Article

2007-10-25 -Short Attention Span Theater-

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Mike 2007-10-25 12:58|| || Front Page|| [3 views ] Top

#1 Both the Sir Lawrence Olivier and Kenneth Branagh version are top notch. Branagh was reportedly scared to death, because Henry V was regarded as Olivier's second best Shakespeare performance after Richard III.

Posted by Anonymoose 2007-10-25 17:09|| 2007-10-25 17:09|| Front Page Top

#2 Branagh's Henry V is sheer genius, unafraid to portray a Christian King in a Christian age. Olivier's is a 'Public School' version.

Posted by Lampedusa Craviting2407 2007-10-25 18:24|| 2007-10-25 18:24|| Front Page Top

#3 When I saw Branagh give that speech, it transfixed me and gave me goosebumps all over.

Wow.

Don't remember if I ever saw Olivier do it, but it couldn't have been as inspiring. (Olivier was an excellent actor, but he was too poncey for this.)

Posted by Barbara Skolaut">Barbara Skolaut 2007-10-25 18:48|| http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/]">[http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/] 2007-10-25 18:48|| Front Page Top

#4 Have to agree with all here...Branagh's recitation is one for the ages.

Posted by Rex Mundi 2007-10-25 19:08|| 2007-10-25 19:08|| Front Page Top

#5 Please remember that Olivier's version was made in 1943 on just a tiny budget. The chain mail was made of knitted wool, because of metal shortage.

Remember also that it was wildly successful in raising British morale during a critical part of the war. It was no surprise that he was knighted in 1947.

Posted by Anonymoose 2007-10-25 20:04|| 2007-10-25 20:04|| Front Page Top

#6 And, it's the anniversary of three of the greatest battles of all time:

The Battle of Agincourt, 1415

The Battle off Samar, part of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, 1944

Game 6, 1975 World Series. As Roger Angell wrote in Agincourt and After, “Game Six, Game Six … what can we say of it without seeming to diminish it by recapitulation or dull it with detail? Those of us who were there will remember it, surely, as long as we have any baseball memory, and those who wanted to be there and were not will be sorry always. Crispin Crispian: for Red Sox fans, this was Agincourt.”

Posted by Eric Jablow">Eric Jablow 2007-10-25 20:54|| 2007-10-25 20:54|| Front Page Top

#7 EJ...that was awesome!

Posted by Rex Mundi 2007-10-25 21:34|| 2007-10-25 21:34|| Front Page Top

#8 Elder Daughters were so taken with Branagh's film that they and I learned the "Non Nobis" and sang it in the car for a long time afterward.

Posted by mom">mom 2007-10-25 23:14|| http://idontknowbut.blogspot.com]">[http://idontknowbut.blogspot.com] 2007-10-25 23:14|| Front Page Top

23:41 JosephMendiola
23:37 JosephMendiola
23:32 JosephMendiola
23:14 mom
23:00 Anguper Hupomosing9418
23:00 Zenster
22:53 trailing wife
22:50 trailing wife
22:48 Anguper Hupomosing9418
22:45 g(r)omgoru
22:43 Frank G
22:38 Red Dawg
22:34 Pappy
22:33 trailing wife
22:31 trailing wife
22:28 Red Dawg
22:27 trailing wife
22:22 Zenster
22:19 trailing wife
22:12 Old Patriot
22:05 Zenster
22:03 Pheagar the Imposter4243
22:01 Alaska Paul
22:00 Zenster