The hollow crown. Henry IV
(DVD)

Title from container cover; credits from title frames.

Originally produced for television as individual episodes in 2012.

Special features: "The making of Henry IV" behind-the scenes featurette.

Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2: Director of photography, Ben Smithard ; film editor, Lesley Walker ; composer, Stephen Warbeck ; costume designer, Annie Symons ; production designer, Donal Woods.

Henry IV, Part 1: Jeremy Irons, Simon Russell Beale, Tom Hiddleston, Alun Armstrong, Joe Armstrong, David Dawson, Michelle Dockery, Tom Georgeson, David Hayman, James Laurenson, Harry Lloyd, Maxine Peake, Robert Pugh, Julie Walters.

Henry IV, Part 2: Jeremy Irons, Simon Russell Beale, Tom Hiddleston, Alun Armstrong, David Bamber, Niamh Cusack, David Dawson, Michelle Dockery, Tom Georgeson, Iain Glen, Nicholas Jones, James Laurenson, Geoffrey Palmer, Maxine Peake, Paul Ritter, Julie Walters.

The Hollow crown: "New adaptations of Shakespeare's tetralogy of history plays comprising the 'Henriad' for the BBC's 2012 Cultural Olympiad: King Richard II; King Henry IV, Part 1; King Henry IV, Part 2; King Henry V. The plays chronicle a continuous period in British history from the end of the 14th century to the aftermath of the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. Together, the plays comprise a story with recurring themes of power struggles, redemption, family conflict and betrayal."--IMDb.

Henry IV, Pt 1. Prince Hal (Tom Hiddleston) defies his father, King Henry IV (Jeremy Irons) by spending his time at Mistress Quickly's (Julie Walters) tavern in the company of the dissolute Falstaff (Simon Russell Beale) and his companions. The King is threatened by a rebellion led by Hal's rival, Hotspur (Joe Armstrong), his father Northumberland (Alun Armstrong), and his uncle Worcester (David Hayman). During the Battle of Shrewsbury Hal faces Hotspur in mortal combat.

Henry IV, Pt 2. Northumberland (Alun Armstrong) is told of the death of his son Hotspur in service of the King (Jeremy Irons). The Lord Chief Justice (Geoffrey Palmer) attempts to separate Falstaff (Simon Russell Beale) from the Prince Hal (Tom Hoddleston). The rebels continue to plot against the crown but their forces are outwitted. This brings comfort to the dying King, who is finally reconciled with his son. Falstaff rushes to Hal's coronation with the expectation of high office.

Not rated.

DVD, region 1, NTSC, anamorphic widescreen (1.78:1) presentation, English 5.1.

Closed-captioned; English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing (SDH).