Rousing and patriotic at a time when English spirits needed lifting, Laurence Olivier's first stab at putting the Bard on film was an artistic and commercial success. How could it fail? It had comedy, patriotic speeches and some stirring, arrow-filled battle scenes. It also had the cream of the British stage in large and small roles. And not just the legitimate stage - music hall giant George Robey was recruited to play Falstaff. Olivier starred, directed and had a hand in the screen adaptation, tasks Kenneth Branagh took on when he remade the film in 1989. Marvellous stuff and a tough act to follow with its amazing colour and camerawork.


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