Poster

The Lion in Winter ()

Reference View | Change View
1183 A.D.: King Henry II's three sons all want to inherit the throne, but he won't commit to a choice. When he allows his imprisoned wife Eleanor of Aquitaine out for a Christmas visit, they all variously plot to force him into a decision.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
  • Won 3 Oscars. Another 13 wins & 18 nominations.
  • See more »
Reviews:

Photos and Videos

148 photos | 3 videos

Cast verified as complete

Edit
...
Henry II
...
Eleanor of Aquitaine
...
Richard
...
Geoffrey
...
John
...
Philip II
...
Alais
...
William Marshal
Kenneth Ives ...
Queen Eleanor's Guard
...
Bishop of Durham
Fran Stafford ...
Lady in Waiting
Ella More ...
Lady in Waiting
...
Strolling Player
...
Strolling Player
Karol Hagar ...
Strolling Player
David Griffith ...
Strolling Player (as Mark Griffith)

Directed by

Edit
Anthony Harvey

Written by

Edit
James Goldman ... (screenplay)
 
James Goldman ... (play "The Lion in Winter")

Produced by

Edit
Joseph E. Levine ... executive producer
Jane C. Nusbaum ... associate producer
Martin Poll ... producer

Music by

Edit
John Barry

Cinematography by

Edit
Douglas Slocombe ... director of photography

Editing by

Edit
John Bloom

Editorial Department

Edit
Lesley Walker ... assistant editor
Roger Spottiswoode ... second assistant editor (uncredited)

Casting By

Edit
Paul Lee Lander ... (uncredited)

Art Direction by

Edit
Peter Murton
Lee Poll ... (uncredited)

Set Decoration by

Edit
Lee Poll ... (uncredited)

Costume Design by

Edit
Margaret Furse
Lee Poll ... (uncredited)

Makeup Department

Edit
Bill Lodge ... makeup artist
A.G. Scott ... hairdresser

Production Management

Edit
Basil Appleby ... production manager
Jim Brennan ... unit manager
René Brun ... production manager: France
Víctor Merenda ... production manager: France
John Quested ... production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

Edit
Al Burgess ... second assistant director
Kip Gowans ... assistant director
Patrick O'Brien ... second assistant director
Mishka Cheyko ... third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department

Edit
Ted Clements ... assistant art director
Peter James ... set dresser
Gilbert Margerie ... art director: France
Gus Walker ... construction manager
George Ball ... props (uncredited)
Ken Barley ... apprentice plasterer (uncredited)
Bruce Bigg ... standby props (uncredited)
Jimmy Kavanagh ... drapes (uncredited)
Peter Melrose ... scenic artist (uncredited)
Cleo Nethersole ... drapesmaster (uncredited)
Cliff Robinson ... chief draughtsman (uncredited)
Alan Roderick-Jones ... assistant art director (uncredited)
Arthur Wicks ... standby props (uncredited)

Sound Department

Edit
Chris Greenham ... sound editor
Gerry Humphreys ... dubbing mixer (as Gerry Humphries)
Simon Kaye ... sound recordist
Robin O'Donoghue ... assistant dubbing mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by

Edit
Wally Armitage ... special effects (uncredited)
Garth Inns ... special effects (uncredited)

Stunts

Edit
Peter Diamond ... stunts (uncredited)
Bronco McLoughlin ... stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department

Edit
Michael Browne ... chief electrician (as Michael Brown)
Robin Vidgeon ... camera assistant
Michael Walter ... grip
Chic Waterson ... camera operator
Keith Blake ... clapper loader (uncredited)
Eddie Collins ... clapper loader: second unit (uncredited)
David Pearce ... camera assistant (uncredited)
Bob Penn ... still photographer (uncredited)
Herbert Smith ... camera operator: second unit (uncredited)
Bob Stilwell ... focus puller: second unit (uncredited)
Robert Willoughby ... special still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department

Edit
David Baker ... wardrobe
Vi Murray ... wardrobe

Music Department

Edit
John Barry ... conductor
Sidney Margo ... music contractor (uncredited)
Robert Richards ... orchestrator (uncredited)
John Scott ... musician: flute (uncredited)

Script and Continuity Department

Edit
Pamela Carlton ... continuity

Additional Crew

Edit
Emanuel Azenberg ... produced in association with: Broadway play
Walter Hyman ... producer: Broadway play (as Walter A. Hyman)
Alan King ... producer: Broadway play
Joseph E. Levine ... presenter
Jilda Smith ... production secretary
Eugene V. Wolsk ... producer: Broadway play
John Marshall ... subtitle script and timing (uncredited)
Crew believed to be complete

Production Companies

Edit

Distributors

Edit

Special Effects

Edit

Other Companies

Edit

Storyline

Edit
Plot Summary

It's Christmas 1183, and King Henry II (Peter O'Toole) is planning to announce his successor to the throne. The jockeying for the crown, though, is complex. Henry has three sons and wants his boy Prince John (Nigel Terry) to take over. Henry's wife, Queen Eleanor (Katharine Hepburn), has other ideas. She believes their son Prince Richard (Sir Anthony Hopkins) should be King. As the family and various schemers gather for the holiday, each tries to make the indecisive King choose his or her option. Written by Jwelch5742

Plot Keywords
Taglines "The Lion in Winter" is about love and hate between a man and a woman and their sons. It's also about politics, vengeance, greed and ambition. It other words it's about life. See more »
Genres
Parents Guide View content advisory »
Certification

Additional Details

Edit
Also Known As
  • Le lion en hiver (France)
  • Der Löwe im Winter (Germany)
  • El león en invierno (Spain)
  • Zima jednog lava (Croatia)
  • Lev v zime (Czechoslovakia)
  • See more »
Runtime
  • 134 min
Official Sites
Country
Language
Color
Aspect Ratio
  • 2.20 : 1 (70 mm prints) (Australian release) (1973 UK re-release)
  • See more »
Sound Mix
Filming Locations

Box Office

Budget $4,000,000 (estimated)

Did You Know?

Edit
Trivia Katharine Hepburn bested Peter O'Toole as the top dog on the set. Known to be something of a tyrant on most of his shoots, O'Toole meekly obliged, when she told him, "Peter, stop towering over me. Come and sit down and try to look respectable." O'Toole readily admitted in her presence that she reduced him "to a shadow of my former gay-dog self. She is terrifying. It is sheer masochism working with her. She has been sent by some dark fate to nag and torment me." Her reply: "Don't be so silly. We are going to get on very well. You are Irish, and you make me laugh. In any case, I am on to you, and you to me." See more »
Goofs Christmas trees were a somewhat obscure German tradition, introduced to the British royal family, and, by extension, England, by Queen Charlotte. It was not commonly decorated in English homes until the introduction of this custom by Prince Albert. Even the concept of using glass balls was unknown to Germans until long after the 12th century. See more »
Movie Connections Featured in Precious Images (1986). See more »
Quotes John: A knife! He's got a knife!
Eleanor of Aquitaine: Of course he has a knife, he always has a knife, we all have knives! It's 1183 and we're barbarians! How clear we make it. Oh, my piglets, we are the origins of war: not history's forces, nor the times, nor justice, nor the lack of it, nor causes, nor religions, nor ideas, nor kinds of government, nor any other thing. We are the killers. We breed wars. We carry it like syphilis inside. Dead bodies rot in field and stream because the living ones are rotten. For the love of God, can't we love one another just a little - that's how peace begins. We have so much to love each other for. We have such possibilities, my children. We could change the world.
See more »
Getting Started | Contributor Zone »

Contribute to This Page


Clear your history

Recently Viewed