The Lion in Winter Movie Review 1968

Medieval monarch Henry II and his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, match wits over the succession to the English throne and much else in this fast-paced 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.

Distribution

Fusion Video, 100 Fusion Way, Country Club Hills, IL 60478, URL: http://www.coldfusionvideo.com

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 134 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Historical Drama, Marriage, Great Britain, Medieval Romps, Adapted from a Play, Royalty, British, War Between the Sexes, Family Ties, Christmas, 4 Bones

Screenplay

James Goldman

Cast

Peter O'Toole, Katharine Hepburn, Jane Merrow, Nigel Terry, Timothy Dalton, Anthony Hopkins, John Castle, Nigel Stock

Director

Anthony Harvey

Music

John Barry

Producer

Avco Embassy

Awards

Oscars 1968: Actress (Hepburn), Adapt. Screenplay, Orig. Score; Directors Guild 1968: Director (Harvey); Golden Globes 1969: Actor--Drama (O'Toole), Film--Drama; N.Y. Film Critics 1968: Film.