I have hardly ever seen a film made before the 1960’s, and never have I seen a Laurence Olivier film. His renowned Henry V is my first and it is the second time I have seen the play being performed (Kenneth Branagh’s film is the only performance I have seen of this play). And I see why it was so great for its time and I see why it is still great for today.
It is one of the first film that I have seen from the 40’s and earlier that was filmed and edited in a more flowing, natural way than was commonly seen in films of its time. The cameras move a lot more often instead of being stationary as most films are filmed. It is difficult to put into words how the films of this time and the films of our time are different in terms of the use of cinematography. The movement of the camras looks a lot more fluid and proper than steady and solid and stationary. But when you watch an Alfred Hitchcock film of the 30’s or 40’s and even the 50’s and then you watch a thriller from today, there are more differences than just being filmed in black and white and the sound and picture quality. The way the films are shot is more different and the camera work is more agile and fluid today than it was before. The editing also helpped a lot and the cutting moves a lot quicker than it did back then. But in this film, the transition from this more stationary and slow edit of a film to the more active and quicker cut editing can be seen.
Also, the acting is quite interesting in this film. Although most of these actors are not as good or as famous as some of the major actors of the time, they all still give great performances, most especially Olivier as King Harry. The way he gives his lines shows how well he can convey Shakespeare’s dialogue. Many actors cannot convey the meaning behind the words and simply state the words as if they are reading in a high school English class reading of the play. All of the actors take their time stating their lines, carefully picking each line apart so we as an audience know exactly what we need to know to comprehend the scene. Olivier is the master, I never felt too bogged down with what he said or confused about what he is saying, because not only does he give us time to hear what he says through careful pauses, but he also uses his body language well to express his meaning. One specific scene is the famous “Once more unto the breach” and even his other famous speech, the St. Crispin’s Day speech, he expresses himself perfectly and carries himself across the field just as a king would and not in an overly dramatic presence. He speaks quickly in the “Once more unto the breach” during the invasion of Harfleur, and a lot is happening around him, what with shouting and fighting and music, but he speaks with brilliant diction that the audience can understand his words. One other great scene is the only monologue that he Harry gives, the only one he says in private. Olivier keeps the speech in his head, making it feel more of him saying it to himself rather than to us as an audience. And, again, the pauses and the fluidity of the speech are just right for the monologue.
The Chorus is used to great effect (it is difficult not to use it brilliantly because there are so many ways to depict his introductory speeches which recap the events between each acts and the Prologue introducing the need for us to believe this play is real). The opening of the film is during Shakespeare’s time, and the first scene and the Prologue are said to an Elizabethan audience in the Globe. The rest of the film does not stay on the Elizabethan stage, but still utilizes the Elizabethan clothing and architecture rather than the way Kenneth Branagh does in its historically accurate setting. Though I prefer the way Kenneth Branagh has his film version work, I still see the merit and greatness of his adaptation. The models of London in the time were not just great, but astoundingly beautiful.
Overall, I have very little to criticize about this film. It reached its audience of the average Brit to be proud to British and as a global entertainment film while still being an art house film. My first Laurence Olivier film truly was a great introduction to what I have heard is one of the geniuses of cinema history. I look forward to watching more of his films in the future and I highly recommend this film version of Henry V.
*****
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