The Hollow Crown: Henry V (Review)

Starring Tom Hiddleston, Anton Lesser, John Hurt, and Richard Griffiths, Episode 4 follows the recently crowned King Henry V, who is an inexperienced but responsible and mature monarch. Having rejected Falstaff, King Henry turns his eye on France, which his ancestor, Edward III, controlled a huge portion of. But let's be clear: King Hal will not invade France unless his claim to the French throne is valid and legal. Two of leaders of the English church tell him it is. Then, he has an audience with the ambassador of the French who brings a gift from the Dauphin: a chest of tennis balls. The Dauphin, who is arrogant, thinks Hal is still a rebellious and dissolute child, not a mature and wise King. The gift of tennis balls is deemed insulting by the young King, who flies into a fit of tranquil fury. Up until this point, Henry wasn't  sure about attacking France. Now, he needs no more convincing. 

Some have noted the similiarities between Henry V and Russian President Vladamir Putin, but I think we should not impose our contemporary moral codes on a king who lived many centuries ago and compare him to a contemporary political leader. Shakespeare's Henry V and the historical Henry V do after all, have signifcant differences. While the historical Henry V has been depicted by modern historians as cold, calculating, cruel, and remorseless, Shakespeare's Henry V is more personable and affable. And even the Henry V modern historians depict is an incomplete portrait of who this guy really was. And depending on actor's portrayal, he is conflicted about what he has to do. Besides, the legality and validity of Henry V's claim to the French throne has been a matter of debate for some time now. 

Falstaff dies of an unknown ilness, but Hal's former companions know that the King shattered Faltsaff's heart and spirit with his rejection in Henry IV-Part 2. Several of those companions head to France. King Henry's forces biesiege the French city of Harfleur. During the siege, Henry delivers one of the most famous lines of the entire play: "Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; Or close the wall up with our English dead!"

It is here that I note Tom's approach to delivering famous lines in contrast to Kenneth Branagh. Branagh bellows this line at the top of his lungs. Case in point: 

Tom's delivery is more subdued and intimate as he encourages several tired and truama-stricken soldiers.

After they capture the city, Henry delivers a slew of "rape, pillage, and burn" threats to the Governor if he does not surrender. These threats elicit aghast expressions from his commanders. I was aghast, too. But thankfully, the Governor surrenders and Henry orders his men to treat the people of Harfleur with respect. The King's former companion, Bardolph, loots a church in Harfleur, and Fluellen, one of the King's commanders, reports him to the Duke of York, who sentences Bardolph to death. As King Henry and his army march on through France, they come across a hanged and dead Bardolph. Henry's grief is palpable at seeing the corpse of his friend and has brief flashbacks of himself and Bardolph laughing together at Mistress Quickly's tavern in Eastcheap. But then, Hal steels himself and delivers this speech to his men:   

"We would have all such offenders so cut off: and we
give express charge, that in our marches through the
country, there be nothing compelled from the 
villages, nothing taken but paid for, none of the
French upbraided or abused in disdainful language;
for when lenity and cruelty play for a kingdom, the
gentler gamester is the soonest winner."  

Even in giving this speech, Tom portrays King Henry as sounding slightly shaken and upset, particularly towards the end. This is a King Hal who needs to emphasize the expectation of discipline and morality to his men, even if he doesn't want to use a friend's execution to do so. They march on. Dysentery spreads through Hal's troops like wildfire and many die. The English set up camp near the village of Agincourt, and the men who survive bury those who have died from the disease. Meanwhile, King Harry is in a tent strategizing with his inner circle when Montjoy, the messenger of the French, arrives in the English camp. Henry steps out of the tent to meet the envoy, who brings a message from King Charles IV of France. 

The night before the Battle of Agincourt, the French are savoring what they think is an inevitable victory. In the English camp, King Henry goes around and encourages his men. Then after going around the camp as himself, he borrows a knight's cloak and walks through the camp disguised as a common man. He speaks with two of his soldiers. One of them is doubtful that the cause of the King's war is just. After talking with those men, he gets a few moments to himself. He reveals that he has a lot on his mind and says the lives of the common people are better than the life of a King. Then, he prays to God, asking Him to give his troops courage and to not hold him responsible for his father usurping the throne, saying he has done a lot to atone for his father's sin. By the time he is finished, it is dawn.

Later that morning, Hal delivers the famous Saint Crispin's Day/"We Band of Brothers" speech:

"If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour. 25
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires: 
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England:
God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one man more, methinks, would share from me 
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,

Let him depart; his passport shall be made

And crowns for convoy put into his purse: 
We would not die in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is called the feast of Crispian:
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian:'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars. 
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day.'
Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day: then shall our names.
Familiar in his mouth as household words 55
Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by, 
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile, 
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day." 

