The Lion in Winter 1968

views updated

The Lion in Winter ★★★★ 1968 (PG)

Medieval monarch Henry II and his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, match wits over the succession to the English throne and much else in this fastpaced film version of James Goldman's play. The family, including three grown sons, and visiting royalty are united for the Christmas holidays fraught with tension, rapidly shifting allegiances, and layers of psychological manipulation. Superb dialogue and perfectly realized characterizations. O'Toole and Hepburn are triumphant. Screen debuts for Hopkins and Dalton. Shot on location, this literate costume drama surprised the experts with its boxoffice success. 134m/C VHS, DVD . Peter O'Toole, Katharine Hepburn, Jane Merrow, Nigel Terry, Timothy Dalton, Anthony Hopkins, John Castle, Nigel Stock; D: Anthony Harvey; W: James Goldman; M: John Barry. Oscars ‘68: Actress (Hepburn), Adapt. Screenplay, Orig. Score; Directors Guild ‘68: Director (Harvey); Golden Globes ‘69: Actor—Drama (O'Toole), Film—Drama; N.Y. Film Critics ‘68: Film.

More From encyclopedia.com