Henry VI, Part 2 (The Hollow Crown)

Last updated

"Henry VI, Part 2"
The Hollow Crown episode
Episode no.Series 2
Episode 2
Directed by Dominic Cooke
Teleplay by
Based on Henry VI, Part 2
Henry VI, Part 3
by William Shakespeare
Produced byRupert Ryle-Hodges
Featured music Dan Jones
Original air date14 May 2016 (2016-05-14)
Running time123 minutes
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Henry VI, Part 1"		Next →
"Richard III"

"Henry VI, Part 2" is second episode of the second series of the British television series The Hollow Crown , based on the plays Henry VI, Part 2 and Henry VI, Part 3 by William Shakespeare. It was directed by Dominic Cooke, who also adapted the screenplay with Ben Power. It starred Tom Sturridge as Henry VI, Sophie Okonedo as Queen Margaret and Benedict Cumberbatch as Richard. [1] The adaptation presents Henry VI in two parts, incorporating all three Henry VI plays. It was first broadcast on 14 May 2016 on BBC Two.

Contents

Cast

Production

The concluding cycle of plays were produced in 2015 by the same team that made the first series and were directed by the former artistic director of Royal Court Theatre and Olivier Award winner, Dominic Cooke. [2] They were adapted by Dominic Cooke and Ben Power. The adaptation presents Henry VI in two parts, incorporating all three Henry VI plays.

Executive producer Pippa Harris stated, "The critical and audience reaction to The Hollow Crown series set the bar high for Shakespeare on screen, and Neal Street (Productions) is delighted to be making the concluding part of this great history cycle. By filming the ‘Henry VI’ plays as well as ‘Richard III,’ we will allow viewers to fully appreciate how such a monstrous tyrant could find his way to power, bringing even more weight and depth to this iconic character." [3]

Once again, the production returned to Kent for The Wars of The Roses, filming at Dover Castle, Leeds Castle and Penshurst Place. [4]

Historical inaccuracies

Both Shakespeare's plays and film adaptations based on them contain numerous historical inaccuracies and anachronisms. Furthermore, this adaptation also deviates from the plays. The Jack Cade's rebellion, a major part of Henry VI, Part 2, is omitted; Duke of Suffolk dies in the First Battle of St Albans when historically and in Shakespeare's play he was murdered on a ship; some lines are spoken by other characters or are addressed to characters other than in the play. [5]

Historically, at the time of the First Battle of St. Albans, which took place on May 22, 1455, the sons of Richard of York, Edward and Richard, were 13 and 2 years old, respectively. The son of Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou, Edward of Westminster, was 1 year 7 months old. Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick was seven years younger than Henry VI, at the time of the Battle of St Albans he was 26. Thomas Beaufort, Duke of Exeter could not have witnessed the treaty between Henry VI and Richard of York, because he had died 28 years before. Perhaps Shakespeare was referring to another Duke of Exeter: Henry Holland, a supporter of the Lancastrians.

Broadcast

The second cycle of plays aired on consecutive Saturday evenings on BBC Two commencing Saturday 7 May 2016. [6] [7]

Home media

A Region 2 DVD set of The Wars of the Roses was released on 20 June 2016. A Region 1 DVD set was released on 21 June 2016.

Soundtrack

The original music soundtrack from The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses composed by Dan Jones was released on the Wave Theory Records label in June 2016 and performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales [8] [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward V of England</span> King of England in 1483

Edward V was de jure King of England from 9 April to 25 June 1483. He succeeded his father, Edward IV, upon the latter's death. Edward V was never crowned, and his brief reign was dominated by the influence of his uncle and Lord Protector, the Duke of Gloucester, who deposed him to reign as King Richard III; this was confirmed by the Act entitled Titulus Regius, which denounced any further claims through his father's heirs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry VI of England</span> King of England (1422–61), (1470–71)

Henry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. The only child of Henry V, he succeeded to the English throne at the age of nine months upon his father's death, and succeeded to the French throne on the death of his maternal grandfather, Charles VI, shortly afterwards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Margaret of Anjou</span> Queen of England (1445–61), (1470–71)

Margaret of Anjou was Queen of England and nominally Queen of France by marriage to King Henry VI from 1445 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471. Born in the Duchy of Lorraine into the House of Valois-Anjou, Margaret was the second eldest daughter of René, King of Naples, and Isabella, Duchess of Lorraine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anne Neville</span> Queen of England from 1483 to 1485

Anne Neville was Queen of England as the wife of King Richard III. She was the younger of the two daughters and co-heiresses of Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick. Before her marriage to Richard, she had been Princess of Wales as the wife of Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales, the only son and heir apparent of King Henry VI.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cecily Neville, Duchess of York</span> English noblewoman

Cecily Neville was an English noblewoman, the wife of Richard, Duke of York (1411–1460), and the mother of two kings of England—Edward IV and Richard III. Cecily Neville was known as "the Rose of Raby", because she was born at Raby Castle in Durham, and "Proud Cis", because of her pride and a temper that went with it, although she was also known for her piety. She herself signed her name "Cecylle".

<i>Richard III</i> (play) Shakespearean history play

Richard III is a play by William Shakespeare. It was probably written c. 1592–1594. It is labelled a history in the First Folio, and is usually considered one, but it is sometimes called a tragedy, as in the quarto edition. Richard III concludes Shakespeare's first tetralogy and depicts the Machiavellian rise to power and subsequent short reign of King Richard III of England.

<i>Henry VI, Part 1</i> Play by Shakespeare

Henry VI, Part 1, often referred to as 1 Henry VI, is a history play by William Shakespeare—possibly in collaboration with Thomas Nashe and others—believed to have been written in 1591. It is set during the lifetime of King Henry VI of England.

