THE LION IN WINTER, Based on Goldman Play, Screens in New 4K Restoration at Film Forum

THE LION IN WINTER (1968), Anthony Harvey's multiple-Oscar-winning adaptation of the play by James Goldman, starring Peter O'Toole and Katharine Hepburn, and with the film debuts of both Anthony Hopkins and Timothy Dalton, will run at Film Forum in a new 4K restoration, from today, December 16 through Tuesday, December 27.

"Well, what shall we hang... the holly, or each other?" 1183, and it's Christmas at the Plantagenets: Peter O'Toole's heavily-bearded king has sprung his wife, Katharine Hepburn's Eleanor of Aquitaine, from ten years of imposed-by-him imprisonment to negotiate the succession among his sons, Geoffrey (John Castle), Richard, later the Lion-Hearted (Anthony Hopkins in his feature debut), and John (Nigel Terry: Excalibur, Caravaggio, inhis debut), with King Philip of France (future 007 Timothy Dalton in his) on hand to kibbitz - and then the scheming, backstabbing, turn-coating, shocking revelations, and nonstop barbed quips ensue.

Adapted by James Goldman from his own play, Lion won three Oscars - for Hepburn (her fourth, and back-to-back with Guess Who's Coming to Dinner), Goldman, and the music by James Bond composer John Barry - with nominations for Best Picture, Director, Costumes, and for O'Toole, four years after his nomination as Henry in Becket - two of his eight non-winning nominations. O'Toole, though, did take home the Golden Globe that year for Best Actor.

Lion in Winter was only the second feature film directed by Harvey, who had previously been film editor on Kubrick's Lolita and Dr. Strangelove, among many other British films. It was shot by the late cinematographer Douglas Slocombe, who died this past February at the age of 103. Slocombe was DP on everything from Ealing comedies of the 1940s to the Indiana Jones films of the 1980s.

IF YOU GO:

THE LION IN WINTER

Approx. 135 min. | A Rialto Pictures Release
Director: Anthony Harvey | Screenplay: James Goldman
Cinematography: Douglas Slocombe | Music: John Barry

Public Screenings
DAILY 1:10, 4:10, 7:10*
*No 7:10 show on Monday, December 19.
Tickets are $14 ($8 for members).
Visit filmforum.org/film/the-lion-in-winter-film.