The ending with Peter O'Toole's great laugh and joi de vivre and Hepburn's bold salute from her barge is one of those 'alive' moments rare in cinema. A kind of 'yes' to life itself. It reminds me of Walter Huston's laughter at the end of Treasure of Sierra Madre.
Yes! and that incredible John Barry score!!! One of the first movie scores I ever bought when it was first released. I sing along with the Latin at the begining and always tear up at the end. Have a great weekend! Steve
Another movie full of great lines and great speeches. One of my favorites from Ms. Hepburn: "I even made poor Louis take me on Crusade. How's that for blasphemy. I dressed my maids as Amazons and rode bare-breasted halfway to Damascus. Louis had a seizure and I damn near died of windburn..............but the troops were dazzled." It is such a great script but the way Kate delivers these lines is spectacular! But actually, for me, the draw in this movie is Peter O'Toole. He is still my favorite actor, RIP, and I find his way of speaking and mannerisms to be quite mesmerizing.
I never get tired of watching The Lion In Winter. I watch it last least two or three times a year because its so amazing...the verbal sparring everyone does is delicious to watch. And Katharine Hepburn was born to play the glorious Eleanor of Aquitaine, born being strong independent intelligent women. The writing was so wonderful. I would have loved to have seen Hepburn play Eleanor in another film that would have focused upon Eleanor's later life after Henry's death and after Richard had died (Eleanor outlived almost all of her children except for John and couple of her daughters). Eleanor even went to Castile (Spain) to pick one of her granddaughters to marry the future king of France (the granddaughter she chose was Blanche who would become the mother of the future St Louis of France)
I've been a movie buff/addict since..............actually, I don't ever remember. but probably an infant. Any time people get together and get on the "So, what is your favorite movie" jag, the vast majority say they can't pick one because there are so many great ones. Very true there are, but when the question came to me, I never wavered. The Lion in Winter has been my favorite since the first time I watched it some 45 years or so years ago. The finest dialogue of any movie in the history of film. BTW, J. I thought I was the only person addicted enough to watch multiple times a year. I know I have seen it over 150 times in all these years.
There is a fabulous story that Peter O'Toole tells about getting Kate Hepburn to do this movie. O'Toole was basically an uncredited exec. producer of this film so he could make the judgement call on casting. And, O'Toole had a really wonderful relationship with Hepburn, calling her his champion in Hollywood throughout his career. It was shortly after Spencer Tracy died and Kate was, really, the widow who couldn't mourn. So, O'Toole sent her the script for Lion In Winter with a note on it to the affect of 'C'mon, stop wallowing away in Martha's Vineyard and come do this movie.' He said they were friends enough to where he could speak to her on those terms. Without any expectations at all of her actually accepting the part, about 2 weeks after he mailed the script to her, O'Toole received a phone call - it was Kate and she says, "Do it before I die." And the rest is history. :)
Good lord. I had no idea. I always avoided it, thinking it was a kind of Camelot-ish 60s flibbertigibbet, when in fact it's a medieval Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf! It blew my head off! This is exactly why we all need you, Steve, even us other tired old queens. Have a great new year.
There are too many great moments in this move to choose from, but the one that cracks me up every time is, "I even made poor Louis take me on crusade. How's that for blasphemy.? I dressed my maids as amazons and rode bare-breasted halfway to Damascus. Louis had a seizure and I damn near died of windburn. But the troops were dazzled...."
The writing is wonderful and the perfromances magnificent. Thanks so much for watching! The next time you do, please push the "LIKE" button. It really helps.
POOR John! If I were to go up in flames there wouldn't be a single person who'd pee on me to put the fire out. [Richard] Lets strike a flint and see. I love this film.
One of the best screenplays ever written. The IMdB message board had a thread asking everyone to state their favorite line. The whole script eventually ended up being pasted through numerous posts. Biting dialogue. However Steve, the castle Chinon is in Anjou France, not England. That's why Richard's threat to Henry about having his troops waiting to take him down at Potiers was a genuine threat.
I love it when Hepburn is describing Rosamund; she said something akin to "She had unusually even teeth, but she smiled to excess." I cannot recall the exact line, but it was hysterical.
I love that line and this one about riding through ther desert topless during the Crusades.: ' I damned near died of windburn, but the troops were dazzeled." Hilarious!
This movie is a Christmas tradition for me. I watch it every year without fail around that time. Amazing performances on every side and the dialogue is some of the most witty and cutting I have ever seen on film. A perpetual favorite!
I think this is one of the greatest dark comedies ever made thanks to Katharine Hepburn. My parents went to see it and years later I finally saw it on TV. I asked my dad how the audience reacted and he said they were all very quiet. Not my reaction at all. One of my top favs that I watch at least once a year. I love introducing my younger friends to it and some get it while others don’t. Aside from a couple anachronisms it’s wonderful. Scholars have since learned that the colors of rooms, furniture, clothing were what we would consider garish but this movie is perfect just the way it is. I hope no one tries to remake it. There’s no one that could replace Hepburn and O’Toole. I understand they didn’t like each other and she called him “Pig” but I don’t recall what he called her. No doubt something equally atrocious.
after a few early flare ups, they got along great and were fond of each other until Hepburn's death. The story Steve tells about the make up man ends with O'Toole coming down to0 the set all bandaged upo after the 'attack'. Hepburn laughed and all was forgiven. She called him 'pig' laughingly.
Actually, they've been great friends since the late 1950s when Hepburn met him in his dressing room during one of his plays, with O'Toole saying that Hepburn was one of his champions of his career. In fact, as O'Toole tells it, when he received the story and script (O'Toole was an uncredited Exec. Producer of the film and could have whoever he wanted for co-stars, director, etc.), he said he could think of no one other than Hepburn to play Eleanor. He was also very aware of her withdrawal from acting following Spencer Tracy's death (Tracy's OTHER spouse who was not allowed to mourn publicly) and felt this role would pull her back and away from her problems. He said he sent her the script, with absolutely no hopes of her actually doing it. Two weeks later (record time for this sort of thing, apparently), he received a phone call. It was Hepburn who told him "Do it before I die." Boom. It was on. :)
Yes to the comments- since I wrote that a year ago I did some more digging and found that they were great friends, so I apologize for not going back and correcting it.
