The First Part of King Henry the Fourth, with the Life and Death of Henry Surnamed Hotspur

When the BBC started doing the Shakespeare plays in which we on the other side of the pond were privileged enough to see, they did a wise thing in having the same actors play the same characters giving continuity to the plays. All of the people from Richard II whose roles were repeated in Henry IV got to do their parts again. Most important was Jon Finch who as Bolingbroke usurped the crown from Richard II in the previous work and now is Henry IV in both Henry IV Part One and Two.

In this production Finch is finding out what it's like to be king as some of us supporters are now disillusioned with him. Most prominently the Earl of Northumberland and his son Henry Percy known as Hotspur for his skill as a fighting man and a rather quick temper. They're gathering some similarly malcontented people to their cause in overthrowing the king they feel was not up to the job.

Henry IV had several sons and what happens with them is the subject of several succeeding historical plays Henry V and the three parts of Henry VI as well as Henry IV Part Two. The oldest is Prince Henry known as Prince Hal. Instead of helping dad out with running the kingdom, he'd rather hang around the taverns with such low born folks as John Falstaff and have a rollicking good time.

And playing Hal one of Shakespeare's most popular characters is David Gwillim. He gives a splendid interpretation of the part, playing nicely against both Finch as his father and his older companion in merriment Falstaff who is also fully realized in character by Anthony Quayle. This character proved so popular back in the day when he was created in both Henry IV plays, Master Will Shakespeare was forced by public opinion which meant then the lords and ladies and titled folk who saw his work to create a separate work around Falstaff with The Merry Wives Of Windsor. It's a great part for one to give full range to the emotions. Falstaff is a braggart and a liar, but he does it with such aplomb that you can't help liking him. In fact the character in a modern guise appears in My Own Private Idaho where parts of Henry IV Part One and Two are used in Keanu Reeves's dialog who was Prince Hal in that Gus Van Sant classic.

The fun loving Hal is contrasted with Henry Percy who is played with fire and passion by Tim Pigott-Smith. Hotspur is a character you see recur in many of Shakespeare's work, a single minded hot head like Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet and Laertes in Hamlet. He's contemptuous of Hal, but when the time comes Prince Hal shows dad and the audience he has the right stuff.

Henry IV Part One follows in the same excellent tradition of Richard II. At some point I would love to see all the BBC Shakespeare plays from this series and hope they all maintain the same quality.

These history plays are the least ambitious of the BBC Shakespeare series in terms of directorial approach - an almost semi-documentary feel accompanies the personalities and political machinations that lead to war. There's no attempt here to replicate Vermeer or some other Old Master. That doesn't short-change the work in any way, and if you're curious about this play, don't hesitate.

Anthony Quayle plays a jolly Falstaff who is also a flinty, manipulative SOB. The approach works like a charm. Jon Finch's King Henry IV is part lion, part water buffalo, but always in charge. The potentially tiresome Hotspur is redeemed with a welcome note of humor by Tim Pigott-Smith. John Cairney's Douglas is marvelously peppery, and Brenda Bruce's Mistress Quickly avoids cliché by bringing out touching warmth and humanity.

When David Gwillim first appears as Prince Hal, you wonder "can this glass of milk really grow into Henry V? Has BBC casting lost its senses?" But in fact, he manages the transition to adult responsibility very well, and by the end of the play he's obviously made of the right stuff. So Shakespeare has fooled us successfully once again.

A special note should be made of Clive Swift, in his pre-"Keeping Up Appearances" days. As Worcester, he personifies the actor's dictum that acting is reacting. His voice is plain and his delivery unremarkable, but oh, that man can listen! As The Dumpy Bald Guy in the Corner With a Silent Grievance, he absolutely invents the category.

We should also note the battle scenes, always problematic in the studio and here quite well done. And the lovely outdoor set, including a steep hillside, bursts the bonds of BBC's TC1. The pace is not fast, but it is reasonable. An excellent production all round.

Though I admire the BBC for doing the complete works of Shakespeare unabridged, I would only recommend this Henry IV if your motivation for seeing it is completely utilitarian. The only advantage to seeing this over reading it is that it might be easier to understand and quicker.

You need to remember that these were all filmed for the BBC/Time-Life Shakespeare plays; the budget did not allow high production values. Still, (disagreeing with the other comment) Jon Finch's Henry IV is a highlight. Twisted up, obsessive, but still with something regal, the performance seems better every time I watch. Finch was Polanski's Macbeth. It is Tim Piggott-Smith who does Hotspur (not Purchase, who does Old Percy) in a fine performance. Quayle's Falstaff is spitty and reptilian, and Gwillim's Hal nuanced. One of the gems of the series. The histories are some of the gems of Shakespeare, too often ignored in the US. You must know Falstaff, and this is as good an intro as any. Review the characters in advance, and you'll be fine.

A literal interpretation of this history play. It is interesting to watch the words become action, especially in the case of H. Percy, played with impatience and gusto by Bruce Purchase (he looks like a young and wild Ben Cross). If you've read the play, his performance is worth the view. Price Hal is done well, as is blustery, mumbling Falstaff; but the king, I thought, was played with very little artistry. It's a shame that his opening speech sets the tone for the play, because it sounds like it's being read rather than acted. It makes the whole production seem a little stiff.

DVD: The sound is terrible in some places, and it's difficult to get all of the dialogue. Subtitles were not available, which I think would have added to the production.