In The Lion in Winter, Katharine Hepburn shines as strong-willed Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, fighting a battle of wills for England’s future against King Henry II (Peter O’Toole) in this classic historical opus. The aging king gathers his family on Christmas Eve to select an heir to the throne–a meeting producing dramatic maneuvers among his sons, his mistress, and the king of France. James Goldman adapted his 1966 play; Anthony Harvey directs. With Anthony Hopkins, Jane Merrow, and, in his first role, Timothy Dalton.
Originally released on October 30, 1968, The Lion in Winter earned Katharine Hepburn her third Academy Award for Best Actress, and also won Oscars for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Score. An enormous box office success, it earned $22,000,000 during its release.Now available on DVD and Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics, a 50th anniversary edition of the classic includes the following special features:
2016 4K Restoration
Audio Commentary by Director Anthony Harvey
Interview with Sound Recordist Simon Kaye
5.1 Surround
2.0 Audio
Original Theatrical Trailer
The film is a spellbinding historical drama in which its leads are at their respective best, and a curious trivia tidbit is that Hepburn’s bloodline can actually be traced back to the character whom she plays in the film! With this lavish new edition of the film, The Lion in Winter has never looked or sounded better. Despite being a half-century old, it is a motion picture experience that is nothing short of perfect.