Love this movie, for all the reasons stated by the host. Many have compared it to the remake - they're not at the same level. The remake was made for current generation accustomed to pausing, going to the bathroom, getting snacks, and then coming back to the TV and restarting. Back in the day, you didn't have those options. If you didn't want to miss something, you stayed in your seat. Stars back then compelled you to stay in your seat! Nowadays, no matter how great the performer, the audience feels okay with "pausing" you and coming back later! Not so back then. Stars like Hepburn and O'Toole kept you glued to your seats!
+morphyesque: Yes Steve get your geography right.When my wife and I toured the Loire valley in 1979 chateau Chinon was one of the places we visited along with the chateaux Villandry & Chenenceau.Incidentally they distill a very distinctive wine which one can buy at the shop there.
Some of THE BEST movie banter dialogue EVER! A bit of history of Chateau Chinon which is actually located in the Loire Valley in France. "It would not be until 1154 that it began to take on part of its now famous fortress appearance, when it became the main residence of Henry II, the King of England who was also then Count of Anjou (Angevin King). It reigned supreme as the home of the Plantagenet king and his wife Aliénor (Eleanor) d'Aquitaine until 1189 when the king died grieving over the betrayal of his son Richard (Lionheart). In 1205,after an eight month siege, Philip-Auguste conquered Chinon and the province of Anjou was annexed to France. It continued to serve as a royal residence throughout the following centuries."
I watch a lot of youtube! 😄. If you liked The Lion in Winter you might also enjoy "The Devil's Crown" (youtube) produced in the same series style as I Claudius p.s. I totally enjoy your reviews❣
I just saw this movie for the first time last week. Ive seen if 4 times since. From the very first words "COME FOR ME!" you know O'Toole is in peak form. How he didnt win for this is beyond me. "Its been a jungle of a day. If i start growling now ill never make it" I mean, come onnnn!
@@GBBIII Didn't live in England, and quite possibly didn't speak English. I think John was the first Norman-Plantagenet king of England to speak English in day-to-day conversation.
James Goldman's script is a literary masterpiece. And John Barry's score is heart-wrenchingly gorgeous. It's not surprising Peter O'Toole and Katherine Hepburn gave such masterful performances, they were at the top of their game by this time. But, Anthony Hopkins takes my breath away when I watch him in this. He is stunning and real and raw. Timothy Dalton is also very, very good in this role. Both of them held their own in every scene with the formidable Kate and Peter. Your review was spot on and very much appreciated. Thank you! Happy Holidays!
Thank you. I love this one as well and Hopkins and Dalton are mesmerizing in that brief love/hate scene in the bedroom. Dalton had a similarly sinsiter role in " Mary , Queen Of Scots" with Vanessa Redgrave as her beautiful, gay & weasley husband Lord Darnly. Happy New Year! Steve
Hepburn never managed to get rid of (what one wag called) her "Connecticut lockjaw accent." She was very strong in this picture as an iron-girdled Queen of England. Still, an interesting film. Edward Albee on the Loire, you might say.
I remember watching an old episode of the Carole Burnett show & when she did the Q&A with the audience, someone asked who she thought was an up and coming actor, & she said Anthony Hopkins, specifically siting his performance in TLIW.
Great review. One of my favorite movies. Great companion piece to "A man for all Seasons". You should get the DVD and listen to director Anthony Harvey's commentary. Great stuff.
O.M.G! This is also one of my faves! Katharine Hepburn was absolutely brilliant and I've been in love with Anthony Hopkins for years since I saw him in "84 Charing Cross Road" with Anne Bancroft. This is also my favorite Peter O'Toole film even though he isn't even close to the top on my favorite actor list. There was a lot of crackling dialog in this movie. Merry Christmas to you! I'm so glad I've found you channel. I've had a ball watching your reviews.
I loved O'Toole, but was always appalled at the toll his excesses too on him. He was so gaunt in the last years of his life. Too much debauchery. But what a talent! O'Toole, in the same role as he is here and Burton, another great debaucher, squaring off in "Beckett" is , like watching this one, what great movie sparring is all about. . Thanks so much for watching!
one of my favorite films - never thought of it as a Christmas film but will n ow always think of it as one of the most honest Christmas films ever made - brilliant acting, script and music - Thank you and Happy Holidays!
Havent seen this one in ages. 20 some years ago when i worked at Walden books this one always went in when i was there a classic . Hope you both have a wonderful Holiday Season love and kisses
I am a recent devotee and have been enjoying your reviews immensely, so thank you. I will seek this one out and enjoy a reprieve from the current, tacky offering, 'The Lying in Winter'.
Dear Steve, I love your impersonation of Katharine Hepburn, and my God how I love this film. I remember when I first saw it in the cinema and the whole audience erupted at the relished insults and at the way Katharine Hepburn licked her lips over the dialogue - no wonder she won an Oscar, but also no wonder James Goldman won for the screenplay. It was like a medieval "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf"! Peter O'Toole was excellent in "Becket" - he'd have been comfortable with his old drinking pal Richard Burton - but he's continually wrong-footed by Eleanor of Aquitaine, who must have been incredibly tough to have survived long life and imprisonment, and Katharine Hepburn is wonderful in the role. There is a famous legend that Henry II built a house in a maze for Rosamund, his mistress, to keep her safe, but Queen Eleanor found her way through the maze and offered Rosamund poison or a knife. Agatha Christie refers to this in "Sad Cypress" (she loved legends). And by the way Katharine Hepburn wasn't the only famous actress to shout at Peter O'Toole; someone I knew saw Dame Peggy Ashcroft shout at him on stage in a Shakespearean production, when he was supposed to jump on a table and was too drunk to stand! Bless you for a lovely review and best wishes, Alida
Peter was naughty and after a time, it showed up in his face. He went from ravishing to ravaged relatively early. However, I love the rascal, though I wouldn't have wanted to be on stage with him. Finney, O'Toole and Harris had those drunken /badboy histories that followed them throughout their careers and most likely hampered them considerably, though it never stopped them until their bodies eventually had enough. Nothing ruins you like cigarettes and liquor...unless, of course, it's dope. As for Hepburn, she'd put up with Spencer's alcoholism and abuse for years, so she wasn't about to put up with O'Toole' shenanigans drunk or sober.
