Lion in Winter

UPC: 027616858979

Studio: MGM

MPAA Rating: PG   Contains:[Adult Situations]

Summary: The year is 1183. Like many a modern-day politician, Britain's King Henry II (Peter O'Toole) finds it occasionally useful to take his wife out of mothballs and parade her before the public. Henry's Queen Eleanor (Katharine Hepburn), long exiled to a faraway castle, is "invited" to join Henry and their three sons for a family reunion. In this way, Henry hopes to maintain a stronghold on his Empire and to prevent the balance of power from shifting to Eleanor or to one of his sons: Richard the Lion-Hearted (Anthony Hopkins in his movie debut), Prince Geoffrey (John Castle), or Prince John (Nigel Terry). Also on hand for the get-together is Henry's mistress Princess Alais (Jane Merrow) -- who covets the King's influence -- and the Princess' brother, King Philip of France (Timothy Dalton). Despite Henry's efforts to keep his wife and offspring at arms' length (and away from the throne), Eleanor successfully reunites the brood, assuring that her power will not only be restored, but will last long after her death. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Category: Historical Film

Awards: Anthony Asquith Award – British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best Actress – British Academy of Film and Television Arts Best Picture - Drama – null Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama – null Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama – null Best Supporting Actress – null Best Director – null Best Screenplay – null Best Original Score – null Best Actor – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Actress – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Adapted Screenplay – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Costume Design – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Director – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Picture – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Original Score – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Picture – National Board of Review Best Picture – New York Film Critics Circle Best Original Score – Hollywood Foreign Press Association Best Screenplay – Hollywood Foreign Press Association Best Director – Hollywood Foreign Press Association Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Moti – Hollywood Foreign Press Association Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama – Hollywood Foreign Press Association Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama – Hollywood Foreign Press Association Best Picture - Drama – Hollywood Foreign Press Association Best Director – Directors Guild of America

Features: Audio commentary by director Anthony Harvey
Original theatrical trailer
French and Spanish subtitles

Lion in Winter

Format: Digital Video Disc (DVD)

Release Date: 06/19/2001

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Cinemascope

Audio: 5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1, 1 USA & territories, Canada

Runtime: 135 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English

Subtitles: English,French,Spanish

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Side #1 --
0. Scene Selection
1. Logo/Main Title [2:56]
2. Unlike King Lear [:07]
3. Christmas Reunion [3:17]
4. 3 Kings, One Kingdom [4:12]
5. The "Boy" Of France [1:14]
6. Richard Gets All [6:22]
7. Geoffrey's Plan [2:55]
8. A Deal For Eleanor [5:06]
9. The Sudden Wedding [5:31]
10. "We Are The Killers!" [3:08]
11. King Philip's Bedroom [7:28]
12. "Ive Lost My Boys" [1:25]
13. Henry's Future Son [2:37]
14. Never Let Them Out [5:32]
15. The Family Dungeon [1:44]
16. 'Till Easter/Credits [6:56]

Mike Cummings

Barbed tongues wound to the quick in this James Goldman screenplay about England's King Henry II (1133-1189) and his dysfunctional family. Peter O'Toole dominates the film with his forceful portrayal of the legendary Henry. As ruler of a vast Anglo-Norman kingdom, the 50-year-old monarch holds sway over all that he sees -- except his wife and three sons. At Christmas, the family gathers in Chinon, France, as Henry considers who will inherit the crown. He favors John (Nigel Terry). His estranged wife and queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine (Katharine Hepburn), favors Richard (Anthony Hopkins). His third son, Geoffrey (John Castle), bitter that no one has championed his cause, schemes for the leavings of power. And then Henry fires the first salvo of the verbal war: "What should we hang -- the holly or each other?" O'Toole gives one of his finest performances, spitting volleys of sarcasm and mockery at his wife and sons. Hepburn as the queen, returns insult for insult while also acknowledging that embers of love for Henry -- whose mistress abides nearby -- continue to burn. Meanwhile, the sons plot against Henry and each other. Hopkins, as Richard, gets the prize for delivering the best verbal low blow when he calls crybaby John a "walking pustule." Metaphors of better and more elegant quality season the dialogue throughout the film, allowing the actors to wring brilliance from their tongues. Credit writer Goldman, who adapted the script from his own play, for this achievement. During the film, the choral music of John Barry sets an appropriately ominous mood. And director Anthony Harvey occasionally mixes in action sequences, featuring poised lances and gleaming daggers, to pick up the pace. The costumes, the gloomy castle, and the clip-clop of snorting steeds, all accent the period ambience, but in the end it is the wonderful acting -- in particular O'Toole's and Hepburn's -- that carries the day and makes The Lion in Winter a masterpiece worth viewing again and again. ~ Mike Cummings, Rovi

Cast and Crew: O.Z. Whitehead  Actor 
Kenneth Griffith  Actor 
Henry Woolf  Actor 
John Barry  Composer (Music Score) 
James Goldman  Screenwriter 
Anthony Harvey  Director 
Joseph E. Levine  Executive Producer 
Martin Poll  Producer 
Peter O'Toole  Actor 
Katharine Hepburn  Actor 
Jane Merrow  Actor 
John Castle  Actor 
Timothy Dalton  Actor 
Anthony Hopkins  Actor 
Nigel Stock  Actor 
Nigel Terry  Actor 

Country: UK