You do not see many close-up shots of people’s face expressions throughout the film. It seems that the majority of the camera shots are from high above and almost always have the beautiful scenery in the background. The film uses this as very obvious pathetic fallacy which gives a misleading notion that the war is glorious and in a way a pleasurable experience. The film was even funded by the government and Lawrence received an Academy Honorary Award for his role as actor, producer and director. He managed to entertain the viewers and encourage fighting in the war. However, if you don’t analyse the film and just sit their twiddling your thumbs you won’t learn anything. Filter out the irrelevant patriotism and learn the History of it!
The most memorable part of the film is the scene where the French horses are charging, the camera lowers and films alongside the cavalry which is a very enjoyable scene to watch, and very advanced for it’s time. The Battle of Agincourt by Lawrence Olivier is on the whole very advanced for it’s time and to its audience clearly very successful, however a modern day audience (you) would not enjoy it as much as Kenneth Branagh’s. But remember, you don’t want to enjoy it, you want to study it. Lawrence Olivier was fairly clever in how he released his film in a time more likely to catch people’s attention, and gain popularity. The British people were feeling beaten up and needed a sense of worth; Lawrence Olivier gave them this by elaborating British patriotism and giving the British a reason to be proud of their country. By doing this he made his film very successful and didn’t the high budget for it’s time wasn’t important as the British Government helped funding it. Lawrence Olivier’s film is not historically factual and should only be shown as the British perception of the war.
Kenneth Branagh’s portrayal of the Battle of Agincourt was in general; more realistic, bloodier and more exciting. However it isn’t remembered as well as Lawrence Olivier’s. Lawrence Olivier’s depiction of The Battle of Agincourt was a breakthrough for it’s time, nothing like it had ever been made, and therefore it must have had quite a useful boost of morale for the British troops and a slightly strengthened support for the Second World War.
The overall budget of the movie was £475,000. The budget for Kenneth Branagh’s film was about £4,500,000. These prices cannot be directly compared as currency has changed. Similarly the movies cannot be directly compared as they both had different audiences with different needs and expectations. But Kenneth Branagh’s version gives a more realistic version of The Battle of Agincourt, if you only have the time to watch one film then you should watch Kenneth Branagh’s version.
Kenneth Branagh also starred in the later version of The Battle of Agincourt and was nominated for an Oscar for his role as actor and director. It was released in 1989. The date of its release doesn’t seem to pose any significance; the film was simply a remake of a classic film. In 1989 cinema was more independent from theatre, therefore Kenneth Branagh could remake The Battle of Agincourt more realistically and in general more convincingly. In comparison Lawrence Olivier’s film was far more patriotic and the scenery and general mood was more colourful but is less realistic.
Here is an image from Kenneth Branagh’s version. The armour and clothing is more like it was in the year 1415 (date of the Battle of Agincourt), the producer or directors have clearly researched this. Also there faces are bloody and muddy like they should be after a battle.
This picture is of Lawrence Olivier’s film, as you can see the skies are blue and the scene is very colourful. Even after the battle the people are clean.
In conclusion both films have a bias view towards the British during the battle, so none are true sources of evidence, remember it’s just a movie and its main aim is to entertain NOT to be an official piece of historic evidence. You should only watch these films to give you some sort of vision of the Battle; the British perception.