This is a great movie. Great performances by so many great actors. Also, just an FYI: Chinon castle was (and is) in France. Henry, in addition to being King of England, owned a good chunk of France as well.
Mike Clifford. according to Peter OToole ,he named his first daughter Kate after KH ,yes they had known each other since the 1950 s , he did a good imitation of KH voice
One of my absolute favorite movies. Thanks for this one, Steve. Merry Christmas! The remake is a scene for scene remake using the same script. It's not awful, in fact, it's actually pretty good, just not as good as the original.
@@STEVEHAYESTOQ omg thank you for replying steve! your reviews are such fun, please do more joan crawford movies! queen bee or harriet craig would be great!
@@andrewwilton5017 Oh dear. Then it would have been a Joan Crawford movie instead of an ensemble picture. . She was originally signed to do Deborah Kerr's part in "From here To Eternity", which would have done the same thing. She complained about the wardrobe, so Harry Cohn fired her and went with the breaking the typecasting and it all became a terrific ensemble piece. I love Joan, but she was too big a star for alot of things.
Hepburn! My favorite film star of all time... Love this choice for the holidays... Haven't missed one of the TOQ episodes. Merry Merry to you, Steve & Johnny!
"He married out of love a woman out of legend. Never in Rome, Alexandria or Camelot has there been such a queen." "He came down from the North with a mind like Aristotle's and a body like mortal sin. We broke the Commandments on the spot."
@@STEVEHAYESTOQ Then there's the scene when Eleanor nukes Henry with the rumor that she got it on with her father-in-law. Henry drops his own thermonuke on her right back with the threat of annulling their marriage and maybe offing the boys. Henry slams out and she says "Well, what family doesn't have its ups and downs." The Christmas when no one got what they wanted.
A fine movie to watch on a zero degree Connecticut winter night. I'm not a fan of Kate's but she is perfect for this role. Young Timothy Dalton is delicious and I couldn't take my eyes off of Prince Jeffrey!!
Absolutely! Everything came together for this one and I think it's my favorite film of the 1960's. One of the first movie scores I memeorized. I can still sing the Latin. Aside from the brilliant dialogue and the incredible performances, John Barry's Oscar winning score was pure genius. The music when she arrived down the river is so gorgeous!
I really don't know how many times I've watched this, and watched closely. IMHO this is the very best 90 minute master class in acting you will ever see. Just for the fun of it look up Constance of Brittany, a ruling princess, like Eleanor, and Geoffrey's wife. It's her inheritance that made Geoff Duke of Brittany. That lady was no medieval cypher and I think I would have loved see how Goldman would have written the interplay between her and Eleanor. (Yes, I know you don't mess with a masterpiece...)
Recently saw a video about Hepburn and Streisand tying for the Oscar...the Academy wanted to bring in some younger voters, so Academy President, Gregory Peck added Streisand to the Academy even though she didn't fulfill the requirements of having been in 3 films. She voted for herself and thus, the tie....had they followed the rules, she wouldn't have voted and Hepburn would have most likely won alone (some of her votes may have come because of the decision to add Streisand which could have ticked some people off.)
@@chrisn7259 However, t wpuldn't have happened if they both hadn't gotten the eaxact sma enumber of votes. Back in the early 30's , when Fredric March and Wallce Beery tied, March was only a couple of votes ahead and they still shared the award. Then the Academy got became more strict about it and voi la! Thanks for watching! Steve
Not that it's a huge deal, but Chinon is in France. Henry 2's "Angevin" empire consisted of Great Britain and about 1/3 of France. Didn't last long after him, but that's how it was. FWIW. Great Movie!
Why Tired Old Queen he's full of bounce and fun? Superb film, superb actors and a sparkling script. Yea verily, much dirt dished and killing insults slung. Unforgettable, That last bit was Anthony Hopkins asking Kate Hepburn's for acting advice I think and Peter O'Tool said of Hepburn that once she had hit him he knew she liked him. It was her way.
Thank you for the wonderful review.......I remember see'n this years ago - Im 51.....but I never actually piad attention to the plot...heck I was a kid......anywho - Merry Christmas!
I love that set up! You automatically think; " Uh-oh> here it comes. " and of course it does and naturally it's a doozy, with that unforgettable delivery. Thanks for watching! Steve
I read a book about Hollywood that said Spencer Tracey didn't like Hepburn, it was said he actually became physically ill whenever he had to work with her
CHINON Castle is in France. Although it is thought that King Henry II understood English, he and all of the cast of nobles would historically have spoken only French, Norman-French or Latin. But then, the movie would have required sub-titles....
TDontcha' luv 'em? I they are from the GENE MARSHALL doll collection by incredible artist Mel Odom You can but them on Amazon and Ebay. Just look for GENE dolls. .
A stroke of genius to present this as a Christmas film - Steve you are the best! (ps Chinon is in France and the film is set when much of France was under English rule.)
Poor Peter O'Toole could never get his own Oscar, even when he deserved it like in "The Lion in Winter". Nonetheless, I did love Cliff Robertson (who beat Mr. O'Toole to this Oscar) in his later role as Uncle Ben in the "Spider-Man" trilogy.
