--- product_id: 4399686 title: "Lion In Winter, The (DVD)" price: "€ 21.29" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 9 url: https://www.desertcart.at/products/4399686-lion-in-winter-the-dvd store_origin: AT region: Austria --- # Lion In Winter, The (DVD) **Price:** € 21.29 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Lion In Winter, The (DVD) - **How much does it cost?** € 21.29 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.at](https://www.desertcart.at/products/4399686-lion-in-winter-the-dvd) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description This is the story of Henry II and his family's attempt to better their positions among each other. Review: This is an iconic classic that is decisive and unrivaled. - During the beginning the film, when Henry II played by Peter O'Toole and Eleanor of Aquitaine played by Katherine Hepburn, meet for the annual Christmas fête during which the queen is released from imprisonment for purely ceremonial purposes. The opening quips reveal the nature of their adversarial relationship and of things to come. Henry II: How was your crossing? Did the waters part for you? Eleanor: It went flat when I told it to; I did not think to ask for more. How dear of you to let me out of jail. This depiction is priceless and a perfect indicator of the events to come during this Yuletide family reunion; which to say the least, a graphic depiction of the power struggle between Eleanor and Henry. This is a simplified depiction based upon fact; however, the overwhelming complexities of the history of The Duchy of Aquitaine, which at one time made up a third of France cannot be told with any coherency in a single film. There are other films such as Beckett and A Man For All Seasons; just to name a few, which provide minuscule insights into the history of medieval French and English histories which are better left to learned scholars in academia. These films are filled with historical inaccuracies and typically portray the various players simplistically as either entirely villainous or victims with whom the audience is entirely sympathetic to. It is the same with The Lion in Winter which, as are the numerous other productions chronicling the events of that period, are nothing but elaborate stagings that are meant to showcase the considerable talents of extraordinarily gifted actors. While the depictions of verbal fencing and intrigues are oversimplified they are nonetheless imbued with an appreciable quality that make them highly entertaining and believable; provided you don't take them too seriously. Hepburn and O'Toole are consummate actors blessed with rare talent; they are intellectual equals as are the characters they portray. The scenes of Ms. Hepburn's interaction with her various offspring in an effort to curry their favor are impressively touching as they are harshly revealing of the complexities of a formidable woman attempting to assess and influence her children; each endowed with decidedly different traits, temperaments and ambitions. The portrayal of the children themselves as individuals or interacting with one another are well served by enhancements in the script which tend to overstate the qualities of the characters. As I previously indicated, this technique is vital to differentiating the personae of each character, making it easier for the viewer to understand and relate to the character. Each scene is depicted with flawlessly targeted precision and dispenses with any superfluous embellishments and contain carefully placed moments of humor that preclude the need for overstated scenarios of comic relief in the strict Shakespearian sense. Although the premise of this film is that of a period drama, the plot is presented in such a way as to portray the lives of Henry's family as a modern, highly dysfunctional family gathered for a Christmas holiday in crisis mode, which makes the subject matter easier for the audience to understand and relate to. Mr. O'Tooles' performance is nothing less then perfection that is augmented by his strong intuitive sense of understanding how to navigate the complexities of interpreting his character in a completely convincing manner that is finely synchronized with the sensibilities of the audience. For the most part, the plot deftly conveys the essence of the storyline and is thoroughly entertaining, making each scene an enticement to look deeper into the lives of these two pivotal characters. Review: Eloquent Poniards - This sharply portrayed and picturesque film is no less than a stunning masterpiece! Finely capturing the gusting momentum of a kingdom and its contending rule, all the while bootying the intricacies of family passion & strife, this movie grasps all by masterfully portraying it within the frame of a Christmas holiday spent at the beauteous castle of Chinon. The year is 1183, and Henry II, insatiate King of the British Empire summons forth his family: his wife - Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, and their surviving sons Richard, Geoffery, and John. They meet at Chinon - and like every gathering of this family must always have been, this meeting is momentous ~ James Goldman wholeheartedly deserved the Oscar he won for this screenplay -- for, not only is it in tune to every orchestral note of this history, but it is also precise as a dagger in its eloquence ~~ I've rarely heard a more masterful