The Lion in Winter (2001, DVD)

Lion in Winter has one of the most brilliant and literary scripts of all the films I have seen. Peter O'Toole interestingly reprises the role of Henry II, which he played as a somewhat younger man in "Becket." Katharine Hepburn may be the only film actress who could have played Eleanor of Aquitaine, and no one could have been better. (Yes, I know this was remade in 2004 with Patrick Stewart and Glen Close, both fine actors, but trust me, skip it and go straight for the original.)

The characters look real, and the 12th-century world that they inhabit feels authentic. Far from a romantic fairy tale, Henry's castle at Chinon, with its dirt floors, roaming dogs, dungeons and mud, has a palpable sense of being dark, cold, and damp. The film takes place at Christmastime in 1183. Henry has temporarily released Queen Eleanor from prison, where she has been consigned for 12 years for plotting against him, and delivered her ceremoniously to the castle to celebrate the holiday as "one big happy family."

The plotting and counter-plotting escalates as the two iron-willed monarchs each attempt to manipulate a favorite son to succeed Henry on the throne of England. Henry favors the sniveling John (Nigel Terry), while Eleanor fiercely backs Richard (Anthony Hopkins). Alliances shift again and again; Henry schemes and rages; Eleanor exercises her formidable wit and charm. This is a potentially deadly game of power politics layered on top of an emotional tug-of-war between these two powerful and romantic figures, with the three "boys," Henry's mistress, and King Philip of France (Timothy Dalton) all players and all caught in the middle.

A hallmark of the film is the ability of Eleanor to defuse the tension and disarm Henry (and the audience) with her wit. One of my favorite lines is the ending of an emotional scene between them, each accusing the other and/or admitting to marital infidelity. As O'Toole storms out, Hepburn collapses to the floor, looks up, and states, "What family doesn't have its ups and downs?"
While not strictly historically accurate, many of the events referred to actually occurred, including the rumor that Richard and Philip had a homosexual relationship.

The lion of the title has several layers of meaning: Henry II had the first English Royal coat of arms, a golden lion, rampant, on a red field; in 1183, Henry was 50--well past life expectancy, and he was to die at Chinon six years later, deserted by all except Geoffrey and referring to his legitimate children as "the real bastards." The coat of arms for Aquitaine is a lion passant; Eleanor was released from captivity only during the winter. Additionally, Richard the Lionhearted carried a shield emblazoned with a lion into the crusades.

Another interesting side note is that Eleanor of Aquitaine would have been 61 in 1183, and Hepburn was 61 in 1968, the year the film was released. Peter O'Toole was 36. He was Oscar-nominated for playing the same role in two different films -- "Becket" and "Lion in Winter."

"The Lion in Winter" contains the screen debuts of Hopkins, Dalton, Terry and John Castle (as middle son, Geoffrey). Hepburn wont her third of four Oscars for her role as Eleanor. The film earned two other Academy Awards: best screenplay for James Goldman (who also wrote the play upon which the film is based) and best score for a nonmusical to John Barry. There were four additional Oscar nominations, for best film, best actor (O'Toole), best director (Anthony Harvey).

This movie is a classic. It definitely deserved the Oscar nominations/winners that it received. Some of the greatest actors in modern cinema history in one movie. One of my all-time favorites.

The Lion In Winter is one of the great historical dramas of all time! The performances by Peter O'toole and Katherine Hepburn are spectacular. All the supporting actors are equally memorable. With wonderful directing and terrific writing, the Lion In Winter is a joy to behold.

There's not much more to say than that this is one of the great movies. It's a famous play that has translated beautifully onto the screen - which is not what you can say about most plays! Peter O'Toole, Katharine Hepburn, Anthony Hopkins (very young) and the entire cast are stupendous. Some think that parts of it play as outdated - until you look around you at the lives of the Rich and Famous today - People Magazine would be right at home in this morass of family disfunction and celebrity!

I won and paid for this DVD, but never received it. I've gotten no satisfaction from the seller nor from E-Bay. I'm very dissappointed.

I majored in History, and this film has been a favorite of mine for years. The cast is topnotch, the costumes are superb and authentic and also, being a devotee of medieval music, I have had the film score in my music library (on an LP) for years and I now have it on a CD. It is the finest modern score of
medieval style music. All definitely did their homework on this one. Its a genuine classic.

it was so good, i had to buy it. :3

the movie is about king henry of england and his wife, eleanor, who he usually keeps locked in the tower. they have to put on a show for the masses, so he lets her out of the tower... and that's where the plotting begins. henry favours his youngest, john, to be future king of england; eleanor favours strong richard. and jeoffrey... >_> no one cares about him. X3 at least, that's what he says.

the movie has some absolutely hilarious memorable lines. "i know. you know i know. i know you know, and henry knows we know it. ...we're a knowledgeable family."

if you have any interest in english history at all, i highly recommend this movie. ^__^