<i>Henry VI, Part 2</i> Play by Shakespeare

Henry VI, Part 2 is a history play by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1591 and set during the lifetime of King Henry VI of England. Whereas Henry VI, Part 1 deals primarily with the loss of England's French territories and the political machinations leading up to the Wars of the Roses, and Henry VI, Part 3 deals with the horrors of that conflict, 2 Henry VI focuses on the King's inability to quell the bickering of his nobles, the death of his trusted adviser Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, the rise of the Duke of York and the inevitability of armed conflict. As such, the play culminates with the opening battle of the War, the First Battle of St Albans (1455).

<i>Henry VI, Part 3</i> 1591 play by Shakespeare

Henry VI, Part 3 is a history play by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1591 and set during the lifetime of King Henry VI of England. Whereas 1 Henry VI deals with the loss of England's French territories and the political machinations leading up to the Wars of the Roses and 2 Henry VI focuses on the King's inability to quell the bickering of his nobles, and the inevitability of armed conflict, 3 Henry VI deals primarily with the horrors of that conflict, with the once stable nation thrown into chaos and barbarism as families break down and moral codes are subverted in the pursuit of revenge and power.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sophie Okonedo</span> Nigerian actress (born 1968)

Sophie Okonedo is a British actress and narrator. Okonedo was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2010 and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2019, both for services to drama. The recipient of a Tony Award, she has been nominated for an Academy Award, three BAFTA TV Award, Emmy Award, and a Golden Globe Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cultural depictions of Richard III of England</span>

Richard III of England has been depicted in literature and popular culture many times. In the Tudor period he was invariably portrayed as a villain, most famously in Shakespeare's play Richard III, but also in other literature of the period. Richard's life was not much depicted again until the 20th century when the "Ricardian" movement sought to restore his reputation. Much of more recent creative literature has portrayed him in a positive light. However his reputation as a hunchbacked villain has remained a familiar historical cliché within popular culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cultural depictions of Henry VII of England</span>

Henry VII of England has been depicted a number of times in popular culture.

Edward IV of England has been depicted in popular culture a number of times.

Dominic Cooke is an English director and writer.

<i>The Wars of the Roses</i> (adaptation) 1963 theatrical adaptation of Shakespeares first historical tetralogy

The Wars of the Roses was a 1963 theatrical adaptation of William Shakespeare's first historical tetralogy, which deals with the conflict between the House of Lancaster and the House of York over the throne of England, a conflict known as the Wars of the Roses. The plays were adapted by John Barton, and directed by Barton and Peter Hall at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. The production starred David Warner as Henry VI, Peggy Ashcroft as Margaret of Anjou, Donald Sinden as the Duke of York, Paul Hardwick as the Duke of Gloucester, Janet Suzman as Joan la Pucelle, Brewster Mason as the Earl of Warwick, Roy Dotrice as Edward IV, Susan Engel as Queen Elizabeth and Ian Holm as Richard III.

The Hollow Crown is a series of British television film adaptations of William Shakespeare's history plays.

"Henry V" is fourth episode of the first series of the British television series The Hollow Crown, based on the play of the same name by William Shakespeare. The episode was produced by Rupert Ryle-Hodges, directed by Thea Sharrock and starred Tom Hiddleston as Henry V of England. It was first broadcast on 21 July 2012 on BBC Two.

<i>An Age of Kings</i> 1960 British TV series

An Age of Kings is a fifteen-part serial adaptation of the eight sequential history plays of William Shakespeare, produced and broadcast in Britain by the BBC in 1960. The United States broadcast of the series the following year was hosted by University of Southern California professor Frank Baxter, who provided an introduction for each episode specifically tailored for the American audience. At the time, the show was the most ambitious Shakespearean television adaptation ever made, and was a critical and commercial success in both the UK and the US.

"Henry VI, Part 1" is first episode of the second series of the British television series The Hollow Crown, based on the plays Henry VI, Part 1 and Henry VI, Part 2 by William Shakespeare. The episode was produced by Rupert Ryle-Hodges and directed by Dominic Cooke, who also adapted the screenplay with Ben Power. It starred Tom Sturridge as Henry VI, Sophie Okonedo as Queen Margaret and Adrian Dunbar as Richard of York. The adaptation presents Henry VI in two parts, incorporating all three Henry VI plays. It was first broadcast on 7 May 2016 on BBC Two.

"Richard III" is third episode of the second series of the British television series The Hollow Crown, based on the play of the same name by William Shakespeare. It was directed by Dominic Cooke, who also adapted the screenplay with Ben Power. It starred Benedict Cumberbatch as Richard III, Sophie Okonedo as Queen Margaret and Judi Dench as Cecily. It was first broadcast on 21 May 2016 on BBC Two.

References

  1. ↑ "BBC Two announces further casting for The Hollow Crown: The Wars Of The Roses". BBC Media Centre. 21 August 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  2. ↑ "BBC Two - The Hollow Crown". BBC. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  3. ↑ Barraclough, Leo (6 April 2014). "Benedict Cumberbatch to Play Richard III in Neal Street's Film for BBC". Variety. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
  4. ↑ Kent Film Office. "Kent Film Office The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses Article".
  5. ↑ "Hollow Crown soaks up Shakespeare's swordplay but loses some of his punch". TheGuardian.com . 14 May 2016.
  6. ↑ "Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Henry VI". UPI. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  7. ↑ "The best star studded Shakespeare TV adaptations". UK Radio Times. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
  8. ↑ "The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses (Film music soundtrack by Dan Jones)". Wave Theory Records. 24 November 2014.
  9. ↑ "The Hollow Crown: The Wars of the Roses (Dan Jones & BBC National Orchestra of Wales)". Amazon UK.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.