I love how confident and assured a young 21 year old Timothy Dalton holds his own and matches Peter O’Toole’s performance. Truly a sign on the greatness yet to come in his career. Anthony Hopkins is a little one dimensional for me unfortunately.
Has anyone seen the remake with Glenn Close and Patrick Stewart? I'm thinking of watching it, but I'm afraid it will suck and taint my enjoyment of the original.
Evidently it's very close to this one, but...it isn't this one. Thanks so much for watching! The next time you do, please push the "LIKE" button. It really helps.
Thanks. But Hepburn did NOT deserve an Oscar for " Guess Who's Coming To Dinner ", one of the weakest performances ever to win. BUT, Peter O'Toole DID deserve to win for this. And Eleanor of Aquitaine was queen of two different countries. Rosemary Harris and Robert Preston were in the original Broadway production. Cheers.
Lies. I'm sorry but you don't fake such intimate shit for 22 years. They met their families, she LOVED him, and he NEEDED her. I'm pretty sure I know the one you mean too, and so many of those things were debunked :/
@@STEVEHAYESTOQ Aww, you are a true gentleman. I'm a MO, for sure, but the WOKE stuff drives me crazy. I appreciate why you have to respond to it. My beloved, late husband was am Austrian cop, and he was rather, uh...conservative! He never tried to change my political views. But, I believe he saw more than I did. Thanks, buddy.
Katharine Hepburn is good but she's somewhat stymied by her Connecticut lockjaw accent. O'Toole is better as are some of the supporting cast. But the whole thing is much too "stagey." It's a medieval soap opera and quite, dare I say? , camp.
The ending with Peter O'Toole's great laugh and joi de vivre and Hepburn's bold salute from her barge is one of those 'alive' moments rare in cinema. A kind of 'yes' to life itself. It reminds me of Walter Huston's laughter at the end of Treasure of Sierra Madre.
Yes! and that incredible John Barry score!!! One of the first movie scores I ever bought when it was first released. I sing along with the Latin at the begining and always tear up at the end. Have a great weekend! Steve
Another movie full of great lines and great speeches. One of my favorites from Ms. Hepburn: "I even made poor Louis take me on Crusade. How's that for blasphemy. I dressed my maids as Amazons and rode bare-breasted halfway to Damascus. Louis had a seizure and I damn near died of windburn..............but the troops were dazzled." It is such a great script but the way Kate delivers these lines is spectacular!
But actually, for me, the draw in this movie is Peter O'Toole. He is still my favorite actor, RIP, and I find his way of speaking and mannerisms to be quite mesmerizing.
I never get tired of watching The Lion In Winter. I watch it last least two or three times a year because its so amazing...the verbal sparring everyone does is delicious to watch. And Katharine Hepburn was born to play the glorious Eleanor of Aquitaine, born being strong independent intelligent women. The writing was so wonderful. I would have loved to have seen Hepburn play Eleanor in another film that would have focused upon Eleanor's later life after Henry's death and after Richard had died (Eleanor outlived almost all of her children except for John and couple of her daughters). Eleanor even went to Castile (Spain) to pick one of her granddaughters to marry the future king of France (the granddaughter she chose was Blanche who would become the mother of the future St Louis of France)
Fascinating. I love this stuff! Thanks so much.
I've been a movie buff/addict since..............actually, I don't ever remember. but probably an infant. Any time people get together and get on the "So, what is your favorite movie" jag, the vast majority say they can't pick one because there are so many great ones. Very true there are, but when the question came to me, I never wavered. The Lion in Winter has been my favorite since the first time I watched it some 45 years or so years ago. The finest dialogue of any movie in the history of film.
BTW, J. I thought I was the only person addicted enough to watch multiple times a year. I know I have seen it over 150 times in all these years.
There is a fabulous story that Peter O'Toole tells about getting Kate Hepburn to do this movie. O'Toole was basically an uncredited exec. producer of this film so he could make the judgement call on casting. And, O'Toole had a really wonderful relationship with Hepburn, calling her his champion in Hollywood throughout his career. It was shortly after Spencer Tracy died and Kate was, really, the widow who couldn't mourn.
So, O'Toole sent her the script for Lion In Winter with a note on it to the affect of 'C'mon, stop wallowing away in Martha's Vineyard and come do this movie.' He said they were friends enough to where he could speak to her on those terms.
Without any expectations at all of her actually accepting the part, about 2 weeks after he mailed the script to her, O'Toole received a phone call - it was Kate and she says, "Do it before I die." And the rest is history. :)
Good lord. I had no idea. I always avoided it, thinking it was a kind of Camelot-ish 60s flibbertigibbet, when in fact it's a medieval Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf! It blew my head off! This is exactly why we all need you, Steve, even us other tired old queens. Have a great new year.
Thanks so much! It's the most fun/ disasterous family reunion you never had to be a part of! Thanks for watching!
There are too many great moments in this move to choose from, but the one that cracks me up every time is, "I even made poor Louis take me on crusade. How's that for blasphemy.? I dressed my maids as amazons and rode bare-breasted halfway to Damascus. Louis had a seizure and I damn near died of windburn. But the troops were dazzled...."
The writing is wonderful and the perfromances magnificent. Thanks so much for watching! The next time you do, please push the "LIKE" button. It really helps.
POOR John! If I were to go up in flames there wouldn't be a single person who'd pee on me to put the fire out.
[Richard] Lets strike a flint and see.
I love this film.
In a world where carpenters get resurrected, everything is possible.
My favorite line is, "Hush dear, Mother's fighting." I was hoping he'd show that scene.
Pure delight. I'm locked up with my sons. What mother does not dream of that?
A little? Why so modest? How about eternal peace? Now there's a thought.
What family doesn’t have its ups and downs?
