The Lion In Winter (1968)

It's 1183 in England at Christmastime. King Henry II (Peter O'Toole) is holding Christmas Court and releasing his estranged wife, Eleanor Of Aquitaine (Katharine Hepburn), from her prison for the holidays. But the holiday visit turns vicious as Henry and Eleanor battle it out for which son will inherit Henry's throne as Eleanor favors Richard (Anthony Hopkins) while Henry wants John (Nigel Terry) to succeed him. Based on the play by James Goldman (who adapts his play for the screen) and directed by Anthony Harvey. While the original play was a flop, the film was a critical success (it won the New York film critics best picture award, so much for the New York film critics) and a popular box office hit. I'm always taken aback at how seriously some people take this film as if it were a serious historical drama along the lines of A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS (which Roger Ebert favorably compared it to) or, heaven forbid, a work of film art. Its chronic anachronism aside, the dialogue is not nearly as literate or witty as it thinks it is. What makes the movie a joy to watch are the performances of Hepburn and O'Toole. They're clearly relishing their roles and the exhilaration with which they go at it like the thoroughbreds they are is a genuine pleasure to watch. With Timothy Dalton, John Castle and Jane Merrow.