Movie Monologue Monday Derek Jacobi in Henry V

For this weeks Movie Monologue Monday Im going to look at the great Derek Jacobi in Henry V, the Kenneth Branagh version. I adore this speech. It serves as a prologue to the play, setting up the story for the audience. And its richly theatrical. It asks the audience to suspend their disbelief, to forget that theyre in a theatre (this wooden o) to imagine that the stage can hold vast fields, great armies.

For tis your thoughts that now must deck our kings
Heres the speech as performed by Derek Jacobi. A copy of the text follows. Some observations Rather than being delivered on an empty stage as it would be in the theatre, the speech is delivered on a mostly-empty soundstage. There are bits of props here and there but there its pretty bare otherwise. Notice how he (The Chorus) drives and directs the scene. He doesnt exist until he lights the match. The set is unlit until he turns on the lights. The camera follows him, not the other way around. No movement happens that he doesnt initiate. The speech is done in one continuous take. The speech is written in iambic pentameter, yet his delivery is so natural. He speaks poetically without being a slave to the rhythm and the line endings.

Class Exercise
Watch the video and discuss these questions. Dont worry about whether or not everyone has seen the whole movie. Fill in the missing details using what you see, hear, and imagine. The characters name is Chorus. Why did Shakespeare choose this name? Why do you suppose Shakespeare put this speech before the play? Why didnt he just jump into the first scene? The Chorus refers to this wooden O. What do you think hes talking about? What technical challenges were present for the actor and the filmmakers when filming this scene? Why are we shown the backs of flats, a camera, and various props, in this scene? [fun question] The piece appears to be one continuous shot. Do you see any spots where edits may have been made? This speech has been edited from the original. Below youll find the speech as Shakespeare wrote it, the edits are in italics. Why do you suppose they chose to cut those lines in particular?

O for a Muse of fire, that would ascend The brightest heaven of invention, A kingdom for a stage, princes to act And monarchs to behold the swelling scene! Then should the warlike Harry, like himself, Assume the port of Mars; and at his heels, Leashd in like hounds, should famine, sword and fire Crouch for employment. But pardon, and gentles all, The flat unraised spirits that have dared On this unworthy scaffold to bring forth So great an object: can this cockpit hold The vasty fields of France? or may we cram Within this wooden O the very casques That did affright the air at Agincourt? O, pardon! since a crooked figure may Attest in little place a million; And let us, ciphers to this great accompt, On your imaginary forces work. Suppose within the girdle of these walls Are now confined two mighty monarchies, Whose high upreared and abutting fronts The perilous narrow ocean parts asunder: Piece out our imperfections with your thoughts; Into a thousand parts divide on man, And make imaginary puissance; Think when we talk of horses, that you see them Printing their proud hoofs i the receiving earth; For tis your thoughts that now must deck our kings, Carry them here and there; jumping oer times, Turning the accomplishment of many years Into an hour-glass: for the which supply,

Admit me Chorus to this history; Who prologue-like your humble patience pray, Gently to hear, kindly to judge, our play