somebody mentioned this movie yesterday (i think) as i was musing about what movie to watch after i finish The Desk Set on xmas eve, and it was perfect! an entire evening with Katherine Hepburn!
Not only my favorite Christmas movie, but one of my all-time favorite movies.
Court Theater in Chicago did "The Lion in Winter" this fall. A wonderful production. The play is a bit different from the screenplay, but both are magnificent.
I love this movie! It’s such an underrated part of the Christmas movie canon.
Though: The first time I ever saw it was in 7th grade history class, and I will admit that it was pretty amazing to watch my bright eyed, first year teacher’s soul slowly start to leave her body as Henry described his sexual conquests (particularly the bit about “little boys”). I’ve never seen someone move so quickly to turn the volume down on a television.
Henry II had three sons, and from the time they were teenagers one or more of them were in revolt against their father. Sometimes his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine,
sided with them, sometimes with him. Nobility did not get to choose their spouses, because they all personally owned some bit of Europe and that bit got traded around with their lord. That is how, four centuries later, a member of the house of Hapsburg, Charles V, wound up owning most of the European continent, plus Spain's colonies in the New World and the Pacific, making him the single most wealthy and powerful human of the 16th Century.
Charles of necessity had to be fluent in multiple languages. He said "Spanish is for speaking to God, Italian for speaking to your lover, French for speaking to your best friend, English for speaking to a business partner, German for speaking to a servant, and Polish for speaking to a horse or a dog."
On the way to an SCA event years ago eight of us whiled away the long drive by reciting The Lion In Winter. Parts were more or less assigned but if anyone got stuck people would help out. Despite none of us knowing the movie by heart together we got about 90% of it in more or less the correct order.
Now you see that I had to BITE MY TONGUE when you were talking about it earlier this week because I'd already done the gif and didn't want to ruin the surprise. Anyway, you have exquisite taste in movies.
Castles were cold, draughty places. Comfort was not invented for centuries. Peasants lived in shacks without window or chimneys, just a central open fire, and the smoke just rose until it filtered through the thatched roof. Insulation was not yet thought of.
It’s one of my personal fave Christmas movies, “The Lion in Winter.” Read about it here: https://open.substack.com/pub/martiniambassador/p/the-lion-in-winter
My personal favorite first scene of a movie, with fantastic music!
somebody mentioned this movie yesterday (i think) as i was musing about what movie to watch after i finish The Desk Set on xmas eve, and it was perfect! an entire evening with Katherine Hepburn!
Not only my favorite Christmas movie, but one of my all-time favorite movies.
Court Theater in Chicago did "The Lion in Winter" this fall. A wonderful production. The play is a bit different from the screenplay, but both are magnificent.
I love this movie! It’s such an underrated part of the Christmas movie canon.
Though: The first time I ever saw it was in 7th grade history class, and I will admit that it was pretty amazing to watch my bright eyed, first year teacher’s soul slowly start to leave her body as Henry described his sexual conquests (particularly the bit about “little boys”). I’ve never seen someone move so quickly to turn the volume down on a television.
I have never seen this movie and now you all are making me want to sit in front of the screen on a sunny day.
LOL!
OMG, I ❤️❤️❤️ that movie! 🥰 Thank you for choosing it!
Row, row, row your boat......
Some clever historian described that era as 'Your typical dysfunctional family, but with armies'.
So, Ordinary People combined with Patton?
"What family doesn't have its ups and downs?"
Henry II had three sons, and from the time they were teenagers one or more of them were in revolt against their father. Sometimes his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine,
sided with them, sometimes with him. Nobility did not get to choose their spouses, because they all personally owned some bit of Europe and that bit got traded around with their lord. That is how, four centuries later, a member of the house of Hapsburg, Charles V, wound up owning most of the European continent, plus Spain's colonies in the New World and the Pacific, making him the single most wealthy and powerful human of the 16th Century.
Charles of necessity had to be fluent in multiple languages. He said "Spanish is for speaking to God, Italian for speaking to your lover, French for speaking to your best friend, English for speaking to a business partner, German for speaking to a servant, and Polish for speaking to a horse or a dog."
The solstice hit late last night (10:27 eastern). This is a perfect choice for the first full day of winter.
Sounds like you need to celebrate with a nice little road trip, hon.
Are you reading my mind?
Maybe???
Strap in, then, sister.
Vroom vroom!!!
Now I HAVE to watch it. We were just talking about this movie.
oddly, I've been thinking about this movie lately as well
I’m always thinking about this movie. Random dialogue just bubbles up unbidden in so many different situations.
On the way to an SCA event years ago eight of us whiled away the long drive by reciting The Lion In Winter. Parts were more or less assigned but if anyone got stuck people would help out. Despite none of us knowing the movie by heart together we got about 90% of it in more or less the correct order.
I know. You know I know. I know you know I know. We know Henry knows, and Henry knows we know it. We’re a knowledgeable family. 😏
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/66/d1/7a/66d17afd0ec63762758134935581c425.gif
Peter O'Toole in My Favorite Year, if I'm not mistaken.
You are not mistaken.
LOVE this film. Kate Hepburn tears it all down.
Brilliant movie, so it is.
Now you see that I had to BITE MY TONGUE when you were talking about it earlier this week because I'd already done the gif and didn't want to ruin the surprise. Anyway, you have exquisite taste in movies.
I like the scene where he breaks through the ice in the bowl to wash his face.
Reminds me how comfortable I am.
Castles were cold, draughty places. Comfort was not invented for centuries. Peasants lived in shacks without window or chimneys, just a central open fire, and the smoke just rose until it filtered through the thatched roof. Insulation was not yet thought of.
The Lion in question is Thornton, right?
Yes, of course!
"Does it matter how a man falls?"
"When the fall's all that's left, it matters."
"especially at the end."
Pffft
-Butch and/or Sundance
No, that's: "The FALL will kill you!"
Mark E Smith was a dangerous enemy to have.
Big fav film!
Peter O’Toole was hot, hot, hot.
Full of great actors.
Not to mention Timothy Dalton!