Directed by Anthony Harvey and written by James Goldman, based on his play of the same name, King Henry II’s three sons all want to inherit the throne, but he won’t commit to a choice. When he allows his imprisoned wife Eleanor of Aquitaine out for a Christmas visit, they all variously plot to force him into a decision. Starring: Peter O’Toole, Katharine Hepburn, Anthony Hopkins, John Castle, Nigel Terry, Timothy Dalton, Jane Merrow and Nigel Stock.
Even before you get into anything else, purely looking at the cast list for The Lion in Winter is going to draw in any film fan, and for good reason. This is basically an acting student’s dream with the masterclass that this ensemble puts on. Especially Katharine Hepburn, she is genuinely incredible in this role, the height of manipulation and scheming, it’s sensational to watch. A performance which unsurprisingly garnered Hepburn the third of her impressive four Oscars. It also marks a big moment in the Academy’s history as the only ever tie for Best Actress, with Barbra Streisand also winning for Funny Girl.
However, this is undoubtedly an ensemble feature and while she’s magnificent, it doesn’t take away from the rest of this brilliant cast. You’ve got an almost manic Peter O’Toole as he races his way through King Henry II’s many different emotions. He’s excellent at portraying to conflict to his character, wading through an ocean to figure out what matters to him most, his power or his family.
Then there’s the ever-incredible Anthony Hopkins, who has been hitting it out of the park for as long as he’s appeared on screen. He remarkably manages to bring a genuine vulnerability to this role which is a rarity among such grandiose pictures. To go through every cast member would be an entire essay so to sum it up, there are no weak links to be found in The Lion in Winter.
Something that’s fascinating about classic films like this are how much they connect with the themes that viewers love in modern film and television, yet so many of them are reluctant to enjoy cinema before the 1980s. There’s betrayal, scandal, sex, power, greed, plotting, backstabbing and petty revenge, which is basically what you’d find in most reality shows these days. There’s plenty to enjoy with this story but the progression is problematic, it’s extremely slow and then suddenly ramps up in the final scenes.
It spends so much time building up to its explosive moment, that it may have lost some viewers by the time that it gets there. Especially when the tone and dialogue are so classically Shakespearean, it can slow things down even further. Although, that’s no insult to its value because watching this spectacular group of actors speak in that majestic, commanding way is extremely satisfying. Something that’s amplified by the scale of The Lion in Winter, the detail and expansive nature of the sets is a joy to behold. It’s a quality that’s often lost with today’s cinema.
The costume work is superb and the texture of the visual is brilliant, which is even further improved with its new 4K restoration. Anthony Harvey’s direction is also very strong, there’s some unusual shot choices to be found among its traditional style. Harvey peppers The Lion in Winter with personality without removing it from the usual realm, which is really interesting to watch unfold.
The Lion in Winter is filled with phenomenal performances and a highlight of a stellar career from the marvellous Katharine Hepburn. It’s absolutely worth watching for the cast alone and if you’re already a fan, the 4K restoration makes it even more worth re-visiting. However, it moves very slowly, dragging its heels to really sink its teeth into the real flesh of this story and it’s the one element holding it back.
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