Olivier_And_Branaugh_Productions_Of_Henry_V

Olivier And Branaugh Productions Of Henry V The portrayals of the King of England in Henry V differ greatly between the Branagh and Olivier film versions of Shakespeare’s play. The choice of script in each took the two films in different directions; while Olivier heralded in the heroic and patriotic displays of war, Branagh instead chose to elaborate upon the harshness and realities of the battle. As the enemy was likened to those in Nazi Germany in the Olivier version, Branagh brought out the toils and pains of war following America’s excursion into Vietnam. In contrasting the film productions of Olivier and Branagh, I will focus primarily upon Henry’s portrayals throughout each and how each director shaped the audience’s attitudes toward King Henry. One of the first aspects of the film that Branagh has chosen for focus is the Prologue. The film opens with a man introducing us to the film as he walks through the backstage area (portraying a movie camera and various set pieces). In closing the prologue, the man opens a door into the reality of the film and invites us to walk into the scene. This man shows us periodically throughout the film, reciting lines of the chorus olivier, branagh, henry, king, scene, film, french, war, while, battle, upon, one, man, each, time, scenes, play, focus, audience, two, iv, henry’s, english, branagh’s, between, very, versions, version, toward, times, though, shows, shown, set, seen