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Henry V

Play trailer Poster for Henry V Released Jun 17, 1946 2h 17m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 29 Reviews 74% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Olivier's masterful, sweeping rendition of Shakespeare, filmed in rich color and ingeniously including a typical performance at the Globe Theatre as it might have been seen 400 years ago. The film earned Olivier a special Oscar for outstanding achievement as actor, producer and director.
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Henry V

Henry V

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Critics Consensus

A patriotic booster, Laurence Olivier's directorial debut and star turn as Henry V result in a sharply realized and resonant take on Shakespeare's deeply British warrior king.

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Critics Reviews

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Manny Farber The New Republic While definitely athletic, pageant-minded and somewhat recognizable after all of the war dramas that have come out since Elizabethan times, no movie has given a more poignant impression of men in battle or been so cutting about the waste and folly of war. Aug 31, 2012 Full Review James Agee TIME Magazine The movies have produced one of their rare great works of art. Aug 29, 2012 Full Review Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader One can pick plenty of bones with Laurence Olivier's direction of the Shakespeare play, but this 1945 film is still a powerful production from many standpoints. Jul 9, 2008 Full Review Fannie Hurst Modern Screen "With winged heels, like English Mercuries," the beauty of the Olivier version of Henry the Fifth soars to what comes close to perfect achievement. Jun 15, 2023 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Overwhelming production of the William Shakespeare epic historical play. Rated: A+ Sep 2, 2020 Full Review David Parkinson Radio Times A colourful and rousing spectacle. Rated: 5/5 Nov 27, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (142) audience reviews
Andy F A true masterpiece. The cinematography and staging is as impressive as Shakespeare's play itself. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/30/24 Full Review Leaburn This film was woeful 👎 Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Audience Member I first watched when I was a teen. The first Shakespearian movie I could understand. Now as an older man I can see the desire to raise British patriotism among a weary populace while acknowledging their weariness of the horror of war. The artistry that initially starts as if we are among the audience of the Globe Theatre for the premiere of Henry V. Gradually the scenes advance to move from the confines of the Globe Theatre to almost fairytale imagery until the very grim, cold, bloody reality of battle is shown. The spirit and theatrical scenery becomes more fairytale as Henry woos & wins Catherine and France. Unfortunately, this beautiful movie reveals an England and Britain that no longer exists, but replaced by children who have forgotten their strength in God. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review William L The combination of Shakespeare's magnificent compositional talents, Olivier's powerful delivery, and exceptionally high production value for the time results in a fantastic end product, still one of the greatest efforts to put the Bard's work to film (and with studios exhibiting a clear reluctance to allocate top-tier budgets to the adaptation of material that doesn't maintain the popular edge it did in centuries prior, it will likely retain its position for some time). It certainly requires a particular mood to immerse oneself in, but there are so many lines that have underpinned English-speaking culture, and they are so well-delivered (St. Crispin's Day still stirs the spirit), that it really is must-watch film at some point. Still, some of the vernacular in the less timeless is a bit difficult to get through, and the "French" accents can be rather distressing, so it's not like the film is without fault. (4/5) Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/26/20 Full Review s r 1001 movies to see before you die. A fine performance from Olivier. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review steve d One of my favorite shows but this is the worst version put to film. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Laurence Olivier

Director

Laurence Olivier

King Henry V of England

Robert Newton

Ancient Pistol

Renée Asherson

Princess Katherine

Leslie Banks

Chorus

Esmond Knight

Fluellen

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Henry V

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Movie Info

Synopsis Olivier's masterful, sweeping rendition of Shakespeare, filmed in rich color and ingeniously including a typical performance at the Globe Theatre as it might have been seen 400 years ago. The film earned Olivier a special Oscar for outstanding achievement as actor, producer and director.
Director
Laurence Olivier
Producer
Laurence Olivier, Dallas Bower
Screenwriter
Laurence Olivier, Dallas Bower, Alan Dent
Distributor
United Artists
Production Co
Two Cities Films Ltd.
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 17, 1946, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 2, 2017
Runtime
2h 17m
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