Henry V (1989)
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100% of critics liked it
(33 reviews) -
87% of users liked it
(12,124 ratings)
Kenneth Branagh makes his feature-film directorial debut with this adaptation of William Shakespeare's Henry V. After the Chorus (Derek Jacobi) introduces the play, young king of England Henry V (Kenneth Branagh) begins an angry dialogue with King Charles of France (Paul Scofield). The… More Kenneth Branagh makes his feature-film directorial debut with this adaptation of William Shakespeare's Henry V. After the Chorus (Derek Jacobi) introduces the play, young king of England Henry V (Kenneth Branagh) begins an angry dialogue with King Charles of France (Paul Scofield). The king's son, Dauphin (Michael Maloney), insults Henry and the argument escalates into war. In flashback, Henry is seen as a young man drinking in a tavern with Falstaff (Robbie Coltrane), Bardolph (Richard Briers), Nym (Geoffrey Hutchings), Pistol (Robert Stephens), and Mistress Quickly (Judi Dench). Meanwhile, Henry and his captain, Fluellen (Ian Holm), assemble an army and invade France. The French greatly outnumber the British troops, yet Henry leads them to victory in the Battle of Agincourt after delivering his famous St. Crispin's Day Speech. Throughout this struggle, Henry also courts Katherine (Emma Thompson) and eventually wins her over. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi
- Directed By
- Kenneth Branagh
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Romance
- In Theaters
- Nov 8, 1989 Wide
- Studio
- MGM Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
A stirring, gritty and enjoyable pic which offers a plethora of fine performances from some of the U.K.'s brightest talents.
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
The cast -- including Derek Jacobi as the modern-dress chorus, Paul Scofield, Judi Dench, Ian Holm, Emma Thompson, and Robbie Coltrane in an effective cameo as Falstaff -- is uniformly fine without any grandstanding.
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, Time Out
Branagh succeeds in his blunt, robust portrayal of the Soldier-King, hauling the film along in the wake of his own gung-ho performance.
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Benedict Nightingale, New York Times
Mr. Branagh's Henry has psychological heft and intellectual weight.
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Amy E. Schwartz, Washington Post
More questioning, more agonized, finally more humble.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Kenneth Branagh
as Henry V
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Derek Jacobi
as Chorus
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Brian Blessed
as Duke of Exeter
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Ian Holm
as Fluellen
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Paul Scofield
as French King
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Emma Thompson
as Princess Katherine
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Robbie Coltrane
as Falstaff
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Michael Maloney
as Dauphin
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Alec McCowen
as Bishop of Ely
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Geraldine McEwan
as Alice
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Simon Shepherd
as Duke of Gloucester
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James Larkin
as Bedford
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John Sessions
as Capt. MacMorris
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Christian Bale
as Falstaff's Boy
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Michael Williams
as Williams
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Richard Briers
as Lt. Bardolph
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Geoffrey Hutchings
as Cpl. Nym
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Robert Stephens
as Ancient Pistol
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Judi Dench
as Mistress Quickly
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Fabian Cartwright
as Cambridge
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Richard Clifford
as Duke of Orleans
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Richard Easton
as Constable of France
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Richard Innocent
as Duke of Burgundy
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Edward Jewesbury
as Sir Thomas Erpingham
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Charles Kay
as Archbishop of Canterbury
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James Simmons
as York
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Stephen Simms
as Scroop
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Daniel Webb
as Capt. Glower
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Jimmy Yuill
as Jamy
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Patrick Doyle
as Court
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Christopher Ravenscroft
as Mountjoy
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Chris Armstrong
as Soldier
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Nicholas Ferguson
as Warwick
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Julian Gartside
as Bretagne
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Nigel Greaves
as Duke of Berri
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Colin Hurley
as Grandpre
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Mark Inman
as Soldier
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David Lloyd Meredith
as Governor of Harfleur
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David Parfitt
as Messenger
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Shaun Prendergast
as Bates
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Jay Villiers
as Grey
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Tom Whitehouse
as Talbot
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Calum Yuill
as Child
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Paul Gregory
as Earl of Westmoreland

