The Lion in Winter (1968)

PG08/20/1968Drama, History2h 14m
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What family doesn’t have its ups and downs?

Overview

Henry II and his estranged queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, battle over the choice of an heir.

Top Billed Cast

  1. Cast 1

    Peter O'Toole

    Henry II

  2. Cast 1

    Katharine Hepburn

    Eleanor of Aquitaine

  3. Cast 1

    Anthony Hopkins

    Richard

  4. Cast 1

    John Castle

    Geoffrey

  5. Cast 1

    Nigel Terry

    John

  6. Cast 1

    Timothy Dalton

    Philip II

  7. Cast 1

    Jane Merrow

    Alais

  8. Cast 1

    Nigel Stock

    William Marshall

  9. Cast 1

    O.Z. Whitehead

    Bishop of Durham

Katherine Hepburn is simply superb in this depiction of the truly dysfunctional relationship between Eleanor of Aquitaine, the estranged queen of England's King Henry II and her spouse. Peter O'Toole reprises his characterisation from "Becket" (1964), and together they spar and spat with aplomb. Aided by a wonderful screenplay from James Goldman that is full of sarcasm, pith and some wonderfully effective (and brutal) put-downs, we play through this most bizarre of family dynamics. It all centres around a Christmas court for which the Queen is released from her Salisbury house arrest to join t...