The Lion in Winter (2003 film)

2003 American television film by Andrei Konchalovsky

The Lion in Winter

Written by| James Goldman
Directed by| Andrei Konchalovsky
Starring| Patrick Stewart
Glenn Close
Andrew Howard
John Light
Rafe Spall
Theme music composer| Richard Hartley
Country of origin| United States
Original language| English
Production
Producers| Patrick Stewart
Dyson Lovell
Cinematography| Sergey Kozlov
Editor| Henry Richardson
Running time| 167 minutes
Production companies| Flying Freehold Productions
HCC Happy Crew Company
Matt IV
Original release
Network| Showtime (US)
Release|

* December 26, 2003 (2003-12-26) (United Kingdom)
* May 23, 2004 (2004-05-23) (United States)

The Lion in Winter is a 2003 made-for-television remake of the 1966 stage play of the same name and of the original 1968 screen version of the play which featured Peter O'Toole and Katharine Hepburn.[1][2]

The film was first shown on December 26, 2003, in the UK and premiered on U.S. television on May 26, 2004. It starred Patrick Stewart and Glenn Close,[3] and was directed by Andrei Konchalovsky. It was filmed on location at Spiš Castle in eastern Slovakia,[4] interiors were filmed in Budapest, Hungary.[5]

Andrew Howard, John Light, and Rafe Spall played the warring brothers. Jonathan Rhys Meyers played the king of France and Julia Vysotskaya, his sister and Henry's mistress, Princess Alais.[1][3]

## Plot[edit]

In the year 1183, Henry II of England, who also rules large parts of France within his Angevin Empire, has invited his three surviving sons, his imprisoned and estranged wife Eleanor and the king of France, who has recently come of age, to join him at his Christmas court at Chinon Castle. His eldest son Henry has died and now the king must decide upon a new heir. King Henry favours his youngest John. Eleanor favours the oldest son Richard.[1] The film shows the intra-family disputes which take place over the next few days. At the end, everyone disperses with nothing resolved for the future.

## Cast[edit]

* Patrick Stewart as Henry II
* Glenn Close as Eleanor of Aquitaine
* Andrew Howard as Richard the Lionheart
* John Light as Geoffrey
* Rafe Spall as John
* Jonathan Rhys Meyers as King Philip II
* Julia Vysotskaya as Alais
* Clive Wood as Captain William Marshall

## Reception[edit]

Brian Lowry of Variety wrote that the film "is a long sit but nevertheless a rewarding one". Of Close's performance, he wrote that "her Eleanor manages to stand apart from Hepburn's".[6]

## Awards and nominations[edit]

### Won[edit]

Primetime Emmy Awards[7]

* Outstanding Costumes - Miniseries, Movie, or Special

Golden Globe Awards[8]

* Best Actress - Miniseries or Television Film (Close)

Screen Actors Guild Awards[9]

* Outstanding Female Actor - Television Movie or Miniseries (Close)

### Nominated[edit]

Costume Designers Guild

* Excellence in Costume Design for Television - Fantasy or Period

Primetime Emmy Awards[7]

* Outstanding Made for Television Movie
* Outstanding Actress - Miniseries or Movie (Close)
* Outstanding Directing - Miniseries, Movie, or Dramatic Special
* Outstanding Art Direction - Miniseries, Movie, or Special
* Outstanding Hairstyling - Miniseries, Movie, or Special

Golden Globe Awards[8]

* Best Miniseries or Television Film
* Best Actor - Miniseries or Television Film (Stewart)

Producers Guild of America Awards[10]

* Television Producer of the Year Award - Longform

## See also[edit]

* List of historical drama films
* The Lion in Winter (play)
* The Lion in Winter (1968 film)

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Reviews: "The Lion in Winter" (1968 and 2003)". acrentropy.blogspot.ca. 23 July 2004. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
2. ^ "The Lion in Winter". CultureVulture. 20 May 2004. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
3. ^ a b Hischak, Thomas S. (2017). 100 Greatest American Plays. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781442256064. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
4. ^ "PeriodDramas.com - The Lion in Winter". www.perioddramas.com. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
5. ^ "Report: Glenn Close and Patrick Stewart to film Lion in Winter | Playbill". Playbill. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
6. ^ Lowry, Brian (16 May 2004). "Review: 'The Lion in Winter'". Variety. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
7. ^ a b "Nominations Search". Television Academy. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
8. ^ a b "Winners & Nominees 2005". www.goldenglobes.com. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
9. ^ "Advanced Search | Screen Actors Guild Awards". www.sagawards.org. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
10. ^ "Breaking News - Producers Guild Awards Honorees | TheFutonCritic.com". thefutoncritic.com. Retrieved 27 August 2017.

## External links[edit]

* The Lion in Winter at IMDb
* The Lion in Winter at AllMovie
* The Lion in Winter at the TCM Movie Database

* v
* t
* e

Films by Andrei Konchalovsky

Feature films|

* The First Teacher (1965)
* The Story of Asya Klyachina (1966)
* A Nest of Gentry (1969)
* Uncle Vanya (1970)
* A Lover's Romance (1974)
* Siberiade (1979)
* Maria's Lovers (1984)
* Runaway Train (1985)
* Duet for One (1986)
* Shy People (1987)
* Homer and Eddie (1989)
* Tango & Cash (1989)
* The Inner Circle (1991)
* Assia and the Hen with the Golden Eggs (1994)
* House of Fools (2002)
* Gloss (2007)
* The Nutcracker in 3D (2010)
* The Postman's White Nights (2014)
* Paradise (2016)
* Sin (2019)
* Dear Comrades! (2020)

Short films|

* The Boy and the Dove (1961)
* Lumière and Company (segment; 1995)
* To Each His Own Cinema (segment: "Dans le Noir"; 2007)

Television|

* The Odyssey (1997)
* The Lion in Winter (2003)

Screenplays|

* The Steamroller and the Violin (1961)
* Andrei Rublev (1966)
* The Seventh Bullet (1972)
* The Ferocious One (1974)
* A Slave of Love (1976)
* Moscow Chill (2007)
* The Demons of St. Petersberg (story; 2008)

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