The Film of Henry V - Essay Example

THE FILM HENRY V Introduction The film Henry V, is a film that was based on the play ‘The life of Henry the Fifth’ written by William Shakespeare to depict the life and times of the famous English king. The film has been directed, filmed, and acted by Laurence Olivier in the 1940’s, and later by Kenneth Branagh in 1989. Both films seek to portray the implications of the king going into war, personal doubts of the king about the war and his resolution and strategies to win the war. In production of Olivier’s film, it was meant to boost the morale of British Armies. The Differences in the Films in Depictions of War In the film by Olivier, Harry the king is depicted as a larger than life personality, a legend in making and a hero. Branagh on the other hand depicts Harry as a common person wearing the big shoes of being a king and making integral decisions that will affect the whole nation. Olivier’s film was to boost the morale during the Second World War, while Branagh’s film, was meant to be cynical and criticize the government for its involvement in the Vietnam’s war. Both films are different in the way they present the character traits of Harry. In the introduction of the film, the former interactions of Harry with his subordinates, disguising himself in order to learn what his men thought of his decisions and actions, and his romantic intentions towards Princess Katherine. An audience’s perceptions and impression of a character is influenced by their entry on stage. Oliver and Branagh give Harry different stage entrances. Branagh in his pursuit to present the king as a regular man, he first shows the king hidden in the shadows until he speaks quietly showing his inner turmoil on deciding to join the war despite the repercussions that will come with it. Olivier however, begins by the king clearing his throat when entering the stage amidst a thunderous applause from the audience; Harry’s character is elongated by the director’s decision to downplay the image of the Olivier as the actor, these theatrical performances are used through out the film. Although Branagh shows an imposing and authoritative trait of Harry when addressing Dauphin, he seldom seek to chaste the public, unlike Olivier who give his speeches using a public voice, which is influenced by addressing the live audience and in the efforts of portraying the king as a legend and as a hero. Moreover, when trying to highlight the life of the king and his cast in the past, both directors handle it differently. Olivier eliminates sections in his film that show the king doing away with his former acquaintances unlike Branagh who writes in detail what transpired. Olivier eliminates these sections of Harry banishing his friends and mentor, since they will tarnish the image and character of the king, which will undermine his authority as king. Branagh however, informs about the relationship between Harry and Scrope as a reason for Falstaff being banished, and Harry’s inner turmoil for allowing Bardolph to be hanged despite his betrayal. Branagh use flashbacks to inform the audience about the past while Olivier prefers to use the memories of other cast members. Olivier films Falstaff in his deathbed reminiscing of what transpired, but include the section when Falstaff’s comrades still decide to follow the orders of the king to go to war. Branagh shows the king is human by showing his remorsefulness and sadness of the hanging of Bardolph, even when Bardolph had betrayed him, which Olivier is unwilling to do. Other instances when Olivier decides to excise scenes and Branagh does otherwise is like the scenes when Harry threatens Harfleur with a speech which depicts nasty atrocities of battles, Branagh softens the threat by showing Harry’s relief upon Harfleur surrendering, and showing Harry exhausted after the war. Other differences occur in depicting the happenings during the war. The film by Branagh shows ghastly and bloody scenes when young boys in the English camp were killed and relieving the shock, and tension by introducing the scene when Harry courts Princess Katherine. Olivier prefers to portraying heroism except during the execution of the boys by the French Dauphin, bodyguards and noble men. Olivier when showing the love scene shows certainty and total fulfilment by Harry, by showing rings on the couple’s fingers with red colour to symbolize England and blue colour symbolizing France, to signify unity of England and France. Branagh nevertheless, who shows signs of doubts on Harry’s actions and thoughts when courting the princess. Branagh shows the human side of the king when Harry is boyish when talking and courting the Princess and there is uncertainty revealed which Olivier does not agree to depict. Branagh is willing to portray that may be the marriage proposal was not merely a romantic move but politically initiated, when King Charles gives Harry the go ahead to marry his daughter, Branagh plays Harry wearing a facial look that leaves the audience wondering if the joining of Harry and Katherine is purely romance or if its politically motivated. Moreover, Harry reading out his marriage vows as written by Queen Isabel gives the audience the feeling that it is politically motivated. In addition, when Harry disguises himself in a moment of