One of the best screenplays ever written. The IMdB message board had a thread asking everyone to state their favorite line. The whole script eventually ended up being pasted through numerous posts. Biting dialogue. However Steve, the castle Chinon is in Anjou France, not England. That's why Richard's threat to Henry about having his troops waiting to take him down at Potiers was a genuine threat.
You can’t top “Shall we hang the holly or each other?”
I love it when Hepburn is describing Rosamund; she said something akin to "She had unusually even teeth, but she smiled to excess." I cannot recall the exact line, but it was hysterical.
I love that line and this one about riding through ther desert topless during the Crusades.: ' I damned near died of windburn, but the troops were dazzeled." Hilarious!
This movie is a Christmas tradition for me. I watch it every year without fail around that time. Amazing performances on every side and the dialogue is some of the most witty and cutting I have ever seen on film. A perpetual favorite!
All this and that sumptuous, Oscar winning score by John Barry! Heaven! Happy Summer! Steve
There is an anachronism. They did not have Christmas trees in that age.
I think this is one of the greatest dark comedies ever made thanks to Katharine Hepburn. My parents went to see it and years later I finally saw it on TV. I asked my dad how the audience reacted and he said they were all very quiet. Not my reaction at all. One of my top favs that I watch at least once a year. I love introducing my younger friends to it and some get it while others don’t. Aside from a couple anachronisms it’s wonderful. Scholars have since learned that the colors of rooms, furniture, clothing were what we would consider garish but this movie is perfect just the way it is. I hope no one tries to remake it. There’s no one that could replace Hepburn and O’Toole. I understand they didn’t like each other and she called him “Pig” but I don’t recall what he called her. No doubt something equally atrocious.
after a few early flare ups, they got along great and were fond of each other until Hepburn's death. The story Steve tells about the make up man ends with O'Toole coming down to0 the set all bandaged upo after the 'attack'. Hepburn laughed and all was forgiven. She called him 'pig' laughingly.
Actually, they've been great friends since the late 1950s when Hepburn met him in his dressing room during one of his plays, with O'Toole saying that Hepburn was one of his champions of his career.
In fact, as O'Toole tells it, when he received the story and script (O'Toole was an uncredited Exec. Producer of the film and could have whoever he wanted for co-stars, director, etc.), he said he could think of no one other than Hepburn to play Eleanor. He was also very aware of her withdrawal from acting following Spencer Tracy's death (Tracy's OTHER spouse who was not allowed to mourn publicly) and felt this role would pull her back and away from her problems. He said he sent her the script, with absolutely no hopes of her actually doing it. Two weeks later (record time for this sort of thing, apparently), he received a phone call. It was Hepburn who told him "Do it before I die." Boom. It was on. :)
Yes to the comments- since I wrote that a year ago I did some more digging and found that they were great friends, so I apologize for not going back and correcting it.
Love this movie, for all the reasons stated by the host. Many have compared it to the remake - they're not at the same level. The remake was made for current generation accustomed to pausing, going to the bathroom, getting snacks, and then coming back to the TV and restarting. Back in the day, you didn't have those options. If you didn't want to miss something, you stayed in your seat. Stars back then compelled you to stay in your seat! Nowadays, no matter how great the performer, the audience feels okay with "pausing" you and coming back later! Not so back then. Stars like Hepburn and O'Toole kept you glued to your seats!
Absolutely and sometimes floating in them.
I always enjoy Steve Hayes doing his movie actress impressions.
+morphyesque: Yes Steve get your geography right.When my wife and I toured the Loire valley in 1979 chateau Chinon was one of the places we visited along with the chateaux Villandry & Chenenceau.Incidentally they distill a very distinctive wine which one can buy at the shop there.
Thanks so much for watching! The next time you do, please push the "LIKE" button. It really helps.
Some of THE BEST movie banter dialogue EVER!
A bit of history of Chateau Chinon which is actually located in the Loire Valley in France.
"It would not be until 1154 that it began to take on part of its now famous fortress appearance, when it became the main residence of Henry II, the King of England who was also then Count of Anjou (Angevin King). It reigned supreme as the home of the Plantagenet king and his wife Aliénor (Eleanor) d'Aquitaine until 1189 when the king died grieving over the betrayal of his son Richard (Lionheart). In 1205,after an eight month siege, Philip-Auguste conquered Chinon and the province of Anjou was annexed to France. It continued to serve as a royal residence throughout the following centuries."
Wow. You certanly know your history. Fascinating! Steve
I watch a lot of youtube! 😄.
If you liked The Lion in Winter you might also enjoy "The Devil's Crown" (youtube) produced in the same series style as
I Claudius
p.s. I totally enjoy your reviews❣
@@elizabeths4371 I'll look for it! Thanks! Steve
I just saw this movie for the first time last week. Ive seen if 4 times since. From the very first words "COME FOR ME!" you know O'Toole is in peak form. How he didnt win for this is beyond me. "Its been a jungle of a day. If i start growling now ill never make it" I mean, come onnnn!
I totally agree with you! He's magnificent! Thanks for watching ! Steve
Chinon Castle is in Anjou (now France) not England
And Henry II held land on the continent and didn't live in England all the time. He was Duke of Anjou I think, it's actually in the script.
@@GBBIII Didn't live in England, and quite possibly didn't speak English. I think John was the first Norman-Plantagenet king of England to speak English in day-to-day conversation.
James Goldman's script is a literary masterpiece. And John Barry's score is heart-wrenchingly gorgeous. It's not surprising Peter O'Toole and Katherine Hepburn gave such masterful performances, they were at the top of their game by this time. But, Anthony Hopkins takes my breath away when I watch him in this. He is stunning and real and raw. Timothy Dalton is also very, very good in this role. Both of them held their own in every scene with the formidable Kate and Peter. Your review was spot on and very much appreciated. Thank you! Happy Holidays!
