Henry V Poster
83
metacriticBased on 17 Critics
81
Based on 14 Users

Release Date: 1989

DVD Release Date: July 5th, 2000

PG-13|2 hr 17 min

Plot Summary
In this gritty screen adaptation of Shakespeare's play about the heroic and ruthless king, Henry V of England (Kenneth Branagh) determines to lay claim to the kingdom of France. Henry's self-doubt and the diminished morale of his army stand in the way of a victory that would unite the two countries and provide Henry with a queen (Emma Thompson). However, his sheer determination and his impassioned speeches ready his men for the bloodiest of battles -- Agincourt.

Cast: Kenneth Branagh, Derek Jacobi, Brian Blessed, Ian Holm, Paul Scofield, Michael Maloney, Alec McCowen, Emma Thompson

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Genres: Drama

Production Co: Renaissance Films

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Ratings & Reviews

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  • 100
    TV Guide Magazine

    Straightforward, energetic, updated Bard. 28-year-old star-director-adapter Kenneth Branagh's spellbinding version of Shakespeare's Henry isn't superior to Olivier's 1944 version - it's different, and complementary to it. show more

  • 100
    San Francisco Chronicle

    [Branagh] shows an understanding of the medium worthy of a veteran, and an intuitive grasp of how to make Henry V not only comprehensible, but compelling for contemporary audiences. [13 Dec 1989]

  • 80
    Julie SalamonWall Street Journal

    As director, Mr. Branagh and his cameraman have chosen to shoot his film tight and drab, a style that allows the actors to speak the poetry without affect. Nothing's prettified. [09 Nov 1989]

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