doubt to find out what the soldiers thought of him, the three soldiers discuss the repercussions of the war. Olivier treats their discussion as normal soldier talk while Branagh views it as the soldiers are declaring their protests of the wars. There is a difference in tone as Harry is in soliloquy, Olivier plays the part in a voice over monologue wondering why his soldiers do not take him as one of their own and kneels down to pray for their courage. Branagh however, Harry speaks in a loud voice and kneels to pray for forgiveness of his family’s sins. Just as the mode of entrance of Harry on the stage was integral in both films to depict the character of the king, so is the ending. In the final set, the Chorus speech does not depicts or informs the audience what happens later on in the play unlike Branagh who decides the Chorus to depict the events after the play. Olivier preferred to use archetypes unlike Branagh who from the archetypes builds up his own real and humane characters. Similarities of in the Films in Depictions of War The films by Olivier and Branagh although filmed and acted at different time of history and for different purposes, they are similar. They both decide that, for the characterization of Harry to grow and develop through out the film, they gave him memorable and captivating grand entrances. Branagh in his pursuit to present the king as a regular man, he first shows the king hidden in the shadows until he speaks quietly showing his inner turmoil on deciding to join the war despite the repercussions that will come with it. Olivier however, begins by the king clearing his throat when entering the stage amidst a thunderous applause from the audience. Olivier and Branagh, they allow the audience to get a preview of Harry’s past and are both keen to show Falstaff, Harry’s former mentor. They inform about his relationship with Harry leading to his banishment from the king’s presence. Both directors show Falstaff dying and the sadness and sorrow felt by his fellow comrades in his tavern. Both indicate that Harry has to make significant decisions to matters that propelled his role as a king. There are scenes however; both writers do not bring Harry. In the efforts to capture and maintain the audience’s sympathies on the English Army, the directors exclude a scene where Harry is ordering his armies to kill French prisoners during the Agincourt battle. Showing Harry’s human side is played in both films. In Olivier’s film, which is most unusual, it shows Harry in a moment of weakness and doubt of the loyalty of his soldiers. He joins the soldiers in doubts of the war and discuss if there was a good reason to go to war in the first place, and what punishments await the leader who authorized the soldiers to join the war. Branagh and Olivier show Harry bending to his knees to pray for his soldiers. Both films include scenes that depict Harry falling in love and courting Katherine. They also include him meeting King Charles to ask his daughters hand in marriage. Both films use these scenes to break the tension in the previous scenes of the execution of the boys by the French. Moreover, the union of Harry and Princess are used symbolically by the authors to show the coming together of England and France. This is shown when at the end of the scene, the films shows Harry and Princess Katherine interlocking their hands, wearing engagement rings with red and blue colours. The colour red is used to symbolize England and the blue colour to symbolize France. The interlocking hands meant that both countries were now in union. On the wedding ceremony, the couple is dressed in white gowns with blue and red colour jewels on their crowns to symbolize the initiation of peace process between France and England. Their union is seen to have an inkling of political motivation rather than pure romance. Both films although different in content, just as it was important to have a distinct entrance for Harry to develop his characterization, they decides to play the Chorus speech at the start and end of the films to set the scenes of the play tone. Olivier and Branagh both direct the films by using archetypes and they make the texts of William Shakespeare more accessible. Both films are purposely done to depict reasons and strategies used in invasions during the Second World War and the implications of such wars. Conclusion There are two versions of the play Henry V, as played by Olivier in the year 1944, to boost the morale of the British soldiers during the Second World War. The film was later played by Branagh in 1989, to criticize and challenge the government decision to go to war in Vietnam. Both films are based on the play ‘‘The life of Henry the Fifth’ written by William Shakespeare. The films has differences like Olivier who depicts Harry as a hero with a huge personality, while Branagh depicts him as regular person with big shoes to fill in. other differences is observed when Olivier excise some scenes which Branagh shows in details. However, they share similarities. Both films give the star grand entrances that help develop the characterization of Harry, they both use the Chorus, show Harry in moment of weakness and doubt and both direct the films by using archetypes and they make the texts of William Shakespeare more accessible. Read More