Lot Essay
Henry V was an astounding critical success and won Laurence Olivier a special Academy Award for his triple triumph as the director, producer and star of the film. Kenneth Tynan said of the film ...Larry didn't realize it at first, because he was so close to it and so exhausted, but he had created what was perhaps the first true work of art that had ever been put on film...With the brilliance and originality he showed in 'Henry V' he could have become one of the greatest film figures of all time -- acting, directing, producing and so on. But by then he wanted nothing more than to get back on stage...