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How Far do the Film Versions of Henry V follow the text?

By saying that the governor of Harfleur would be to blame for any atrocities carried out by the king's troops he is directing this language at the governor and saying that lack of compliance with him now would mean that the governor had provoked the action carried out by the English.
             Some of the things said in this scene seem to go against the king's strong religious beliefs. However Shakespeare has included several biblical references in this speech such as:.
             "At Herod's bloody hunting slaughter man.".
             This is a reference to the event in the bible when Herod ordered the slaughter of all children born on the same week as Jesus. In the context of the speech from the point of view of the governor of Harfleur, it can be seen as a threat from the king if Harfleur isn't handed over then all the children will be killed. However from the point of view of the audience it can be seen as a way of the king showing that the speech has the pure intent of deceiving the governor and that his religious views haven't been forgotten.
             Both Olivier's and Branagh's film versions of the play edit out parts of this scene. In fact Olivier's version only includes the first line of the scene when Henry says:.
             "How yet resolves the governor of the town?".
             The main reason is probably because the film was made during the Second World War and so for morale it was important for the film to sanitise war. This speech wouldn't be good at showing war in a positive light because it advocates that in wartime atrocities are sometimes necessary. The speech does this by including violent and horrifying language:.
             "Your fathers taken by the silver beards,.
             And their most reverend heads dashed to the walls".
             In Branagh's film lines 5-9 are left out, these lines are about how the king is a solider at heart and will not stop until Harfleur is handed over to him. These lines would probably not have been believed by a modern audience to the extent that they would in Shakespeare's time because today the monarch is seen more as a figure head rather than as the commander of the British army and therefore a soldier.


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1. Henry V Film Comparison

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2. Henry V

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3. Olivier And Branaugh Productions Of Henry V

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4. Henry V - Benevolent King Or Scheming Politician?

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6. Shakespeare's Henry V

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9. Kind Henry V

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