MR+Henry+V

Henry V Comparisons

In class today we observed two different interpretations of the same scenes from Shakespeare’s Henry V. The first was directed by Laurence Olivier, and the second by Kenneth Branaugh. Olivier’s piece was upbeat and exuberant, while Branaugh’s was much more serious. The costumes and sets of Olivier’s were full of bright colors; red, yellow, and blue military outfits and military tents were shown on both the French and English camps. In Branaugh’s, the actors were clad in only grey and brown armor. Oliver’s scene takes place during a bright and sunny day that radiated optimism, yet Branaugh’s was shot in complete overcast, in the misty woods. The dark lighting gave the scene a sullen tone, as the characters are worrying about their sudden battle. That sense of worry and sadness is not apparent in Olivier’s. The actors of Olivier’s are much more joyful in their movements and the delivery of their dialogue; the four Frenchmen in the beginning deliver their lines almost jokingly to each other. Olivier’s has the overall sense of camaraderie and celebration; the character’s are optimistic that they will win their battle. I believe Olivier chose this approach, to shoot the scene in a hopeful light, to inspire the real troops of World War Two and the people suffering from the war. In 1944, moral was low and people needed the inspiration to stay positive. Olivier’s film was a moral booster, while Branaugh’s was a threatening reality. Branaugh’s actors delivered the lines in the upmost sincerity. The drum roll in between the lines of the king’s speech, the way he threatens the French messenger, and how the troops physically kiss the ground before they march into battle, all highlight the imminent danger. Branaugh’s piece is not a garish flare of optimism, but a stern reminder of the seriousness of war.