MovieChat Forums > The Lion in Winter (2004) Discussion > The Roles of Philip and Geoffrey (spoile...

The Roles of Philip and Geoffrey (spoilers/historica l accounts)


This is not a gripe. Just an opinion.

Now, I know that the play and the films called for a certain physical relationship to happen between Richard and Philip. It was worked out rather well in the films but considering a historical account of close friendship between Geoffrey and Philip, if the relationship of what I speak was to occur between those two characters instead of the one between Philip and Richard it would have been better. My reasoning is that Geoffrey and Philip are both intelligent, ruthless and tactical geniouses. They are so alike which is why such a thing would have worked. And, they were historical allies, plus there is the account of Philip wanting to run into the coffin of Geoffrey's upon his death, because of their close friendship which is my basis for such an opinion, would have worked out rather well. It would have been more believable, or at least it would have been for me.

That Is All.
The End
Good-Bye.

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Psychologically they're a great match, even more obviously in this remake than in the original. However, the historical Richard is apparently known to have been homosexual and Geoffrey is not. The play is not strictly accurate but it works with the known history in an essentially faithful way. You can't make two people want to bed each other just because they have a fabulous meeting of the minds. No more than you can make Geoffrey king because he seems (based on the movie) to be by far the smartest and most capable.

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