I had seen the Kenneth Branagh remake prior to this original, but I can see why this is considered a film to put in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, from producer and debuting director Lord Sir Laurence Olivier. Based on the play by William Shakespeare, the film starts in London's Globe Theatre with the story of the film being seen as a play, with King Henry V of England (Oscar nominated Olivier) hearing that his country face war against France. Then after thirty minutes it goes into the epic cinematic mode where the youthful monarch proves his ability as a skillful leader and soldier for his army going to Agincourt. Henry and the French court try to bring peace, and he woos Princess Katharine (Renée Asherson) as he was betrothed to her anyway as part of the peace agreement, and all is settled in the end, going back to the play set-up. Also starring Robert Newton as Ancient Pistol, Leslie Banks as Chorus, Esmond Knight as Fluellen, Leo Genn as The Constable of France, Ralph Truman as Mountjoy - The French Herald, Harcourt Williams as King Charles VI of France, Ivy St. Helier as Alice, Ernest Thesiger as Duke of Berri - French Ambassador, Max Adrian as The Dauphin, Francis Lister as Duke of Orleans, Valentine Dyall as Duke of Burgundy, Russell Thorndike as Duke of Bourbon, Michael Shepley as Gower, John Laurie as Jamy, Niall MacGinnis as Macmorris, Felix Aylmer as Archbishop of Canterbury, Nicholas Hannen as Duke of Exeter, Robert Helpmann as Bishop of Ely, Freda Jackson as Mistress Quickly, Jimmy Hanley as Williams and George Robey as Sir John Falstaff. Both the direction and the leading performance by Olivier are very good, the idea of opening in the play format is quite clever, and the battle sequence is a good bit of spectacle for the slightly confusing dialogue, a colourful classic historical drama. It was nominated the Oscars for Best Art Direction-Interior Decoration, Best Music for William Walton, the Honorary Award for outstanding achievement as actor, producer and director for Olivier, and Best Picture. Very good!