MovieChat Forums > Henry V (1989) Discussion > Favourite scene?

Favourite scene?

posted 18 years ago by IsoldeJaneHolland
44 replies | jump to latest

I have three that I've seen many times. The glorious St.Crispin's Day
Speech of course, for many the highlight of this play since it was
written. The horrible walk across the devestation of the battlefield
as Non Nobis soars on the soundtrack. And the wonderful and witty wooing
of Princess Catherine of Valois. We really needed that to relax after
those harrowing Agincourt scenes. All so lovely, every second. "Oh Kate,
nice customs curtsy to great kings" "Any more French will hang upon my
tongue like a new married wife around her husband's neck, hardly to be
shook off". It's a great scene.

But does anyone else think Katherine's lady-in-waiting might fancy him
a bit herself? Just a little!

[–] cleokyt 18 years ago

Wooing of Catherine, hands down. More than the St. Crispin speech, even. It's just so fun and witty and a joy to watch.

Plus, it looks like Kenneth and Emma were having a blast there.

[–] pygmalion6 18 years ago

One of my favorites is Brian Blessed as Exeter delivering his message to the French court that the English king is coming. Both his physical size and the deepness of his voice carries the line: "in thunder and in earthquake, like a Jove". The threatening music score as he strolled in helped, too. It's easy to imagine King Charles wetting his pants at that delivery!

But it is hard to pick out the best bits. Derek Jacobi delivered his lines in a way that made me appreciate Shakespeare's poetry even more, especially when describing England like a "little body with a mighty heart" or describing the long night before Agincourt as a foul witch "limping tediously away." I knew what it all meant years before when I read it, but his attention on the word "teeeediously" make you appreciate it in a new way.

Quite right you disqualified the St. Crispin's Day speech, because it'd be a runaway. Every time I watch that, it makes me want get in time machine, go back, and enlist!!

[–] jake-425 17 years ago

mine is the St. Crispin's speech, the battle and the latin song they sang, very good chior.

-jake

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] mechmaniac 17 years ago

Crispin and Nobis go without saying, but I must admit the wooing of Catherine was my favorite... it felt the most genuine out of anything I've ever seen.

When they both start to giggle at the same time, it felt so real I had to start laughing with them, that's the point in watching a film when you realize the actors have done their job at pulling you in when you didn't expect it. A pleasure to watch.

"There may be honor among thieves, but there's none in politicians. "

[–] BwlBoy 17 years ago

The end credits. Anyone who suggests they can fully understand the dialogue in this film is lying unless they have spent years studying Olde English. I had absolutely no idea how to decipher the dialogue but I suppose I'm prejudiced because I hate Shakespeare. Hated it in school and hated it here. I will never watch this film again.

[–] Hairy_Lime 17 years ago

Actually, this is probably the best, most easily understandable, version of Shakespeare around. My wife, for whom English is in fact her third language, had little problem with it. Well, enjoy that Jackass rental.

Anyway, to the subject, yes, yes, obviously the St. Crispan Day speech, one of the greatest speeches in Englsih literature, but I have always loved the "Once more unto the breach dear friends once more!" speech as well. If anything is going to rouse you into battle, Henry V will do it.

And I loved Emma Thompson's scenes, both the wooing scene and the scene where she practices English. Oh, and every scene with Brian Blessed.

*******************************

The invention of color photography is a mistake from which the movies have never wholly recovered.

[–] tenkisoratoti 17 years ago

The battle scene.

It felt about more real than the scenes from Gladiator, Braveheart and the Kingdom of Heaven. The puddles of blood, mud and dramatic music make it perhaps the greatest battle scene I've ever seen on film.

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] BwlBoy 16 years ago

If Shakespeare wrote in modern English then fair enough I won't debate you but would you care to tell me who in the modern world today converses or writes in his style? No-one! To each their own but I cannot for the life of me see the attraction of films which are faithful to Shakespeare's writings and therefore make no sense today. The best films about Shakespeare plays are those loosely based on them, examples include Kiss me Kate (The Taming of the Shrew) and Kurosawa's Throne of Blood (Macbeth). I think it's refreshing when people question the validity of Shakespeare in the modern world of literature.

[–] delriosong 7 years ago

We understand already. You have a feeble command of your primary language and a childish need to display your ignorance and opinionated nature on the internet.

To each their own but I cannot for the life of me see the attraction of films which are faithful to Shakespeare's writings and therefore make no sense today.

The attraction is the faithfulness to the original language. Shakespeare used words to greater effect than any other writer in the English language. His work features many levels of meaning. The people who are fans, are fans because of the language, not in spite of it.

Hundreds of films have been shot using original dialog from Shakespeare, his writing credits on IMDb extend from 1898-2016.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000636/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Shakespeare's works are performed on stage all over the English speaking world, continuously. People pay, at a minimum, several times the price of a film ticket to see Shakespeare's dialog on stage. They are happy to do so and most of them understand the language very well.

If your comprehension of Shakespeare's work is deficient; the fault lies not in your stars, but in yourself that you be an underling.

I've lived upon the edge of chance for 20 years or more...
Del Rio's Song

[–] dante144 17 years ago

of course.

http://DanteDreams.com/ <-My webcomic
"Jesus saves, everyone else takes damage" -Tshirt

[–] AllNightDrugProwlingWolf 17 years ago

As just about everyone has said, the stunning "Band of Brothers" speech sends chills up the spine and brings a tear to the eye of any proud Englishman.
Brannagh buries Olivier in that scene.

Brian Blessed is great as Exeter delivering terms to the French. I love the put down of the Dauphin: "Scorn and defiance, slight regard, contempt..."

Derek Jacobi does an awesome job as the Chorus.

"Play the best song in the world...or I'll eat your souls!"

[–] Smoku 16 years ago

of course the crispin`s day speech... it clearly shown what that battle was about

[–] runsliketurtle08 16 years ago

For me its the crispin's day speech (like everyone else) and at toward the begining, when Henry says "France being ours, we'll bend it to our awe/Or break it all to pieces." I just love the delivery and timing of that scene.

[–] alcockell 15 years ago

Oh- what about the "Oh FFS, what now?" reactin as the Dauphin comes back in and asks whether they'll surrender.. I love the "sit and swivel" response...

Shortly after - "Fire mission! Troops in contact, 600 metres from tree line - fire for effect"

[–] PoppyTransfusion 10 years ago

The scene between Katherine and her lady-in-waiting regarding English words for parts of the body. Rarely has Emma Thompson looked so beautiful and been so suited to a character than here.

I enjoyed Henry milling with his army the night before battle in disguise and the debate where one of the soldiers says: I'm afeared there are few die well that die in a battle ... when blood is their argument. To which Henry replies: Every subject's duty is the king's but every subject's soul is his own ... Great encounter but I was not persuaded by Henry.

Finally, the scene when Bardoulf (Briers) is hanged; Henry recalling their former acquaintance before passing final judgement.

Movement ends, intent continues;
Intent ends, spirit continues

[–] tbonesays 10 years ago

Mine is a tie between Bardolph's flashback and Henry carrying Boy to the music.

the play sure hit the highs and lows very well.

EDIT: I also like the 3 Captains scene and it's political overtones, which the THIS television station decided to cut out for more commercials this week.