Henry V

Kenneth Branagh makes his feature film directorial debut with this adaptation of William Shakespeare 's Henry V . After the Chorus ( Derek Jacobi ) introduces the play, young king of England Henry V ( Kenneth Branagh ) begins an angry dialogue with King Charles of France ( Paul Scofield ). The king's son, Dauphin ( Michael Maloney ), insults Henry and the argument escalates into war. In flashback, Henry is seen as a young man drinking in a tavern with Falstaff ( Robbie Coltrane ), Bardolph ( Richard Briers ), Nym ( Geoffery Hutchings ), Pistol ( Robert Stephens ), and Mistress Quickly ( Judi Dench ). Meanwhile, Henry and his captain, Fluellen ( Ian Holm ), assemble an army and invade France. The French greatly outnumber the British troops, yet Henry leads them to victory in the Battle of Agincourt after delivering his famous St. Crispin's Day Speech. Throughout this struggle, Henry also courts Katherine ( Emma Thompson ) and eventually wins her over. — Andrea LeVasseur