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Henry IV (1984) Reviews

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This Italian version of Henry IV is based on the Luigi Pirandello play rather than Shakespeare's historical work. Moreover, the Henry depicted herein is not the English king, but the 11th-century Holy Roman emperor. In addition, central character Marcello Mastroianni doesn't play emperor Henry, but instead a contemporary man of wealth who thinks he's Henry. Also, Mastroianni's delusion is not a delusion, but a subterfuge. Well, we told you it was based on a Pirandello play, so enter ye and leave all sanity behind. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Starring:: Marcello Mastroianni, Claudia Cardinale, (more)

Director(s):: Marco Bellocchio

Theatrical MPAA Rating:: NR

Format(s):: DVD
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	Keith G.

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Marcello Mastroianni is masterful in the solid film adaptation of Pirandelloâs tricky play about the nature of sanity, madness and fantasy. Subtle yet grand, tragic and very funny, Mastroianni gives tremendous life to the sometimes slightly dry and otherwise intellectual ideas underneath the story. A mad Italian aristocrat who has spent 20 years believing heâs King Henry IV, and has been surrounded by sycophants willing to play along. Now a doctor and his ex-lover try to âcureâ him, leading to some interesting and unexpected results. It takes a while to get going, but the last third is wonderful, and the whole thing is pretty interesting. I will say, the score drove me a bit crazy. It often felt intrusive â alternately too heavy handed and on the nose, or having little relationship to what was going on on screen. But thatâs hardly enough to ruin a great performance in a film that raises more than itâs share of interesting questions.

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