script portrayed on film! Such a prodigious screenplay must needs have a brilliant cast and musical score to give it flesh and blood -- and herein you'll find it most heartily delivered! Katharine Hepburn is absolutely stellar in her portrayal of perhaps one of the most fascinating women in history: the much-acknowledged "Queen of Love" throughout Europe before she became Queen of France, fighting in the Crusades alongside her husband Louis VII of France - and then Queen of England, wife of Henry II, who had imprisoned her for many years for joining her sons in plots against him. Henry would free her at times for such holiday family gatherings as this. Hepburn's scenes with Peter O'Toole, as Henry, are pure electrically-charged art! As King and Queen, parents to the three aspired heirs to the throne, they lay blame and conspire against each other, and their sons will stop at nothing to acquire what they each feel that they deserve: succession to the throne. To add to this tangled web of deceit are the young King Phillip of France and his sister, Alice, who had been raised in the household of King Henry, betrothed to Richard since her infancy. While Eleanor and her sons each plot with the French King, Henry openly exhibits his ongoing love affair with Alice~~ The chemistry of this well-casted drama is flawless - every line spoken a masterpiece of wit and daring. This movie is a rare find, indeed! ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | ASIN | B000056HEA | | Actors | Various | | Aspect Ratio | 2.35:1 | | Best Sellers Rank | #12,767 in Movies & TV ( See Top 100 in Movies & TV ) #1,829 in Drama DVDs | | Customer Reviews | 4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars (1,951) | | Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No | | Item model number | 2221841 | | Language | English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono), Unqualified | | MPAA rating | PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | Media Format | Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Multiple Formats, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen | | Number of discs | 1 | | Product Dimensions | 8 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches; 2.4 ounces | | Release date | July 6, 2020 | | Run time | 2 hours and 14 minutes | | Studio | Universal Pictures Home Entertainment | | Subtitles: | French, Spanish | ## Product Details - **Contributor:** Various - **Format:** Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Multiple Formats, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen - **Genre:** Art House & International/Period Piece, Drama - **Language:** English - **Runtime:** 2 hours and 14 minutes ## Images ![Lion In Winter, The (DVD) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71Xt68+04ML.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This is an iconic classic that is decisive and unrivaled. *by N***P on March 9, 2017* During the beginning the film, when Henry II played by Peter O'Toole and Eleanor of Aquitaine played by Katherine Hepburn, meet for the annual Christmas fête during which the queen is released from imprisonment for purely ceremonial purposes. The opening quips reveal the nature of their adversarial relationship and of things to come. Henry II: How was your crossing? Did the waters part for you? Eleanor: It went flat when I told it to; I did not think to ask for more. How dear of you to let me out of jail. This depiction is priceless and a perfect indicator of the events to come during this Yuletide family reunion; which to say the least, a graphic depiction of the power struggle between Eleanor and Henry. This is a simplified depiction based upon fact; however, the overwhelming complexities of the history of The Duchy of Aquitaine, which at one time made up a third of France cannot be told with any coherency in a single film. There are other films such as Beckett and A Man For All Seasons; just to name a few, which provide minuscule insights into the history of medieval French and English histories which are better left to learned scholars in academia. These films are filled with historical inaccuracies and typically portray the various players simplistically as either entirely villainous or victims with whom the audience is entirely sympathetic to. It is the same with The Lion in Winter which, as are the numerous other productions chronicling the events of that period, are nothing but elaborate stagings that are meant to showcase the considerable talents of extraordinarily gifted actors. While the depictions of verbal fencing and intrigues are oversimplified they are nonetheless imbued with an appreciable quality that make them highly entertaining and believable; provided you don't take them too seriously. Hepburn and O'Toole are consummate actors blessed with rare talent; they are intellectual equals as are the characters they portray. The scenes of Ms. Hepburn's interaction with her various offspring in an effort to curry their favor are impressively touching as they are harshly revealing of the complexities of a formidable woman attempting to assess and influence her children; each endowed with decidedly different traits, temperaments and ambitions. The portrayal of the children themselves as individuals or interacting with one another are well served by enhancements in the script which tend to overstate the qualities of the characters. As