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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
Directed by Anthony Harvey
UK 1968
Acting greats Peter O'Toole (Lawrence of Arabia), Katharine Hepburn (The African Queen), Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs) and Timothy Dalton (The Living Daylights) star in this epic masterpiece directed by Anthony Harvey (They Might Be Giants). Behind the great stone walls of an English castle, the world's most powerful empire is in crisis. Three sons struggle to win their father's favor, as well as his crown. King Henry II (O'Toole) and his queen, Eleanor (Hepburn), engage in a battle of royal wits that pits elder son Richard (Hopkins) against his brothers John (Nigel Terry, Excalibur) and Geoffrey (John Castle, Man of La Mancha), while the cunning King Philip of France (Dalton) takes advantage of the internal fracturing in his bid to destroy their kingdom. Nominated for 7 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Actor (O'Toole), Director (Harvey) and Costume Design (Margaret Furse) and winner of 3 Academy Awards - Best Actress (Hepburn), Adapted Screenplay (James Goldman) and Music Score (John Barry). *** Stars Katharine Hepburn in her Academy Award winning role as Eleanor of Aquitaine and Peter O’Toole in a powerhouse performance as King Henry II. Anthony Hopkins makes his feature film debut as Richard the Lion Heart and Timothy Dalton stars as Philip II King of France. England, the 12th Century. After the death of his son and heir, King Henry II (Peter O’Toole) is obsessed with finding a new successor, so summons his three remaining sons. Also summoned is his wife, the formidable Eleanor of Aquitaine (Katharine Hepburn), who he has kept imprisoned for the last ten years. As the Royal couple scheme and cajole with their sons their passions turn from tenderness to fury as they determine who should be the future King of England. |
Posters
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Theatrical Release: October 30th, 1968
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews
Review: Studiocanal - Region FREE - 4K UHD
Box Cover |
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CLICK to order from: Bonus Captures: |
Distribution | Studiocanal - Region FREE - 4K UHD | |
Runtime | 2:14:29.625 | |
Video |
2.35 :1 2160P 4K Ultra HDDisc Size: 100,026,660,918 bytesFeature: 95,073,149,952 bytesVideo Bitrate: 84.87 MbpsCodec: HEVC Video |
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NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
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Bitrate 4K Ultra HD: |
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Audio |
LPCM Audio English
2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit LPCM Audio German
2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit DTS Audio English 384 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 384 kbps / 24-bit |
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Subtitles | English (SDH,) German, None | |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: Studiocanal
2.35 :1 2160P 4K Ultra HDDisc Size: 100,026,660,918 bytesFeature: 95,073,149,952 bytesVideo Bitrate: 84.87 MbpsCodec: HEVC Video
Edition Details: • Audio Commentary by Anthony Harvey • NEW - The Heart of a Lion: An Interview with Anthony Hopkins (19:46) • NEW - Shooting the Stars: An Interview with Camera Assistant Robin Vidgeon (10:33) • Interview with John Castle (11:45) • Interview with John Bloom (11:39) • Behind the Scenes Stills Gallery (0:55) • 2024 Restoration Trailer (1:01) Second disc Blu-ray
Black 4K Ultra HD Case inside slipcase Chapters 12 |
Comments: |
NOTE:
The below
Blu-ray
and
4K UHD
captures were taken directly from the respective
discs.
ADDITION: Studiocanal
4K UHD
(February 2025): Studiocanal have transferred Anthony Harvey's The
Lion in Winter
to
4K UHD. I It is likely that the monitor you are seeing this review is not an HDR-compatible display (High Dynamic Range) or Dolby Vision, where each pixel can be assigned with a wider and notably granular range of color and light. Our capture software if simulating the HDR (in a uniform manner) for standard monitors. This should make it easier for us to review more 4K UHD titles in the future and give you a decent idea of its attributes on your system. So our captures may not support the exact same colors (coolness of skin tones, brighter or darker hues etc.) as the 4K system at your home. But the framing, detail, grain texture support etc. are, generally, not effected by this simulation representation.
NOTE: We have added 52 more large
resolution 4K UHD captures
(in lossless PNG format) for DVDBeaver Patrons HERE
On their
4K UHD
The Studiocanal
4K UHD
Anthony Harvey's The Lion in Winter
is a historical drama that "roars with wit, venom, and
powerhouse performances." It was adapted from
James Goldman’s 1966
play, set in 1183 during a fictional Christmas court at Chinon,
where England’s King Henry II (Peter O’Toole) wrangles his scheming
family over who’ll inherit his throne. Harvey, an editor-turned-director
fresh off cutting
Dr. Strangelove, crafts a film that’s less about historical
precision and more about human ferocity - Shakespearean in spirit,
medieval in grit. Henry, aging but virile, pits his three sons - Richard
(Anthony Hopkins), Geoffrey (John Castle), and John (Nigel Terry) -
against each other while juggling his estranged wife, Eleanor of
Aquitaine (Katharine Hepburn), freshly sprung from prison for the
holiday. Richard is rumored gay here, nodding to historical whispers.
Add Princess Alais (Jane Merrow -
Catacombs,
Night of the Big Heat), Henry’s mistress betrothed to Richard,
and Philip II of France (Timothy Dalton in his debut), and it’s a
chessboard of alliances and betrayals. Everyone’s got a knife behind
their smile. Harvey’s direction maintains the air of its theatrical
roots. He leans on close-ups - O’Toole’s wild eyes, Hepburn’s sly grins
- to let the actors chew the scenery, but he grounds it with a wintry,
rugged vibe. Shot at Ireland’s Cahir Castle and France’s Montmajour
Abbey, the film’s muddy courtyards and torch-lit halls feel lived-in,
perhaps a trifle stagy. It's still a remarkable effort evoking
Becket with O'Toole reprising King Henry II. The Lion in Winter
is a verbal brawl with swords in reserve. I am pleased that Studiocanal
brought it to
4K UHD.
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Menus / Extras
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CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
1) Studiocanal (2018) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP 2) Studiocanal - Region FREE - 4K UHD - BOTTOM |
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1) Studiocanal (2018) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP 2) Studiocanal - Region FREE - 4K UHD - BOTTOM |
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1) Studiocanal (2018) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP 2) Studiocanal - Region FREE - 4K UHD - BOTTOM |
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1) Studiocanal (2018) - Region 'A' - Blu-ray TOP 2) Studiocanal - Region FREE - 4K UHD - BOTTOM |
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More full resolution (3840 X 2160) 4K Ultra HD Captures for Patreon Supporters HERE
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Box Cover |
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CLICK to order from: Bonus Captures: |
Distribution | Studiocanal - Region FREE - 4K UHD |
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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |