

“What family doesn't have its ups and downs?”
Christmas 1183, Angevin Empire: King Henry II plans to announce his successor to the throne. Jockeying for the crown, though, is complex. Henry has three sons and wants his boy Prince John to take over. Henry's wife, Queen Eleanor, believes their son Prince Richard should be king. As family and various schemers gather for the holiday, each tries to make the indecisive king choose their option.
Directed by Anthony Harvey, Joseph E. Levine
User score
413 votes

Released
August 20, 1968
2h 14m
English
Budget → Revenue
$4M → $22.3M

Peter O'Toole
Henry II

Katharine Hepburn
Eleanor of Aquitaine

Anthony Hopkins
Richard

John Castle
Geoffrey

Nigel Terry
John

Timothy Dalton
Philip II

Jane Merrow
Alais

Nigel Stock
William Marshall

O.Z. Whitehead
Bishop of Durham
Kenneth Ives
Queen Eleanor's Guard

Kenneth Griffith
Strolling Player

Henry Woolf
Strolling Player
Karol Hagar
Strolling Player
David Griffith
Strolling Player
Fran Stafford
Lady in Waiting
Ella More
Lady in Waiting