80%
An amusing history lesson that cleverly uses ironic degradation and understatement (unlike Shakespeare) to show the often lowdown human side of great historical events among and between queens and kings. It helps as well that the actors are all very good – especially an instinctive comedienne like Katherine Hepburn – and that the script is humorously venomous. Hepburn completely outshines the British, Royal Shakespeare Company cast - so much so that her American accent does not jar the ear for a second. She also has the funniest lines, which she delivers with comically-timed skill: 'Well, what family doesn't have its ups and downs?' almost to camera after one particularly murderous and invective laden shouting match with Peter O'Toole's Henry II.
Because it reduces history to the story of a thoroughly dysfunctional family, we become more emotionally involved than we would otherwise be in the story of the struggle for command between Henry II's three sons as to whom should inherit the throne of England. Because the king can choose an heir, rather than merely accept the eldest child, this leads to the infighting that is the springboard for the drama. This tale thus becomes a more intimate study of both political power and power politics, where lust for domination is ultimately a solace for lack of parental love – how unlike our own dear royal family today!
Copyright © 2009 Frank TALKER. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute it in any format; provided that mention of the author’s Weblog (http://franktalker5.blogspot.com/) is included: E-mail notification requested. All other rights reserved.
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