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Shakespeare's Henry V Act IV, Scene III by Lawrence Olivier

Crispian's Day speechafter that is several minutes of the battle scenes at Agincourt. Not the most accurate battle scenes, of course, but the importance of the famed English longbow to the eventual victory is given proper emphasis.

Fine music by William Walton.

Laurence Olivier ... King Henry V
Gerald Case ... Earl of Westmoreland
Griffith Jones ... Earl of Salisbury
Ralph Truman ... Mountjoy

From the film "The Chronicle History of King Henry the Fift with His Battell Fought at Agincourt in France" (1944)

directed by Lord Olivier

James Agee on Olivier's "Henry V":

...Olivier does many other beautiful pieces of reading and playing. His blood-raising reply to the French Herald's ultimatum is not just that; it is a frank, bright exploitation of the moment for English ears, amusedly and desperately honored as such, in a still gallant and friendly way, by both Herald and King. His Crispin's Dayoration is not just a brilliant bugle-blat; it is the calculated yet self-exceeding improvisation, at once self-enjoying and selfless, of a young and sleepless leader, rising to a situtation wholly dangerous and glamorous, and wholly new to him. Only one of the many beauties of the speech as he gives it is the way in which the King seems now to exploit his sincerity, no to be possessed by it, riding like an unexpectedly mounting wave the astounding size of his sudden proud awareness of the country morning, of his moment in history, of his responsibilty and competence, of being full-bloodedlyalive, and of being about to die.

Channel: Film
Uploaded: December 16, 2007 at 8:23 pm
Author: ShakespeareAndMore

Length: 00:10:56
Rating: 4.7647057
Views: 45978

Tags: Shakespeare Laurence Olivier Henry fifth William Walton Agincourt play theatre

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Video Comments:

peacecanhappen27 (November 6, 2009 at 5:39 pm)

Kenneth Branagh was better. same as in that version, Montjoy is terrible. A girl at Mount Greylock Regional High School played him better. That's a bad sign when a high school student is a better actor than a professional.

CyberBarrister (October 26, 2009 at 12:50 am)

Branagh's version is my favorite of all time. He is the best Shakespearean actor of modern times.

thedarkarse (October 14, 2009 at 1:58 pm)

Crispian Day wouldn't have looked out of place in the Inspiral Carpets.

NoirOrchestre (October 10, 2009 at 10:01 pm)

i prefere branagh's version

wraggem (October 5, 2009 at 9:39 pm)

Really funny that people criticize this for not being an accurate depiction of war. Firstly, it was made DURING World War II, so people were pretty clear about war was like. Second, its not clear that Shakespeare wanted to portray it as a bloody battle for the English, considering he suggests that the English just suffered 26 or so casualties...

kattrby (September 18, 2009 at 5:54 pm)

Yes, in fact, war is much more mucky. But in 1943/44, in a rather shabby Britain which was not used to bright colours, this film really was both an expression of hope, and of considering the sacrifice of lives that would still have to come. The Crispin's Day speech is not about being brave, but a consolation that even if you do get wounded, or killed, the cause is just,.

This film is not realism, it is propaganda. But the right propaganda, at the right time, in the right war. Not like now.

imnotbuddha (September 9, 2009 at 12:36 am)

To see this again after 25 years and after seeing Branagh's version so often, I tell you, it seems, femme. Not as though soldiers preparing for battle, rather like ladies ready to strut their finest. So out of place. So very dated.

pervious1 (August 30, 2009 at 8:06 pm)

What was really said:Westmoreland; "We're fucked."King Henry V; "Yep!"

valocilf (August 29, 2009 at 3:52 am)

Fantastic cavalry charge, one of the best battle scenes ever, fantatic music. I saw an interview in which Olivier noted that he was greatly influenced by the Russian director Sergei Eisenstein's battle scenes. Thanks for uploading this, by far my favourite version of the play.

pervious1 (August 17, 2009 at 9:45 pm)

Anyone else notice that the speech is misquoted. " His passport shall be made", not drawn, and "Oh for the best I have..." has disappeared completely.

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