The Lion in Winter
 | Directed by Anthony Harvey Starring: Peter O'Toole, Katharine Hepburn, Anthony Hopkins, John Castle, Nigel Terry MGM (Video & DVD), 1968, DVD Customer Rating: 206 reviews Recommend |
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Katharine Hepburn delivers an amazing (Variety), OscarÂ(r)-winning* performance 'that must be seen to be believed (Boxoffice) in this dazzling (Los Angeles Times) all-star film that is not to be missed. Behind the great stone walls of an English castle, the world's most powerful empire is in crisis. Three sons struggle to win their father's favoras well as his crown. King Henry II (Peter O'toole) and his queen, Eleanor (Katharine Hepburn), engage ina battle of royal wits that pits elder son Richard (Anthony Hopkins) against his brothers, while the cunning King Philip of France (Timothy Dalton) takes advantage of the internal fracturing in his bid to destroy their kingdom. *1968: Actress
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 humor 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's also an infamous homo-erotic exchange between Philip of France (Timothy Dalton) and Richard the Lionhearted (Anthony Hopkins). Both actors were making their feature-film debuts. — Rochelle O'Gorman
Title: The Lion in Winter
Sales Rank: 2303 in DVD
Actor: Peter O'Toole, Katharine Hepburn, Anthony Hopkins, John Castle, Nigel Terry
Director: Anthony Harvey
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD), 2001-06-19, Theatrical Release: 1968-10-30
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC, Acpect Ratio 2.35:1
Languages: English (Original Language), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled)
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region Code: 1
Running Time: 134 minutes
Item Dimensions: 0.25 pounds
Package Dimensions: 7.5 x 5 x 0.6 inches, 0.2 pounds
- Mikes picks
- Amazing how good the older productions were with actors and not special effects. Truly a great film
More reviews
- Ultimate Dysfunctional Family @ Christmas Movie!
- I think that this is probably the best acting I've ever seen... Hepburn and O'Toole are marvelous, though in no small part because the script is one of the best ever written. While one could watch this movie at any time of the year, I choose to make it part of my Christmas season viewing. I think anyone's family will look a tad bit better… More reviews
- Hepburn and O'Toole Rule
- "The Lion in Winter"
Hepburn and O'Toole Rule
Amos Lassen
I rate "The Lion in Winter" my favorite movie of all time and watching it again last night made me again realize what a wonderful cinematic experience it is. After all with Katherine Hepburn as Eleanor of Aquitaine and Peter O'Toole as Henry II, how could it not be great?… More reviews
- Best movie ever!!
- I love this movie. The dialogue in this movie is amazing. Peter O'Toole reprises his role as Henry ll albeit a much older one. Katherine Hepburn is magnificent as Eleanor of Aquitaine. The repartee between these two seasoned actors is lively and fast paced. A very young Anthony Hopkins plays young Richard the Lionheart.
The movie displays somewhat accurate living… More reviews
- Henry II and his relations
- Movies like this always make me think "wouldn't it just have been easier to have elections?"
With that being said, the Lion in Winter revolves around Henry II working out the succession to the crown with his surviving three sons, the King of France and Henry's wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine. John (the Prince John of the Robin Hood… More reviews
