How King Charles Inspired Kenneth Branagh's 'Henry V' Performance in 1989 Shakespeare Adaptation (Flashback)
04.05.2023 - 17:13
/ etonline.com
King Charles ascended to the throne of England, he spoke candidly to Kenneth Branagh about his life as the heir apparent, offering insight as the young actor prepared to direct and star in William Shakespeare's. The royal connection, however, ran deeper than their nobility lineage, as the 15th-century monarch was also the first to wear Charles' previous title, The Prince of Wales.Speaking with ET in 1989, Branagh explained the backstory of how then-Prince Charles became an unofficial advisor on the movie adaptation, which brought the play’s oft-quoted sonnets — including the rallying cry at the Siege of Harfleur («Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more») and the St.
Crispin’s Day speech («We few, we happy few, we band of brothers») — to its largest audience yet on the big screen.«When I think about the royal family, I think [Charles] is a genuine, genuine man,» Branagh observed. «What he carries around is an amazing sense of weight and purpose.
And melancholy, as well.»He clarified, «Not sadness, particularly. Melancholy.
A kind of wisdom that's to do with separation and isolation.»Ahead of production, Branagh told a friend that he was struggling to tap into a royal's mindset. «I was going on about this one day to a friend of mine, who I wasn't aware knew a friend of Prince Charles,» Branagh recalled.
«A meeting was set up for me to have a chance to talk about this,» adding, «I was just interested in those areas of his experience that I didn't know anything about.»«I talked through those areas of Henry that I was keen to present, and just wanted any comment that he might have,» Branagh said. «But, then, his regal isolation was something I wanted to find out about.»Set in the backdrop of the Hundred Years’
.