The Lion In Winter

Kathrine Hepburn as Eleanor of Aquitaine-Photo Wikipedia

         
Once again I saw The Lion In Winter. Once again I was mesmerized by the screen play by James Goldman. It is directed by Anthony Harvey. The cast include, Peter O'Toole, Katherine Hepburn, Anthony Hopkins, Timothy Dalton to name just a few. Music by John Barry. All have done a wonderful job. It was made in 1968.

It is a fictionalized story of historical figures, Henry the II and his older wife Eleanor of Aquitaine. She has been imprisoned for years but is let out to spend  Christmas holidays with Henry II and their three children. Henry's new young love, Alice is also there.

The time is middle ages, the twelfth century. The setting is Castle or Palace at Chinon.

Without giving too much away, it is a story of royal politics between husband and wife regarding which of their sons should inherit the kingdom. Both of them have their favorites. It is about the love between the husband and wife as well as the husband and Alice, the third corner of the triangle.

It is about battle of wits. Who outsmarts who. Intrigue versus intrigues. It is about double-talk. It is mostly a dialogue movie. They are crisp and pointed. They bare, ploys and counter ploys and counter-counter ploys. Throughout the movie I felt a Shakespearean overtone to their acting; yet, it was not so pronounced. The style was not out of step with time of this history.

It is a long movie, but I will see it again if for nothing else than for the screen-play. Besides, I enjoy period movies.