Shakespeare's Henry V: Two Views Of War

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the result is two very different films.
In 1944, at the closing of World War II, Laurence Olivier adopted William Shakespeare's script of Henry V. Using the setting, costumes, and music in his film, Olivier presented an overall idealized view of war. The cartoon-like opening, when the field of Agincourt is shown as a grassy land against a picturesque sky, sets the mood of the movie. The audience sees a pleasing picture which lightens their general feelings towards war. Next, the viewer is presented both the British and the French armies. We see the English on their white and brown horses wearing ornate chain-link armor. The white British flag with a red cross is flying high. The French army was shown with the same armor on with their blue flag with white markings hoisted. In the background, the audience can here the beat of drums as the soldiers play their drums and trumpets in a marching rhythm. As King Henry emerges from the British crowd, he appears just as the ...

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