Henry V (Rank Collection Box Set)
Another film in the Rank Boxset, this is Laurence Olivier’s directorial debut. The above longer title is a summary of what the plot is about. However, it is the interpretation of this Shakespeare play that is most impressive about this particular film.
The film starts out with a grandiose model shot that eventually settles on the Globe Theatre, as they are about to commence a performance....
Note: This release of Brief Encounter is part of the Rank Collection boxset which includes The Red Shoes, The 39 Steps, Brief Encounter, Henry V, A Matter Of Life And Death, Genevieve, The Wicked Lady, Hamlet. Any recommendations for the release should be taken in the context of the whole boxset not the individual release:
Another film in the Rank Boxset, this is Laurence Olivier’s directorial debut. The above longer title is a summary of what the plot is about. However, it is the interpretation of this Shakespeare play that is most impressive about this particular film.
The film starts out with a grandiose model shot that eventually settles on the Globe Theatre, as they are about to commence a performance of Henry V. The first 30 minutes remain encamped around the stage area where the play is being performed. We arrive just before the production begins and we get some beautiful floating camera shots that establish the period, the environment, and the general atmosphere of the inside of a play house. As the production commences the crowd interaction, the laughing, jeering and heckling all filter in as the actors ham it up for the watching audience. During this part of the film, we are fully introduced to the differences in theatre culture today, the wine, suits and pathetic hats, and what it used to be, entertainment for the masses. That was of course until the cinema came along. The camera seamlessly drifts in out of the acting and through the theatre, creating an effect that still seems refreshing to this day.
Upon reaching the 30 minute mark, the camera zooms through one of the curtains and transforms into a depiction of the real play, film style. The acting style changes and becomes more dramatically serious, the audience has vanished and we begin to move towards the battle at Agincourt, and the editing and camera angles become more complex. If you do happen to watch this movie, look out for the scene where Olivier as Henry dresses down and goes to talk to some of his men around the campfire about the woes of leadership. They don’t realise who he is of course, so freely voice their opinions about the battle they will soon be fighting. When they have left they leave Henry to rue over what they have said, allowing Henry the time to confirm his own stance in his mind. During this the camera slowly tracks in on Olivier, whilst we are immersed in his voice over. The expression on his face has got to be one of the better pieces of screen acting put down on celluloid, comparable to Gene Hackman’s speech as he is going through cold turkey in THE FRENCH CONNECTION 2, or Jack Nicholson’s slow smile in ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOOS NEST.
Apparently made under a request from the British government, in 1944, this film was intended to counter act the atmosphere of the day, just before the end of World War 2. Although it is an abridged version of the play on which it is based, this interpretation is most interesting during the initial 30 minutes, when we are aware of the audience and play house. The battle scenes are quite epic for the times but seem tame by today’s standards. They are edited and filmed with pace and immediacy but you only have to watch GLADIATOR, SPARTACUS or ALEXANDER, and they fade into obscurity. But arguably, in relation to the reason for its production, it is the speeches where most attention lies. Olivier does the Olivier and endlessly looks into the distance and pitches his voice between shouts and calmness, but with the dialogue he has been given by the Bard, the speeches remain a testament to great rallying calls, endlessly mimicked in films such as THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGY. In the days when leaders sometimes got their hands bloody, a day long since passed, as today they sit in their mansions with their whisky of choice waiting for the figures of the dead to arrive in their offices every morning, kindly being patted on their backs by their appointees who tell them what a great decision they have made. Times have changed.
Disappointingly, this DVD has no extras at all, which is a shame as the CRITERION COLLECTION edition from the US of A has an added commentary. However, the picture is quite good, even though Olivier’s make up tends to make him look like transsexual and his war costume like Ram Man from He-Man. It has scratches and it is not a purely clean copy but as the picture fills up with detail you can’t notice the scratches anyway and it begins to look close to perfect. The sound is very clear as well, and for 1945 it has a fantastically designed soundtrack, especially whilst the action is taking place in the theatre. It reminded me of the soundtrack design of Spike Lee films where voices are flying in from all angles.
On reflection it is amazing how many quality films we used to produce in England. Before the end of the war BRIEF ENCOUNTER, A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH and HENRY V were all in production, as well as others I am sure, and this was during war time. Today the situation is disgustingly different. Anyway, HENRY V is an accessible film and despite its length for anyone with even the smallest interest, maybe it will be worth checking out. As a part of the Rank Boxset, it may not be the biggest draw in the collection but it is a nice one to have nevertheless.
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