Page 98 - All About History 55 - 2017 UK

HISTORY HOLLYWOOD

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Fact versus iction on the silver screen

THE LION IN WINTER

Director: Anthony Harvey Starring: Peter O’Toole, Katharine Hepburn, Anthony Hopkins, Timothy Dalton
Country: UK, US Released: 1968
This star-studded Medieval drama perfectly captures the

Angevins’ perpetual family feud VERDICT While the dialogue may be iction, the ilm
basks in the complex historical background of the period.

While Chinon was a Richard I and Philip II’s As shown in the film, Henry The characters’ motives and The love triangle between
01 lynchpin in the Plantagenet 02 supposed love affair is 03 II and Eleanor liked to 04 actions are highly accurate. 05 Alice, daughter of the
defence, there is no record of a court eluded to in the film. The case of play favourites. The queen clearly Philip and Richard’s rivalry and French king, Henry II, and Richard
being held in the winter of 1183. Richard’s homosexuality is fairly favoured Richard and made him Henry and Eleanor’s verbal sparring is another sticking point. Richard’s
Indeed, the heir apparent, Henry the recent and not a claim made in his rebel against his father. Although ring true, and Henry II’s manic marriage to Alice would have
Young King, was dead by Christmas lifetime. While there is no proof that seemingly weaker and more energy is also perfectly captured secured an alliance between France
and Richard named as heir, so the Richard wasn’t gay, there isn’t any incompetent than his brothers, the by Peter O’Toole, right down to the and England — Henry II making her
court wouldn’t have been necessary. clear evidence suggesting he was. king doted on youngest son, John. infamous chewing of the rushes. his mistress sunk it.

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