The Hollow Crown brings together four filmed adaptations of Shakespeare's History Plays - Richard II, Henry IV parts 1 and 2, and Henry V. Starting in the year 1399, this continuous story of monarchy follows events during sixteen years of dynastic and political power play. Kings, with their families and followers, are threatened by rebellion and conflict.
The story takes us from the Royal Court at Westminster to battlefields in England and France. These rich films are woven with the finest of Shakespeare's poetry and are filmed in the architecture and landscape of the period.
Richard II (Airs June 30)
Episode 1 of 4
Duration: 2 hours, 20 minutes
King Richard is called upon to settle a dispute between his cousin Henry Bolingbroke and Thomas Mowbray. Richard calls for a duel but then halts it just before swords clash. Both men are banished from the realm. Richard visits John of Gaunt, Bolingbroke's father, who, in the throes of death, reprimands the king. After seizing Gaunt's money and land, Richard leaves for wars against the rebels in Ireland. Bolingbroke returns to claim back his inheritance. Supported by his allies, Northumberland and the Duke of York, Bolingbroke takes Richard prisoner and lays claim to the throne.
King Richard - Ben Whishaw.
Bolingbroke - Rory Kinnear.
Duke of York - David Suchet.
Earl of Northumberland - David Morrissey.
Duchess of York - Lindsay Duncan.
Thomas Mowbray - James Purefoy.
Queen Isabella - Clemence Poesy.
Duke of Aumerle - Tom Hughes.
Gardener - David Bradley.
John of Gaunt - Patrick Stewart.
Abbot of Westminster - Richard Bremmer
Henry IV - Part 1 (Airs July 7)
Episode 2 of 4
Duration: 1 hour, 55 minutes
The heir to the throne, Prince Hal, defies his father, King Henry, by spending his time at Mistress Quickly's tavern in the company of the dissolute Falstaff and his companions. The King is threatened by a rebellion led by Hal's rival, Hotspur, his father Northumberland and his uncle Worcester. In the face of this danger to the state, Prince Hal joins his father to defeat the rebels at the Battle of Shrewsbury and kill Hotspur in single combat.
Henry IV - Jeremy Irons.
Falstaff - Simon Russell Beale.
Prince Hal - Tom Hiddleston.
Mistress Quickly - Julie Walters.
Northumberland - Alun Armstrong.
Hotspur - Joe Armstrong.
Poins - David Dawson.
Kate Percy - Michelle Dockery.
Bardolph - Tom Georgeson.
Worcester - David Hayman.
Westmoreland - James Laurenson.
Mortimer - Harry Lloyd.
Doll Tearsheet - Maxine Peake.
Glendower - Robert Pugh
Henry IV part 2
Episode 3 of 4
Rebels still plot against Henry IV. Falstaff (Simon Russell Beale) hopes for high office.
Henry V
Episode 4 of 4
Henry V (Tom Hiddleston) takes England to war.
English confront French at Agincourt.
Henry V - Tom Hiddleston.
Julie Waters - Mistress Quickly.
John Hurt - The Chorus.
Richard Griffiths - Duke of Burgandy.
Melanie Theirry - Princess Katherine.
Source: BBC2
Trailer and Video clips:
This looks to be AWESOME!
ReplyDeleteA number of actors I adore and some great material to work with!
Couldnt agree more.I am especially looking forward to Henry V
ReplyDeleteI can't wait!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for telling us,i was in the middle of cursing the BBC out thinking i would have to wait f o r e v e r!
ReplyDeleteYour right this does look awesome!! Does Jeremy Irons look ill to you?
Maybe the Photoshop person got the scale wrong? Or did you mean in the stills?
ReplyDeleteIf I recall Tom Hiddleston is well over 6 feet tall, 6-3 maybe? So maybe Jeremy is used to playing with the height challenged of Hollywood.... or standing in a ditch? XD
BTW... Another UK series (or a 2-hour movie that will have more movies to follow) is on PBS Mystery this Sunday I think... It's called Endeavor. It is a prequel to the Inspector Morse mysteries, but as a prequel you do not need to have watched Morse at all.
Sorry,yes i meant the stills. I looked at him again then laughed,i keep forgetting we are getting older! it must be the grey in his beard and hair,plus the chipmunk cheeks don't help either! Guess some people don't age as well as others look at Patrick Stewart,he looks great!
ReplyDeleteI will have to keep on eye out for Endeavor,think i'll go and look for it now so i can program it,thanks D!! :)
Who is playing the Chorus? Wonderful voice. And thanks for the info about it appearing on PBS, DarqueMode. You made my day!
ReplyDeleteJohn Hurt I believe. He does the voice of the Great Dragon on BBC's Merlin... Great Voice.
ReplyDeleteIf I find out any exact PBS dates I will post them here or on W-i-C for you.
Nevermind, I see that it is John Hurt. Well that explains the wonderful voice!
ReplyDeleteStewart has looked the same for like 30 years! XD
ReplyDeleteBeen looking forward to this for quite a while, should be pretty special I think with that cast and the BBC being involved.
ReplyDelete