THE LION IN WINTER

Director: Anthony Harvey

1968, 134min.

 

Hartford’s own Katharine Hepburn won her third (of four) Academy Awards for Best Actress for her role as Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine in this classic 1968 film set during the Christmas holidays! Royal scandals and fights for power began centuries before the current crop of Kings, Queens and Princes: The Lion In Winter opens in 1183 England as King Henry II (Peter O’Toole, Academy Award for Best Actor) is planning to announce his successor to the throne. However, it is easier said than done. Henry has three sons and wants Prince John (Nigel Terry) to take over. Henry’s wife, Queen Eleanor, who has been released from imprisonment for the holiday, (Katharine Hepburn), has other ideas. She believes their son Prince Richard the Lionhearted (Anthony Hopkins in his first role) should be king. As the family and various schemers gather for the holiday, Queen Eleanor and King Henry II engage in an entertaining battle of equals whose love affair is not quite over. As for Katharine Hepburn, she is magnificent; what other actress could have played this role?” – Roger Ebert, Roger Ebert.com