Reel 4355

Host: Alan Bates.

Laurence Olivier won a special Oscar for his triumph as producer, director and star of this 1944 version of Shakespeare's patriotic drama. Vividly realistic in its battle scenes, yet at times highly stylized in its use of painted backdrops and miniatures, the film opens as a performance of the play is about to begin at the Globe Theatre in Elizabethan London. The drama itself opens at the British court of 1415, where clergymen advise the young King Henry V (Olivier) to press his claim to the throne of France by invasion. "Once more unto the breach," the king declares as he launches the campaign, and the English rapidly advance into French territory. But then French forces make a stand at Agincourt, and Henry—recognizing that his men are greatly outnumbered and demoralized—must try to rally his army with a St. Crispin's day speech: "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he today that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother/ (3 hrs.) Additional Cast Ancient Pistol ............Robert Newton Chorus ................Leslie Banks Princess Katharina .......Renee Asherson Fluellen .................Esmond Knight Constable of France: Leo Genn. Archbishop of Canterbury: Felix Aylmer. Mourtjoy: Ralph Truman. King Charles VI: Harcourt Williams. Alice: Ivy St. Helier. Uprphin: Max Adnan.

(BW)