Media roundup redux
An Age of Kings. Duh, I forgot in my previous post to write about the thing that made me want to post about media goodness: the release on DVD of the legendary BBC adaptation of all seven of Shakespeare's main history plays in order (Richard II, Henry IV parts 1 & 2, Henry V, Henry VI parts 1 & 2 & 3, Richard III (framed! he was framed! blame the Tudors!). The Beeb showed its version, under the title An Age of Kings, in the early sixties, and people including my aunt have wittered on about its unending fabulousness ever since. I kid you not: see for example the very recent New York Times story salivating over the DVD release .
Here it is now, whee, available on Amazon for like $35. I ordered off eBay since Amazon was showing slow shipping, my aunt off Amazon. We'll see who gets a copy faster.
Sean Connery as Hotspur! Robert Hardy -- yes, that would be Cornelius Fudge from HP fame, and Siegfried from All Creatures Great & Small -- as Prince Hal & eventually King Henry V! Judi Dench as Katherine of France, the role Emma Thompson played so well in Branagh's movie of Henry V!