AMassignment3

Olivier’s version was released near the end of WWII was meant to lift the spirits of a downtrodden people. The scene opens on the French who are dashing about to loud, colorful music which mimics their colorful garb. Their only concerns are on ceremony and pomp. They are portrayed in a comedic fashion so that it is easy to mock them and their apparent lack of concern for the war at hand. Much of the violent descriptions in the original play are cut so that the French do not have a mean character about them. The English, in contrast, are in a more intimate setting with very few people moving about. The starting scene has no music whatsoever which immediately suggests the English are somber and serious. Though they are prepared to fight, they are not joyous. After the King’s stirring speech their pride and bravery emerge. When preparing for battle they sharpen knives/sticks while the French are lowered onto their horses from pulleys and drink wine. This is an obvious jab at the enemy’s ineptitude and raises the viewer’s opinions on the English.

Branaug’s version was released after the Faulklins Battle and perhaps sought to raise awareness of the defeat of a dangerous enemy and thereby raise national pride. In Branaugh’s version, the entire setting is downcast. The enemy is more ominous and the lines that are said in this version are the most gruesome. All the pomp the French had at the beginning of yelling in French and greeting of one another is removed. The only things kept are the lines discussing blood, sucking of souls, and leaving behind empty husks of men. The opening scene on the English shows the King as almost equal to his men. He stands among them and lifts their spirits with his inspirational speech. Little from the play is cut for his speech. The English are shown as grand, compassionate, and proud while the French are portrayed as vicious and cruel. The point of this version was not to mock the enemy, but to scorn them and their violent natures. When the French messenger arrives on his horse, the King is lower to show he views his soldiers as equals. In Oliviers version the French messenger arrives on foot while the king is on a horse so as to elevate his standing to the French overall.

The purposes of these two productions are very different; through different means of directing, the directors are able to alter the viewer’s perceptions of the two sides. In the first the purpose was to liven the spirits of a saddened people by mocking their enemy, while the second was meant to make the viewer’s aware of the threat in Argentina and boost national support and pride.