Film: "The Lion in Winter"

Paper Summary:

This paper describes the great historical epic film,"The Lion in Winter" about the later life of Henry II Plantagenet, King of England, from 1142 to 1189 A.D, when Henry was embroiled in a family dispute concerning his successor to the throne of England in 1183. The author believes that, because of its realistic portrayal of the characters, plot, setting and time frame, this film stands out as one of the best historical epics produced during the 1960s. The paper stresses that (1) the portrayal of the Plantagenet family is considered to be a true representatation of the actual persons and (2) the location of the film is in or near the King's residence in England.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Filmic Narrative
Historical Context
Historical Accuracy
Critical Assessment

From the Paper:

"Regarding Henry II's family, it could be said that within this often turbulent and violent arena, "war was their pleasure, but marriage was their business." This war aspect of the Plantagenets was based in part on Henry's complete unwillingness to share his special heritage with his wife and sons, a heritage of the Anglo-Saxon line via his grandmother Matilda and his father as the hereditary Count of Anjou. Also, through his marriage to Eleanor, Henry II laid claim to Aquitaine and other areas of France, including Brittany, Normandy, Gascony, Toulouse, Maine and Poitou, all of which made up the Angevin Empire."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Ashley, Maurice. Great Britain to 1688. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1961.
• Barber, Richard. Devil's Crown: A History of Henry II and His Reign. London: BBC Worldwide, Ltd., 1978.
• ---. Henry Plantagenet: A Biography of Henry II of England. UK: Boydell Press, 1973.
• Christiansen, Michael. "Henry II Plantagenet." Journal of British Studies. Vol. 3 no. 3 (1998): 156-66.
• Edwards, H.L. "King Henry II and Thomas Becket." Journal of British Studies. Vol. 2 no. 2 (1995): 167-74.

More papers on Film: "The Lion in Winter":

• Essay # 36955 : "The Lion In Winter"
• Book Review # 131347 : "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" - An Analysis"
• Essay # 74459 : "Eleanor of Aquitaine"

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