The Lion in Winter | 
| Director: Anthony Harvey
Actors: Peter O'toole, Katharine Hepburn, Anthony Hopkins, John Castle, Nigel Terry
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy New: $4.48
You Save: $10.50 (70%)
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Rating:  201 reviews
Sales Rank: 1421
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dvd, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 134 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5 x 0.6
MPN: MGMD1001587D
ISBN: 0792849205
UPC: 027616858979
EAN: 9780792849209
ASIN: B000056HEA
Theatrical Release Date: October 30, 1968
Release Date: June 19, 2001
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
In this 12th-century version of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Henry II of England (Peter O'Toole) and his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine (Katharine Hepburn), meet on Christmas Eve to discuss the future of the throne. These two are having slight marital problems, as she is kept in captivity most of the year for raising a rebellion against him, and he flaunts his young mistress. Then there are the problems raised by their three treacherous and traitorous sons. James Goldman won an Oscar for the brilliant screenplay, based on his Broadway play. It is a tad wordy, as the action is kept to a minimum, but those words are sharp as daggers. The humor is wicked and black and delivered with very dry, dead-on precision. Sparks fly and the screen sizzles whenever Hepburn and O'Toole tango, which is often. Both were nominated for Academy Awards for their vigorous performances. (She won; he didn't.) There's also an infamous homo-erotic exchange between Philip of France (Timothy Dalton) and Richard the Lionhearted (Anthony Hopkins). Both actors were making their feature-film debuts. --Rochelle O'Gorman
Product Description
Christmas 1183--an aging & conniving king henry ii plans a reunion where he hopes to name his successor. He summons his wife his mistress & his three sons all of whom desire the throne. Everyone engages in their own brand of deception & treachery to stake their claim. Studio: Tcfhe/mgm Release Date: 09/21/2004 Starring: Peter Otoole Anthony Hopkins Run time: 135 minutes Rating: Pg
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| Customer Reviews: Read 196 more reviews...
 a classic May 28, 2009
Marta C. Daniel
I saw this movie on TV and was spell bond, it was like I was attending a play. Had to buy the movie, so when I want to see real acting I can
The Lion in Winter May 26, 2009
T. M. Riehle (ARIZONA)
Based on the life of Henry II, the acting was classic. I am not really sure how 'true-to-life' this drama is. The family dynamics and plotting of one against the other keeps one wondering what will happen next. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys Historical fiction, Katherine Hepburn and/or Peter O'Toole. Truly, a classic of Epic proportion.
Old married King and Queen in a love-hate relationship May 7, 2009
R. Bagula (Lakeside, Ca United States)
The middle ages is not kind to divine right (robber baron) kings
who live by their wits and strength of arms.
Were there ever any royal "good sons" in England?
In this movie three kings of England appear: Henry II, Richard the Lionhearted and Prince John. We are told that Richard is gay
and that John is a buffoon, while the middle brother on who history is remarkably silent is a conspirator.
The classic interchange between Henry and Eleanor is probably what made this a great movie,
but the stagging, costumes and casting are just very, very good with
several great actors in the supporting role.
The dialog just tears holes in reality that seem beyond repair?
 The power has not neither scruples nor ethic codes! April 7, 2009
Hiram Gomez Pardo (Valencia, Venezuela)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This remarkable retelling of acerbic wits from James Goldman's play has as central focus the dazzling performance of Mrs. Katherine Hepburn who (to my mind made her most towering masterwork along her well known artistic trajectory) as Leonor of Acquitaine who matches with her lovely hated husband Henry II (Peter O' Toole). This tormented relationship of struggling power deals with the well known conflict of interests respect the next successor of the Royal crown. The King has his eyes focused in John (Nigel Terry) a very singled-mind and easily handled, while Leonor has her hopes centered on Richard (Anthony Hopkins in his debut) , but the the third son Geoffrey also aspires and so, after the previous agreement established by Henry II and the King of France Philip the state of things will reach its boiling point.
We will presence this dark plot of personal ambitions, unstoppable thirst of power, overpowering greediness, betrayal and double crosses. Father versus son, brother versus brother, mother versus sons; a true scorpions ` nest which reminds a twist of fate respect the monumental Shakespeare's "King Lear".
The semiotic language is another remarkable aspect to cite. Watch for instance two clever sequences, the first one when John is relegated by his father in the middle of a rough discussion, and falls close to a cage of pigs, giving a regrettable speech. The other deals when the King in the middle of the night irrupts through the subterranean levels of his castle where the dogs bark just when the Real guards make their appearance.
The formidable cinematographic rhythm (although its undeniable theatrical nature), the fabulous illumination, the splendid script, accurate direction, the acidic speeches and this priceless cast make of this film a true classic and one of the most notable artistic achievements ever made.
A film that should not be absent from your invaluable collection.
Sheer Delight March 17, 2009
MarlowesMom (San Francisco)
The older I get the more I love this comedy-drama about the competition among the three sons of Henry II (Peter O'Toole) and Eleanor of Aquitaine (Katherine Hepburn), over who will succeed Henry as King of England (and, at the time, much of France). Henry keeps Eleanor locked up in prison in England most of the year while he pursues romances with much younger women, but he brings her over to France for annual his Christmas court, and the sparring begins. Eleanor favors the competent but possibly homosexual eldest son Richard; Henry favors spoiled, bizarre John. Middle son Jeff is not even under consideration, to his great resentment. All three of the sons are happy to work with the conniving King Philip of France to betray their parents to get what they want. Line after line of witty, thoughtful dialogue woven into a dense exploration of power, politics, and family relationships in medieval Europe. It's almost impossible to imagine such an intelligent, tightly focused script being filmed any more, not by the studios, not by the independents. The castle is authentically primitive with mud, straw-strewn floors and mangy-looking dogs wandering everywhere. Hepburn and O'Toole's performances may seem hammy to some, but the obvious delight they take in each other is infectious. Although their marriage was motivated by politics (England wanted the vast European territory Eleanor stood to inherit), theirs was for many years a true love match. It's heartbreaking as they look back from their old age at the passion they once shared and confront the horrors their sons have become. At the end, after all their manipulations and maneuverings against each other to try to ensure that John or Richard will succeed Henry, it's clear that Henry and Eleanor still have great affection and respect for each other. Henry calls out to Eleanor as she sails back to her English jail, "I hope we live forever." You wish this remarkable, immensely entertaining couple would do just that.
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