The Lion in Winter

Plot

Christmas 1183, Angevin Empire: King Henry II plans to announce his successor to the throne. Jockeying for the crown, though, is complex. Henry has three sons and wants his boy Prince John to take over. Henry's wife, Queen Eleanor, believes their son Prince Richard should be king. As family and various schemers gather for the holiday, each tries to make the indecisive king choose their option.

About The Lion in Winter

The Lion in Winter is a 1968 historical drama film centred on Henry II of England and his attempt to establish a line of succession during a family gathering at Christmas in 1183. His efforts unleash both political and personal turmoil involving himself, his estranged wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, their three surviving sons, the French king Philip II, and Philip's half-sister Alais, who is Henry's mistress. The film was directed by Anthony Harvey, written by James Goldman, and produced by Joseph E. Levine, Jane C. Nusbaum, and Martin Poll. It stars Peter O'Toole and Katharine Hepburn, with Jane Merrow, John Castle, Anthony Hopkins, Timothy Dalton (in his film debut), Nigel Stock, and Nigel Terry appearing in support. Based on Goldman's play The Lion in Winter, the film was a critical and commercial success, winning three Academy Awards (including Hepburn's win for Best Actress, making her the first three-time winner in the category). O'Toole, who had previously played Henry II in Becket (1964), was also nominated for Best Actor. Having been nominated for Becket as well, this made him only the second person to be nominated twice for playing the same character, after Bing Crosby. A television remake of the film was released in 2003.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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