I draw contrast between Tom's delivery and Sir Laurence Olivier and Kenneth Branagh's deliveries of this iconic monologue. 

Branagh and Olivier both deliver the speech in a energetic tone to the entire English army. Tom's delivery is once again more subdued. His tone conveys the gravity of the situation and the likelihood that they will all die in battle. Tom's King Henry delivers the speech to his inner circle. 

Montjoy comes once more to King Harry on behalf of the Constable of France to give the English monarch one more chance to surrender. Henry refuses and the Battle of Agincourt begins with the Duke of York leading the English advance regiment's charge. Hal joins the battle shortly after the English and French forces clash. This is historically accurate, as the real Henry V was in the middle of the fighting and a fleur de lis was cut off his crown.  The Duke of York is killed. The English take French knights and men-at-arms prisoner towards the end of the battle. The Duke of Exeter informs King Henry that the Duke of York was killed. Seeing several French riders approaching and stricken with grief over the death of one of his relatives, King Henry orders the French POWS to be executed in a fit of rage. The Duke of Exeter is aghast at such an command from his King, but complies. As the English execute their POWs, Hal closes his eyes, which conveys how much it pained him to give that order. 

Then, Montjoy tells Henry that he has won the battle and asks permission to tally the French dead. He sends one of his nobles to go with Montjoy and tally the English dead. The noble comes back later with the lists of the French and English fatalities, which King Henry reads. Then, Harry orders the English dead to be buried with respect and thanks God for his victory. He orders the "Te Duem" and "Non Nobis" to be sung as the men march towards Calais. 

Henry and his inner circle meet with the French royal family and the Duke of Burgundy to finalize a peace treaty. Henry's nobles go with the Duke of Burgundy and the King and Queen of France to finalize the terms of the treaty. But the King of England asks that King Charles' daughter, Katherine of Valois, Princess of France, stay with him, for his principal condition is that he gets to have her as his bride. Once the English King and the French Princess are alone with only her lady-in-waiting present, Hal woos Katherine, who plays hard to get, but eventually accepts his love. He kisses her. The King and Queen of France, the Duke of Burgundy and Henry's nobles return. The terms of the treaty have been settled and King Henry asks for King Charles's blessing to marry Katherine. King Charles approves and tells Henry to give him grandchildren through Katherine. 

I was a bit bummed when they omitted my favorite line in the entire scene: "Now welcome, Kate. And  bear me witness all that I kiss her as my sovereign Queen." 

The Duke of Burgundy says a prayer to bless Henry and Katherine's impending marriage. The episode closes with the Chorus delivering the epilogue. 

Performances: Anton Lesser, who I know as Chief Superintendent Bright in Endeavour and  Major Partagaz in Andor, is fantastic as the Duke of Exeter. Richard Griffiths, who I know as Vernon Dursley in the Harry Potter movies, is wonderful as the Duke of Burgundy. John Hurt is terrific as the Chorus/Boy who lived through the Agincourt campaign. Last but not least, Tom Hiddleston is marvelous as King Henry V.

Content advisory

Sex & Nudity: None.

 Violence & gore: King Henry's forces besiege the city of Harfleur with cannons.

A man in Henry's army is hanged for looting. The corpse still hanging from a tree is shown.  

No blood is shown during any of the battle sequences, but the show does not shy away from showing the harsh and ugly reality of war, particularly during the Battle of Agincourt sequence. 

King Henry orders the French POWs to be executed in a moment of rage and grief. The Duke of Exeter is shown guiding the English archers to shoot the POWS, but the camera cuts away just before they release the arrows. 

 Alcohol and drugs: None.

Profanity: None. The dialogue is verbatim from the play. 

Overall:  Five star episode! This episode was thought-provoking, which I didn't expect. As I said, the show stresses the harsh and ugly reality of war. The horrible nature of war is one of the major themes of this play.  Henry's "Upon the King" soliloquy opened my eyes to how the pressures of such a heavy responsibility affects the one who carries it. From now on, I'll be less quick to criticize those in power because of this play. It's obvious to me now that leaders need support, not criticism from their people who can't fully understand how much is on their plates and minds. 

 But I also want to talk about the costumes, especially King Henry's wardrobe. When King Hal is not in armor, he is dressed simply. He doesn't wear lavish fur-lined robes in this episode. He wears pants and red tunics. Red symbolizes power, so that is what he wears to indicate his status as King. Also, Hal does not cling to the objects of kingly power. He does wear a crown, but he does not cling to his crown. He even takes it off whenever he can. 

While I believe monarchs should use the objects of royal power when they need to and even when they like but not to the point of abusing them, Hal's simplicity is refreshing. He is a King who relates to his people through camaraderie and fellowship, not through the respect that the trappings of kingly power command.