Thank you. I love this one as well and Hopkins and Dalton are mesmerizing in that brief love/hate scene in the bedroom. Dalton had a similarly sinsiter role in " Mary , Queen Of Scots" with Vanessa Redgrave as her beautiful, gay & weasley husband Lord Darnly. Happy New Year! Steve
Eleanor was a marvel - in the 1100s she lived to be 83!
Amazing.
My gosh! Ancient!
This is one of my all-time favs. Splendid film!
Game Of Thrones before there was Game Of Thrones...
Interesting!
Way better than Game Of Thrones
Never get enough of your great critique spins on film. Funny - a blast
Hepburn never managed to get rid of (what one wag called) her "Connecticut lockjaw accent." She was very strong in this picture as an iron-girdled Queen of England. Still, an interesting film. Edward Albee on the Loire, you might say.
You might say. Thanks so much for watching! The next time you do, please push the "LIKE" button. It really helps.
Dear Steve, dear Johnny, wonderful as always. A little remark-Chinon castle is located in France, in the Loire valley.
I remember watching an old episode of the Carole Burnett show & when she did the Q&A with the audience, someone asked who she thought was an up and coming actor, & she said Anthony Hopkins, specifically siting his performance in TLIW.
Absolutely!
Ao glad we found you again. TH-cam seems to cancel my subscriptions. WE LOVE YOU STEVE
Glad. Thatr's not me canceling things, it's the terrors of technology/ Gl;ad you're able to keep seeing TOQ!
Great review. One of my favorite movies. Great companion piece to "A man for all Seasons". You should get the DVD and listen to director Anthony Harvey's commentary. Great stuff.
Yes! So fascuating. I knew him. A very gracious fellow.
"Imagine a family Christmas and no one gets what they want."
I can. All to well.
Richard:"I am next in line!" Henry:"To nothing!"
Yup. So much for the "First Born".
My favorite Christmas movie of all time.
O.M.G! This is also one of my faves! Katharine Hepburn was absolutely brilliant and I've been in love with Anthony Hopkins for years since I saw him in "84 Charing Cross Road" with Anne Bancroft. This is also my favorite Peter O'Toole film even though he isn't even close to the top on my favorite actor list. There was a lot of crackling dialog in this movie.
Merry Christmas to you! I'm so glad I've found you channel. I've had a ball watching your reviews.
I loved O'Toole, but was always appalled at the toll his excesses too on him. He was so gaunt in the last years of his life. Too much debauchery. But what a talent! O'Toole, in the same role as he is here and Burton, another great debaucher, squaring off in "Beckett" is , like watching this one, what great movie sparring is all about. . Thanks so much for watching!
one of my favorite films - never thought of it as a Christmas film but will n ow always think of it as one of the most honest Christmas films ever made - brilliant acting, script and music - Thank you and Happy Holidays!
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My 2nd favorite Christmas movie. Thanks for posting. I liked that this movie didn't glamorize life back then.
Geoffrey "Geoff" is like the Jan Brady of the Plantagenet family.
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Havent seen this one in ages. 20 some years ago when i worked at Walden books this one always went in when i was there a classic . Hope you both have a wonderful Holiday Season love and kisses
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I am a recent devotee and have been enjoying your reviews immensely, so thank you. I will seek this one out and enjoy a reprieve from the current, tacky offering, 'The Lying in Winter'.
So glad you watch. I hope you will subscribe so I can visit you every month with another classic! Best Wishes; Steve
Dear Steve, I love your impersonation of Katharine Hepburn, and my God how I love this film. I remember when I first saw it in the cinema and the whole audience erupted at the relished insults and at the way Katharine Hepburn licked her lips over the dialogue - no wonder she won an Oscar, but also no wonder James Goldman won for the screenplay. It was like a medieval "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf"! Peter O'Toole was excellent in "Becket" - he'd have been comfortable with his old drinking pal Richard Burton - but he's continually wrong-footed by Eleanor of Aquitaine, who must have been incredibly tough to have survived long life and imprisonment, and Katharine Hepburn is wonderful in the role. There is a famous legend that Henry II built a house in a maze for Rosamund, his mistress, to keep her safe, but Queen Eleanor found her way through the maze and offered Rosamund poison or a knife. Agatha Christie refers to this in "Sad Cypress" (she loved legends). And by the way Katharine Hepburn wasn't the only famous actress to shout at Peter O'Toole; someone I knew saw Dame Peggy Ashcroft shout at him on stage in a Shakespearean production, when he was supposed to jump on a table and was too drunk to stand! Bless you for a lovely review and best wishes, Alida
Peter was naughty and after a time, it showed up in his face. He went from ravishing to ravaged relatively early. However, I love the rascal, though I wouldn't have wanted to be on stage with him. Finney, O'Toole and Harris had those drunken /badboy histories that followed them throughout their careers and most likely hampered them considerably, though it never stopped them until their bodies eventually had enough. Nothing ruins you like cigarettes and liquor...unless, of course, it's dope. As for Hepburn, she'd put up with Spencer's alcoholism and abuse for years, so she wasn't about to put up with O'Toole' shenanigans drunk or sober.
This is a great movie. Great performances by so many great actors. Also, just an FYI: Chinon castle was (and is) in France. Henry, in addition to being King of England, owned a good chunk of France as well.
Lucky king...though accroding to this and " Becket", not someone you'd wanna mess with.
Great review!
Thanks! I love this movie! May be my favorite Hepburn role.
Mike Clifford. according to Peter OToole ,he named his first daughter Kate after KH ,yes they had known each other since the 1950 s , he did a good imitation of KH voice
Of course he did, he was such an amazing chameleon, not to mention one of the cinema's great beauties. Thanks for watching. Best; Steve
One of my absolute favorite movies. Thanks for this one, Steve. Merry Christmas!
The remake is a scene for scene remake using the same script. It's not awful, in fact, it's actually pretty good, just not as good as the original.
