Henry V Essay Research Paper email dunlopteleplexnettitle free essay sample

Henry V Essay, Research Paper electronic mail: dunlop @ teleplex.nettitle: Henry VA COMPARISON OF OLIVIER S AND BRANAGH S FILM ADAPTATION OF HENRY V The intent of this paper is to compare and contrast two movie versions of William Shakespeare s Henry V. Laurence Olivier s alteration was filmed in 1944. This was his first enterprise at movie directing and Henry V won him an Academy award for distinguished achievement as an histrion, a manufacturer, and a manager. Olivier s purpose was to bring forth an entertaining patriot movie for propaganda intents. We will write a custom essay sample on Henry V Essay Research Paper email dunlopteleplexnettitle or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Kenneth Branagh was besides the manager and star of his version of Henry V. This film gained Branagh international attending. His end was to emphasize the desolation of war. Laurence Olivier s film was produced during World War II. The British authorities gave its permission for Olivier s project because it was to be a loyal movie used for propaganda intents. The aim of the movie was to rouse the memories of the British to a past glorious triumph against a European enemy ( in this instance the Gallic non the Germans ) at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 ( hypertext transfer protocol: //chomsky.arts.adelaide.edu.au /person/DHart/Films/HenryVOlivier.html ) . Olivier s purpose was to do an entertaining patriot movie that would make trueness to the British state and pride in its civilization and history. The movie was dedicated to the ranger and airborne military personnels of Great Britain. To the rangers and airborne military personnels of Great Britain the spirit of whose ascendants i t has been meekly attempted to recapture in some resulting scenes, this movie is dedicated ( Henry V, Olivier ) Olivier omitted about one-quarter of Shakespeare s drama in order to stress the conflict of Agincourt. The conflict was non realistic. There was no blood or enduring shown. The twenty-four hours was cheery and bright. The scenery was non really realistic either. It was a beautiful countryside that looked similar to a picture or scenery used for a drama, instead than a film. The conflict scenes showed the British as really brave and elevated war. This was done because Britain was at this clip involved in World War II, and the movie was really popular with the wartime audiences. It ran for 5 months in London and 46 hebdomads on Broadway ( hypertext transfer protocol: //chomsky.arts.adelaide.edu.au/person/DHart/Films/HenryVOlivier. hypertext markup language ) . Contrary to Olivier s end to laud war, Kenneth Branagh wanted to demo the desolation of war. In Branagh s movie, the Battle at Agincourt was really realistic. The conflict was scaring and bloody. It showed many hurt and dead work forces and Equus caballuss. Kenneth Branagh said, All the blood-and-guts was rather calculated. In fact, if eyewitness histories of the Battle of Agincourt are to be believed, we were instead modest in our representation of it. It was really unpleasant, undignified, inelegant abattoir. ( file: ///Ul/win95.lab/Desktop/HenryVBranagh.html ) . Branagh s conflict took topographic point on a dark showery twenty-four hours. The work forces fought in the clay, and the H2O on the land turned ruddy from the blood. His movie was made after the Vietnam War, and some feel the movie could be called anti-war because of its realistic portraiture of the desolation of war. William Shakespeare used war in many of his dramas. He appeared to keep the position that peace made a society soft and effete ( like the Gallic tribunal in Henry V ) and that war was a utile thing at times because it m ade a society tough and healthy. Weak elements were destroyed and the stronger elements were given room to turn and boom ( hypertext transfer protocol: //chronsky.arts.adelaide.edu.au/person/DHart/Films/HenryVOlivier.html ) . This is the position that Laurence Olivier used in his movie. On the other manus, Branagh s position on war was different. In his movie, war was considered sometimes necessary, but all attempt should be made to avoid it because of the desolation it caused. Another characteristic that showed Olivier s movie was done for propaganda intents and besides showed his position on war was the manner he portrayed the Gallic. In his movie the Gallic characters were amusing and slightly feminine. The Gallic King appeared weak and stupid. His eyes were pouching. In one scene, he fainted from fright of the English. At the terminal of the film when King Henry and King Charles met to discourse the footings of peace, Queen Isabel does a batch of the speaking for King Charles. The other Lords of the Gallic tribunal were besides depicted as foolish characters. Before the conflict, one knight had to be lowered on to his Equus caballus by ropes. This showed their folly, and it besides showed that even though the Gallic were to a great extent armed and outnumbered the English, the English conquered them. The Gallic knights sit black Equus caballuss but King Henry of England rode a white Equus caballus which was symbolic of good and evil. Branagh s word picture of the Gallic sovereign and aristocracy was more realistic than Olivier s and non amusing. In this film, King Charles appeared disquieted and concerned and Queen Isabel does non look. Branagh does demo patriotism because he portrays the English as much braver and smarter than the Gallic and more willing to do great forfeits for their state. Olivier s movie began as a phase presentation in Shakespearian clip with an audience and bit by bit developed into a film. Throughout the film much of the scenery looked more like scenery used in a drama. In the gap scene, where the bishops were seeking to warrant Henry V s right to assail France, it was really amusing. On the other manus, Kenneth Branagh s movie was a more realistic serious version with flashbacks of the yesteryear. The same scene with the bishops was really solemn.Olivier left out the scenes about offenses against humanity committed by the English. Branagh reinstated these scenes. His film included the exe cuting of King Henry s friend Bardolph for his war offense of robbing a church. It besides had the dismissal of three of King Henry s friends for confederacy and lese majesty. Branagh besides showed war offenses of stealing from the dead committed by the English on the battleground. Olivier besides left out the barbaric menace made to the governor of Harfleur by King Henry and the violent behaviour Henry displayed before his war cabinet.Both Olivier and Branagh depicted King Henry as a brave and sensitive soldier. They both saw the King as baronial but besides as a scheming politician. He used the clergy to warrant his invasion of France. He claims to worry about the demands of his work forces, but he entered the war for some personal aspiration. His courage and love for his work forces are shown in his moving addresss. His soft side is besides shown when he tries to carry Princess Katherine to love him. Branagh truly captured King Henry s sensitive and caring personality when the d og-tired King carried the dead male child to his grave. There were many similarities in the composing of Olivier s and Branagh s version of Shakespeare s drama Henry V, but there were besides differences. Branagh s version would likely appeal more to modern audiences than Olivier s because it was a more realistic word picture. The costumes and pageantry were much more luxuriant in Olivier s movie. Both managers utilized patriotism in their movies. In both movies, King Henry s address to his work forces before the conflict of Agincourt would stir utmost trueness, pride, and bravery in the English. In Branagh s version, the scene after the conflict where the King carried the dead male child to his grave and the vocalizing of Non Nobis which claimed God was on Henry s side, showed the horror of war, but it besides created a strong feeling of pride in the King and the state of England. Olivier displays the English flag more than Branagh, and at the terminal of his movie when Henry and K atherine marry, he shows the English and Gallic symbols unifying. Both Laurence Olivier and Kenneth Branagh were great Shakespearian histrions and managers. They both used Shakespeare s drama and made movies that attracted audiences of their clip. Bibliographyhttp: //chomsky.arts.adelaide.edu.au/person/DHart/Films/HenryVOlivier.htmlClassic Film Scripts: Henry V by William Shakespeare. Produced and Directed byLaurence Olivier. ( London: Dolby Corporation, 1978 ) . file: ///Ul/win95.lab/Desktop/HenryvBranagh.html