I'm a sucker for Shakespeare.
Particularly the histories, and particularly Henry V, especially with Kenneth Branagh in the lead.
We few. We happy few. We band of brothers
We are but warriors for the working day
Unlike the French knights, the English had no professional standing army. Farmers and labourers fought alongside the nobility. I don't know if you know the story, but most schoolboys of my generation did, back in the day when history was all dates, and monarchs and battles! How King Harry's tiny, weary army defeated three times their number at Agincourt, and the flower of French nobility was wiped out. Henry V married Catherine of France, but died just before he became King of France too.
I don't usually do jingoism, but Shakespeare could turn out a line! I saw the premier of this film in 1989(?) in London, and the whole cinema erupted at the end of the Crispin Day speech.
And I once saw Branagh on stage as Richard III. The point where he woos the grieving Lady Anne over the coffin of her husband he has only recently murdered...
Was ever woman in this humour woo'd? Was ever woman in this humour won?
As Branagh left the stage, he paused and turned to the audience. He raised an eyebrow and....just looked at us. As if daring us to criticise him. It was the most faultless piece of acting I have ever seen. Pure magic.
And did you spot a young Christian Bale in that clip?
Particularly the histories, and particularly Henry V, especially with Kenneth Branagh in the lead.
We few. We happy few. We band of brothers
We are but warriors for the working day
Unlike the French knights, the English had no professional standing army. Farmers and labourers fought alongside the nobility. I don't know if you know the story, but most schoolboys of my generation did, back in the day when history was all dates, and monarchs and battles! How King Harry's tiny, weary army defeated three times their number at Agincourt, and the flower of French nobility was wiped out. Henry V married Catherine of France, but died just before he became King of France too.
I don't usually do jingoism, but Shakespeare could turn out a line! I saw the premier of this film in 1989(?) in London, and the whole cinema erupted at the end of the Crispin Day speech.
And I once saw Branagh on stage as Richard III. The point where he woos the grieving Lady Anne over the coffin of her husband he has only recently murdered...
Was ever woman in this humour woo'd? Was ever woman in this humour won?
As Branagh left the stage, he paused and turned to the audience. He raised an eyebrow and....just looked at us. As if daring us to criticise him. It was the most faultless piece of acting I have ever seen. Pure magic.
And did you spot a young Christian Bale in that clip?
VIEW 12 of 12 COMMENTS
secretary:
I miss your reasoned tones around here. x
sherrillee:
I hope all is well with you. Miss you!