Henry V: Kenneth Branagh's Shakespeare Film Still Defines War Cinema Excellence After 36 Years
Kenneth Branagh’s Henry V: Shakespeare Goes to War Like Never Before
It’s been 36 years since Kenneth Branagh released his much-talked-about version of Henry V, and the film’s reputation still hasn’t dimmed. If you’ve heard someone call it one of the boldest Shakespeare adaptations ever, they’re not exaggerating. Back in 1989, Branagh—then only in his late 20s—turned heads not just by starring as the young English king, but by throwing himself behind the camera for his directorial debut. Not a bad way to introduce yourself to Hollywood, earning Oscar nominations for both acting and directing in your first try.
Most folks remember Laurence Olivier’s 1944 take on Henry V—all colorful sets and patriotic flair. Branagh ripped up that rulebook, ditching the romance of war for something raw, muddy, and bloody. The Battle of Agincourt is the centerpiece in more ways than one: Branagh's version throws you into the chaos with rain-soaked armor, claustrophobic sword fights, and exhausted faces smeared with mud. No one looks like they’re playing dress-up; these soldiers feel scared, alive, and terribly human.
Branagh’s Henry isn’t some flawless hero king. Early on, he’s rough around the edges, still feeling the weight of his wild youth, shadowed by the memory of nights spent drinking and joking with commoners. Watching him transform—first hesitant, then suddenly fierce—makes for genuinely gripping drama. When he steps forward and delivers the soaring St. Crispin’s Day speech, it doesn’t sound like a dry classroom recitation. He’s rousing actual, muddy, terrified men, and you can just about hear the adrenaline spike off-screen.
The Cast and the Clash of Tone: Performance Meets Poetry
It’s not just Branagh who sticks in your mind. Emma Thompson (who’d marry Branagh soon after) makes Princess Katherine somehow both awkward and strong. Sure, some critics picked at her French accent, but her chemistry with Branagh brings a softness to a film that’s otherwise all iron and blood. Their courtship, tucked in after the carnage, is all shy glances and gentle teasing—a breath of air after stifling tension.
Derek Jacobi’s performance deserves a special mention. As the Chorus, he pops up in modern dress, roaming empty battlefields and castle ruins, guiding viewers through Shakespeare’s lines with urgency and wit. Ian Holm and Judi Dench round out the cast, making even the smallest roles pulse with life. And, amid all the storm and stress, the so-called low-life trio—Pistol, Bardolph, and Nym—crack jokes and squabble, reminding everyone that war hits the ordinary folk hardest.
What ties it all together is Branagh’s daring mix of high poetry and grounded realism. The language is all Shakespeare, but the delivery? It’s personal, not pompous. The film’s look and feel are gritty, but the words cut through with clarity—even folks new to Shakespeare have said they ‘finally got it’ after watching this version.
The themes Branagh latches onto—honor, fragile leadership, and the sense that someone high above might be pulling the strings—don’t fade out once the trumpets stop. They stick with you, whether it’s in Henry’s sleepless prayers before battle, his loneliness as king, or that uneasy truce with France sealed not with a sword but with tenderness.
No surprise, then, that this war film adaptation of Shakespeare’s story sits at an almost perfect 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s lost none of its bite or beauty. Branagh’s Henry V isn’t just for Shakespeare purists or history buffs. It’s for anyone who wants to see what happens when artistry and guts collide—and leave you staring at the screen long after the credits roll.