Then, why bother?
Chinon is in France. And John Castle is just gorgeous! *swoon*
Great as always Steve. I’m sort of binge watching.
Thanks. I'm sort of thrilled you are!
"a little peace? why so modest? how about eternal peace? now, there's a thought"
Yet another fabulous quote among so many! " I nearly died of windburn, but the troops were dazzled." The dialogue is so fabulous. Thanks; Steve
@@STEVEHAYESTOQ omg thank you for replying steve! your reviews are such fun, please do more joan crawford movies! queen bee or harriet craig would be great!
@@andrewwilton5017 Not to worry, both on my "to do" list and another surprise Crawford coming up quite soon, so stay tuned! OXOX TOQ
@@STEVEHAYESTOQ yay! i just watched sweet bird of youth and couldn't help thinking of crawford in the role.
@@andrewwilton5017 Oh dear. Then it would have been a Joan Crawford movie instead of an ensemble picture. . She was originally signed to do Deborah Kerr's part in "From here To Eternity", which would have done the same thing. She complained about the wardrobe, so Harry Cohn fired her and went with the breaking the typecasting and it all became a terrific ensemble piece. I love Joan, but she was too big a star for alot of things.
Hepburn! My favorite film star of all time... Love this choice for the holidays... Haven't missed one of the TOQ episodes. Merry Merry to you, Steve & Johnny!
"He married out of love a woman out of legend. Never in Rome, Alexandria or Camelot has there been such a queen."
"He came down from the North with a mind like Aristotle's and a body like mortal sin. We broke the Commandments on the spot."
Nothing beats great writing!
@@STEVEHAYESTOQ Then there's the scene when Eleanor nukes Henry with the rumor that she got it on with her father-in-law. Henry drops his own thermonuke on her right back with the threat of annulling their marriage and maybe offing the boys. Henry slams out and she says "Well, what family doesn't have its ups and downs."
The Christmas when no one got what they wanted.
Always a favorite!
Mine too. Especially around the holidays. The ultimate disfunctional family Christmas movie.
LOL! I love them together....I heard that O’Toole called Hepburn “Nag” and she called him “Pig”.
They were friendly adversaries. Thanks for watching! Stay happy, healthy and SAFE! Happy Holidays! Best; Steve
@@STEVEHAYESTOQ I love your channel, Steve, have been binge-watching the last few days...LOL! Yes, I should have added “affectionately”.🙂
@@littleogeechee223 Thanks so much! You made my day! Please have lovely, SAFE holidays! Best; Steve
@@STEVEHAYESTOQ You, too, and thanks! Here’s to a safe, happy, healthy and wealthy New Year!
Definitely in my top 5 movies of all time.
A fine movie to watch on a zero degree Connecticut winter night.
I'm not a fan of Kate's but she is perfect for this role.
Young Timothy Dalton is delicious and I couldn't take my eyes off of Prince Jeffrey!!
Jeff is my favorite character. He's so sly.
Probably one of my all time fave Hepburn films. Thanks for a great review. ;)
Absolutely! Everything came together for this one and I think it's my favorite film of the 1960's. One of the first movie scores I memeorized. I can still sing the Latin. Aside from the brilliant dialogue and the incredible performances, John Barry's Oscar winning score was pure genius. The music when she arrived down the river is so gorgeous!
Why haven't you discussed Valley of the Dolls?
Because there's been so much said already and there are so many others to do. Have a great, SAFE , New Year and thanks for watching! Best; Steve
My favorite Christmas movie...actually the only one I can stand.
Another excellent review,Happy Christmas Steve and johnny!
I really don't know how many times I've watched this, and watched closely. IMHO this is the very best 90 minute master class in acting you will ever see.
Just for the fun of it look up Constance of Brittany, a ruling princess, like Eleanor, and Geoffrey's wife. It's her inheritance that made Geoff Duke of Brittany. That lady was no medieval cypher and I think I would have loved see how Goldman would have written the interplay between her and Eleanor. (Yes, I know you don't mess with a masterpiece...)
But it does give one pause. Best; Steve
Recently saw a video about Hepburn and Streisand tying for the Oscar...the Academy wanted to bring in some younger voters, so Academy President, Gregory Peck added Streisand to the Academy even though she didn't fulfill the requirements of having been in 3 films. She voted for herself and thus, the tie....had they followed the rules, she wouldn't have voted and Hepburn would have most likely won alone (some of her votes may have come because of the decision to add Streisand which could have ticked some people off.)
I'm glad it went as it did. Both iconic performances.
Let me guess:be kind rewind
@@STEVEHAYESTOQ Yes, it would have been an outrage if Streisand wasn't recognized for that performance because of some arcane Academy rule.
@@chrisn7259 However, t wpuldn't have happened if they both hadn't gotten the eaxact sma enumber of votes. Back in the early 30's , when Fredric March and Wallce Beery tied, March was only a couple of votes ahead and they still shared the award. Then the Academy got became more strict about it and voi la! Thanks for watching! Steve
Great review!
Glad you enjoyed it and so glad you watch! Best Wishes; TOQ
Katherine was great in this movie. Watched it today .
Not that it's a huge deal, but Chinon is in France. Henry 2's "Angevin" empire consisted of Great Britain and about 1/3 of France. Didn't last long after him, but that's how it was. FWIW. Great Movie!
I thnk so too!
Why Tired Old Queen he's full of bounce and fun? Superb film, superb actors and a sparkling script. Yea verily, much dirt dished and killing insults slung. Unforgettable,
That last bit was Anthony Hopkins asking Kate Hepburn's for acting advice I think and Peter O'Tool said of Hepburn that once she had hit him he knew she liked him. It was her way.
A tough way, I'd say. LOL!Thanks so much for watching! The next time you do, please push the "LIKE" button. It really helps.
Director- Harvey, was the first person to lose the Oscar after winning the Director's Guild award...BEST FILM OF ALL TIME!!!!!
