoken about for the rest of the year and slowly poising everybody's mind erupt.

Well, why should it be different in the Royal Family? But here it is worse than usual: the first Plantagenet King's family was known for its temperaments. Henry II and his consort Eleanor of Aquitaine and their sons Young King Henry, Geoffrey of Brittany, Richard the Lion heart and John Lackland are stuff for legends and endless books. On top the cousin of France poisons the atmosphere further. The struggle for power and crowns, greet, jealousy, hate and sexual lust are a powerful mixture which creates a most explosive atmosphere. If the main characters are portrayed by Katherine Hepburn (Queen Eleanor) and Peter O'Toole one is in for a rare treat. Mrs. Hepburn's performance earned her 3 Oscar. The move is a great classic and one can really feel the tension; it seems to be simpering from the screen.

Well, let's hope that none of us will ever have such a right royal Christmas!!

Well, What Family Doesn't Have Its Ups and Downs?
"Katharine Hepburn, from her first scene when she is briefly taken out of her 10-year imprisonment, shows a wonderful relish for even the most unimpressive sarcastic line. "Well, what family doesn't have its ups and downs," she says, when sodomy, patricide, treason and incest are running their daily course. There is something about an actress with this degree of presence and a wholly distinct, pleasant and idiosyncratic voice that gets her through even misplaced weepy or extravagant scenes." Renata Adler

How many times can you watch a masterpiece and not get tired of it? Apparently as many as you want. Thus 'The Lion In Winter' is the masterpiece for me. The action is contained within one day,Christmas Eve. Henry II, Peter O'Toole is 50 years old and wants to choose his heir before he dies. He has three sons: John, his favorite; Richard, the soldier genius; and Geoffrey, reserved and quiet. Henry calls a Christmas court, letting his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine Katharine Hepburn out of prison for the occasion. King Philip of France is also a visitor. He wants to know when his sister will be married to the heir to the throne. But, Henry has not been able to appoint an heir yet, and what's more, the girl's become his mistress. This film marks the debut of Anthony Hopkis, as Richard the Lion-Hearted, Nigel Terry as the adolescent Prince John; John Castle, as Prince Geoffrey; and Timothy Dalton, as the embittered Philip of France. This film brought forth many Oscars and they deserve to be mentioned.


Katherine Hepburn-Eleanor of Aquitaine brought Hepburn her third of four Oscars.


Peter O'Toole- best actor

James Goldman- Best Screenplay

Anthony Harvey- Best Director

Margarret Furt- Best Costumne Design

Because of the powerful acting we know at the outset that the outcome will be a rsult of power, politics and will. The stakes grow high as the film moves along until there is no game any longer only reality. The emotional tug of war is palpable between he Queen and King. The issues of trust, love and honor are at stake. This film takes on the human emotions and the full realm of laughter, smiles, tears and anger invade our souls.

We root for the Queen until her manipulation has so evidently destroyed her family. We feel sorrow for the three sons, until their foibles become self-evident. The King is the King and thus all powerful. And,the mistress is but the pawn in this game.

"Jesus himself would have a hard time bringing peace to this yuletide household. Here's a family whose every deed and word is a chess move or a dagger stroke. After all, there's more at stake than merely the future of England and France. Alliances (political and sexual) rise and fall amid skillful maneuvering, clashing, and scheming for Henry's throne. At the center of this regal melee are Henry and Eleanor, whose combination of high mutual fondness and take-no-prisoners warfare -- on battlefields and in bedrooms -- make them one of cinema's great complicated relationships."
Mark Bourne

If there are any neophytes out there who have not seen this film- take thee to the nearest DVD store. A film not to be missed.
Highly, Highly Recommended. prisrob 6-02-07