Laurence Olivier's adaptation of Henry V is one of the finest Shakespeare films ever made, full of rousing action, beautiful colors, and passionate performances. Henry V is the story of the newly crowned king of England, who fights the French for possession of Normandy. Olivier's direction is inventive, beginning the film as if it were a performance at the Globe Theatre, and having it slowly expand so the final battle scenes take place in realistic settings. Released in 1944 during the height of World War II, Henry V didn't receive an American release until 1946, upon which Olivier won a special Academy Award for "his outstanding achievement as actor, producer and director in bringing Henry V to the screen." ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi
A little difficult getting my ears around the shakespearian lingo at first, But overall a wonderful production! Very entertaining film and 1st rate stage production that we sadly do not see anymore.
the "Old English" dialogue probably is due to the fact that this a SHAKESPEARE PLAY and - apparently - that's the language in which he wrote. also, the film begins as a play on the Globe Theatre stage and then moves to an outdoor location for the large battle scene as stated in the "Movie Details." sheesh......