I previously indicated, this technique is vital to differentiating the personae of each character, making it easier for the viewer to understand and relate to the character. Each scene is depicted with flawlessly targeted precision and dispenses with any superfluous embellishments and contain carefully placed moments of humor that preclude the need for overstated scenarios of comic relief in the strict Shakespearian sense. Although the premise of this film is that of a period drama, the plot is presented in such a way as to portray the lives of Henry's family as a modern, highly dysfunctional family gathered for a Christmas holiday in crisis mode, which makes the subject matter easier for the audience to understand and relate to. Mr. O'Tooles' performance is nothing less then perfection that is augmented by his strong intuitive sense of understanding how to navigate the complexities of interpreting his character in a completely convincing manner that is finely synchronized with the sensibilities of the audience. For the most part, the plot deftly conveys the essence of the storyline and is thoroughly entertaining, making each scene an enticement to look deeper into the lives of these two pivotal characters. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Eloquent Poniards *by A***O on September 20, 2000* This sharply portrayed and picturesque film is no less than a stunning masterpiece! Finely capturing the gusting momentum of a kingdom and its contending rule, all the while bootying the intricacies of family passion & strife, this movie grasps all by masterfully portraying it within the frame of a Christmas holiday spent at the beauteous castle of Chinon. The year is 1183, and Henry II, insatiate King of the British Empire summons forth his family: his wife - Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, and their surviving sons Richard, Geoffery, and John. They meet at Chinon - and like every gathering of this family must always have been, this meeting is momentous ~ James Goldman wholeheartedly deserved the Oscar he won for this screenplay -- for, not only is it in tune to every orchestral note of this history, but it is also precise as a dagger in its eloquence ~~ I've rarely heard a more masterful script portrayed on film! Such a prodigious screenplay must needs have a brilliant cast and musical score to give it flesh and blood -- and herein you'll find it most heartily delivered! Katharine Hepburn is absolutely stellar in her portrayal of perhaps one of the most fascinating women in history: the much-acknowledged "Queen of Love" throughout Europe before she became Queen of France, fighting in the Crusades alongside her husband Louis VII of France - and then Queen of England, wife of Henry II, who had imprisoned her for many years for joining her sons in plots against him. Henry would free her at times for such holiday family gatherings as this. Hepburn's scenes with Peter O'Toole, as Henry, are pure electrically-charged art! As King and Queen, parents to the three aspired heirs to the throne, they lay blame and conspire against each other, and their sons will stop at nothing to acquire what they each feel that they deserve: succession to the throne. To add to this tangled web of deceit are the young King Phillip of France and his sister, Alice, who had been raised in the household of King Henry, betrothed to Richard since her infancy. While Eleanor and her sons each plot with the French King, Henry openly exhibits his ongoing love affair with Alice~~ The chemistry of this well-casted drama is flawless - every line spoken a masterpiece of wit and daring. This movie is a rare find, indeed! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A great film beautifully restored *by M***N on December 4, 2022* The Lion in Winter is one of the last bigtime historic films of the mid 20th century, with a stellar cast, lovely medieval settings, and a literate (and sometimes humorous) script. Peter O'Toole and Katharine Hepburn (who won an Oscar for best actress) carry off the roles of King Henry II and his wife, Eleanor of Aquataine, with amazing ease, grand intelligence, and as much love-hate fervor as they can muster. And they can muster a lot. Their characters' royal marriage is a battlefield, despite the queen's ordinary distance, her husband having long ago commanded her confinement to a distant castle. Now, during Christmastime 1183, with age threatening the king, he is pressed by nature to decide on a successor among his sons and calls his family together, including the queen, for a traditional yuletide gathering. Of course, the king's pleasure in the matter of who will succeed him diverges from the queen's. That he has also taken up with a young woman whom the queen raised as a daughter merely adds fuel to the fire. All in all, quite the story. Also, quite the restoration of the film. My MGM DVD from way back looked outrageously awful. The color constantly shifted, and nothing looked sharply focused. The sound was a muddle, too, and made the viewing experience even worse. Now, with this Kino-Lorber release, I can finally enjoy a movie that I really love. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.at/products/4399686-lion-in-winter-the-dvd](https://www.desertcart.at/products/4399686-lion-in-winter-the-dvd) --- *Product available on Desertcart Austria* *Store origin: AT* *Last updated: 2026-04-23*