Laurence Olivier was a talented actor, producer, and director. He was the Sylvester Stallone of Shakespeare (although much better looking and capable of speaking full sentences). This is one of his finest performances, along with Hamlet four years later, which won him the Academy Award for Best Actor.
In this film, the color print is magnificent. There must be more colors in several frames of this films than a giant box of crayola crayons. The cinematography is outstanding, and the clever editing from the Globe theater to the open fields of Agincourt are almost seamless. I choose not to compare this version with the Kenneth Branagh version of Henry V half a century later. It would be unfair to compare the two. Both are quite excellent. One exception, though. In the Branagh version, the battle is fought in a foggy rain, but in the Olivier version, it is bright and sunny. Which was the more historically correct one? I really don't know. Will have to ask Quora. Also enjoyed Robert Newton hamming it up in a few scenes that were appropriately filmed at the Boar's Head Inn. Great acting.
In this film, the color print is magnificent. There must be more colors in several frames of this films than a giant box of crayola crayons. The cinematography is outstanding, and the clever editing from the Globe theater to the open fields of Agincourt are almost seamless. I choose not to compare this version with the Kenneth Branagh version of Henry V half a century later. It would be unfair to compare the two. Both are quite excellent. One exception, though. In the Branagh version, the battle is fought in a foggy rain, but in the Olivier version, it is bright and sunny. Which was the more historically correct one? I really don't know. Will have to ask Quora. Also enjoyed Robert Newton hamming it up in a few scenes that were appropriately filmed at the Boar's Head Inn. Great acting.