The Lion in Winter
A movie so audacious, so brash, so…smart. This movie could not be made today, and as an audience, we should be saddened by that prospect. Such films should not be so entertaining, but “The Lion in Winter” is a historical work that also rates as great entertainment.
The title of Anthony Harvey’s film, based on the play by James Goldman, has become synonymous with an old man at the end of his life, looking to have his will done after he has passed on. Writers were that good back in the day- it’s rare to see such things happen now. Of course, as Henry II says in this film, there is another King we know who tried to do that- one we know as Lear- and madness was his curse.
Goldman’s story is a work of historical fiction- the events in this story didn’t happen exactly but the resolutions at the end are accurate. His Henry II is a bombastic one, the monarch of a family of clever and bitter children and an equally-scheming wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, he keeps locked away except for special occasions. Such one has come about in the Christmas Court in 1183. Held in the town Chinon in an old castle, Henry has convened his family, his mistress Alais, and King Phillip of France to the court so that a deal can be made as to who his successor will be made. Henry wants John, the weakest, while Eleanor wants Richard, the strongest, but there’s another one- Geoffrey- who has the smarts and greed to turn everyone against everyone else.
The film turns clearly on the performances of Peter O’Toole as Henry and Katharine Hepburn as Eleanor. Their adoration for each other is just as powerful as the bile they spew towards each other- their verbal sparring is rough poetry and a masterpiece of writing. O’Toole’s performance goes over the top in a way that enhances the drama rather than hinders it. I was reminded of Daniel Day Lewis’ turn in “There Will Be Blood” watching the film again, only instead of Paul Dano’s young preacher, O’Toole’s Henry has a number of adversaries to spar with. His is a family where love is second to loyalty, and personal ambitions are more important than civility. The result is mesmerizing to watch. The story may have originated on the stage, but Harvey, Goldman and his actors make it pop on the screen.
Hepburn is his equal in one of her four Oscar-winning roles. Only an actress of her stature and talent could match up with O’Toole’s tour de force. They are arguably one of the great screen couples as we see them bait and switch one another as the destiny of Henry’s kingdom is decided. As their sons, Anthony Hopkins (in his first film) as Richard, John Castle as Geoffrey, and Nigel Terry as John create vivid characters, with different personalities and a natural intelligence that goes with each character. Passions run high, especially when you throw Dalton’s Phillip into the mix.
Most historical pieces nowadays are somewhat stogy affairs- pretty to look at, and intelligent and well-acted, but they don’t really live long in the memory. What sets “The Lion in Winter” apart is the power of its’ melodrama, the literacy of its’ script and dialogue, and the fire in its’ acting. It may be a story of royalty, but the dilemmas are universal. How we love. How we die. And most importantly, how we live. I don’t know that we could have a better pair to witness in such a story as we do here. These two will ride out the good and bad together, and in the end, neither can question their admiration for one another. You can’t take your eyes off of them. Their last exchange together is classic:
Henry: “I hope we never die!”
Eleanor: “So do I.”
Henry: “Do you think there’s any chance of it?”
No three sentences sum up their relationship in this film better. Thankfully, the rest of the film is pretty terrific as well.