Too bad. But, he didn't come out of the race empty handed.
The best Hepburn movie !!
Definitely one of 'em.
Thank you for the wonderful review.......I remember see'n this years ago - Im 51.....but I never actually piad attention to the plot...heck I was a kid......anywho - Merry Christmas!
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My favorite movie of al time.
Oh, three cheers for the holidays!!
Even though O'toole was great in this, I loved him in How to Steal a Million with Audrey :)
I always loved him.
I wonder do you ever wonder"..................
I love that set up! You automatically think; " Uh-oh> here it comes. " and of course it does and naturally it's a doozy, with that unforgettable delivery. Thanks for watching! Steve
I read a book about Hollywood that said Spencer Tracey didn't like Hepburn, it was said he actually became physically ill whenever he had to work with her
Interesting. Thanks so much for watching! The next time you do, please push the "LIKE" button. It really helps.
What book was this??
"Let's all go to the movies"
Hepburn and O’Toole are brilliant in this, such a wonderfully venomous double act.
It really is! I love this one.
CHINON Castle is in France. Although it is thought that King Henry II understood English, he and all of the cast of nobles would historically have spoken only French, Norman-French or Latin. But then, the movie would have required sub-titles....
Yes, well...Thanks so much for watching! The next time you do, please push the "LIKE" button. It really helps.
Hepburn tied with a singer for best Oscar? Gimme a f***ing break.
My favourite reviewer is reviewing one of my favourite movies. I must have been a very good boy ...
LOl! As Mae West once said; " When I'm good I'm very good, but when I'm bad, I'm better!" Thanks for watching! Best Wishes; Steve
Love your videos. You are extremely funny---and Johnny is a cutie!
Ain't he? I love him! Thanks for watching! Steve
Katherine Hepburn mentions syphilis. Don't think it was around in the 1100s.
From what I rememeber, it was around. It's always been around in one form or another.
This is one of the BEST movies ever.
Without question. Aboslute perfection from begining to end for all concerned. Thanks for watching! Steve
Chinon is a castle in France not England
In addition to that, Henry spoke French and Latin, not English.
Back in these days the English monarch ruled a good bit of land in France as well as England.
Chinon was in France
One of my all time favorites movies of all time……that KH had to share an Oscar with Streisand is a travesty. (IMO)
Perfectly cast and wonderfully directed...and visa versa! Thanks for watching! Steve
Chinos is in France
I love you!!!!! When is your book coming out?
My auto biographyy? "
THAT DOLL OF KATHARINE ON YOUR LEFT. I NEED IT. PLEASE please tell me where you got it !!! Where are you finding all of these amazing dolls?? :D :D
TDontcha' luv 'em? I they are from the GENE MARSHALL doll collection by incredible artist Mel Odom You can but them on Amazon and Ebay. Just look for GENE dolls. .
@@STEVEHAYESTOQ worth the wait of a reply! Thanks Steve! ✨✨
A stroke of genius to present this as a Christmas film - Steve you are the best!
(ps Chinon is in France and the film is set when much of France was under English rule.)
Poor Peter O'Toole could never get his own Oscar, even when he deserved it like in "The Lion in Winter". Nonetheless, I did love Cliff Robertson (who beat Mr. O'Toole to this Oscar) in his later role as Uncle Ben in the "Spider-Man" trilogy.
Typical Oscar miscalculation.
I love how confident and assured a young 21 year old Timothy Dalton holds his own and matches Peter O’Toole’s performance. Truly a sign on the greatness yet to come in his career. Anthony Hopkins is a little one dimensional for me unfortunately.
You're so tasteful, not mentioning Eleanor's jewelry!
Well....If you can't say something...if you can't...well...
If Peter had slapped Katherine would that have been a funny story too?
Has anyone seen the remake with Glenn Close and Patrick Stewart? I'm thinking of watching it, but I'm afraid it will suck and taint my enjoyment of the original.
Evidently it's very close to this one, but...it isn't this one. Thanks so much for watching! The next time you do, please push the "LIKE" button. It really helps.
It's...................ok. And I LOVE me some Patrick Stewart. But, as Steve says, why bother if you have the original?
An ideal Christmas movie for people from f---ed up families where everybody hates each other.
Ahhh, the holidays...or daze. LOL!
Thanks. But Hepburn did NOT deserve an Oscar for " Guess Who's Coming To Dinner ", one of the weakest performances ever to win. BUT, Peter O'Toole DID deserve to win for this. And Eleanor of Aquitaine was queen of two different countries. Rosemary Harris and Robert Preston were in the original Broadway production. Cheers.
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The real Geoffery was killed in a jousting accident
According to a recent (naughty!) book, the relationship between Hepburn & Tracy was a studio job. She was 100% lesbian, and he, um, had his moments.
also read the book 'Kate'
Thats bull
Nasty scuttlebutt and not true
Lies. I'm sorry but you don't fake such intimate shit for 22 years. They met their families, she LOVED him, and he NEEDED her.
I'm pretty sure I know the one you mean too, and so many of those things were debunked :/
ActRESS, please. You are too good to fall for WOKE BS.
Thanks for watching!
@@STEVEHAYESTOQ Aww, you are a true gentleman. I'm a MO, for sure, but the WOKE stuff drives me crazy. I appreciate why you have to respond to it. My beloved, late husband was am Austrian cop, and he was rather, uh...conservative! He never tried to change my political views. But, I believe he saw more than I did. Thanks, buddy.
Katharine Hepburn is good but she's somewhat stymied by her Connecticut lockjaw accent. O'Toole is better as are some of the supporting cast. But the whole thing is much too "stagey." It's a medieval soap opera and quite, dare I say? , camp.
This is an absolutely brilliant film and one of my favorites of ALL TIME! 👍🤗
Mine too! A holiday favorite! Best Wishes; Steve