Henry VI. Part I

Alternative title
The Shakespeare Plays
Synopsis
Television production directed by Jane Howell who was responsible for the entire tetralogy (the three parts of Henry VI plus King Richard III), starring Peter Benson (King Henry VI) and Brenda Blethyn (Joan La Pucelle).
Series
BBC Television Shakespeare
Language
English
Country
Great Britain; United States
Medium
Television
Technical information
Colour / Sound
Recording date
13 Oct 1981
Transmission details
2 Jan 1983 (Channel: BBC2)
Duration
187 mins

Credits

Director
Jane Howell
Producer
Jonathan Miller
Writer
William Shakespeare
Music
Dudley Simpson; Stephen Oliver
Costume
John Peacock
Art Direction
Oliver Bayldon
Contributor
David Snodin
Cast
Peter BensonKing Henry VI
Bernard HillRichard Plantagenet, later Duke of York
David BurkeDuke of Gloucester
Trevor PeacockSir John Talbot, later Earl of Shrewsbury
Brenda BlethynJoan la Pucelle
Alex GuardJohn, Talbot’s son
Antony BrownDuke of Burgundy
Arthur CoxMayor of London
Arthur CoxPapale Legate (Legate)
Arthur CoxSir John Falstolfe (Sir John Falstaff)
Bernard HillMaster Gunner
Brian DeaconEarl of Somerset (Duke of Somerset)
Brian FergusonMusician
Brian LittleMusician
Brian ProtheroeBastard of Orléans
Brian ProtheroeFirst Messenger (Messenger)
David DakerVernon
David DakerReignier (Reignier, Duke of Anjou)
David PughMayor’s Officer (Officer)
David PughEnglish Soldier
David PughWatchman of Rouen
Derek FarrSir William Lucy
Derek FarrEarl of Salisbury
Derek FarrFirst Keeper
Derek FukeTalbot’s Captain (Captain)
Derek FukeFirst Servant (Servant)
Frank MiddlemasCardinal Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester
Ian MackintoshMusician
Ian SaynorCharles, Dauphin of France
Joanna McCallumCountess of Auvergne
John AlfordMaster Gunner’s Boy
John BenfieldBasset
John BenfieldKeeper of the Tower
John BenfieldFrench Sergeant (Sergeant)
Joseph O’ConorShepherd
Joseph O’ConorDuke of Exeter
Julia FosterMargaret
Mark Wing-DaveyEarl of Warwick
Michael ByrneDuke of Alençon
Oengus MacNamaraCountess’s Messenger (Messenger)
Oengus MacNamaraServant
Oengus MacNamaraMessenger
Paul ChapmanDuke of Suffolk (William de la Pole)
Paul ChapmanSir William Glansdale
Paul JessonSecond Messenger (Messenger)
Peter BensonThe Singer
Peter WyattSir Thomas Gargrave
Peter WyattFirst French Sentinel
Peter WyattWoodville
Peter WyattLawyer
Peter WyattThird Servant (Servant)
Philip StevensonMusician
Ron CookThird Messenger (Messenger)
Ron CookCountess’s Porter (Porter)
Tenniel EvansDuke of Bedford
Tenniel EvansFrench General (General)
Tenniel EvansEdmund Mortimer

Additional Details

Production type
Television and Radio Drama
Historical period
Medieval
Plays
Henry VI part 1
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)
Related items
Henry VI. Part 1
Henry VI. Parts 1, 2 and 3

Notes

Notes
The production is commercially available on DVD as part of the BBC TV SHAKESPEARE COLLECTION box set (see separate entry).
History
This production is part of the fifth season (producer: Jonathan Miller). It was recorded in seven days.
Stills
Director Jane Howell directed the entire minor tetralogy (the three parts of Henry VI plus King Richard III). All four productions have the same cast, set, and conceptual approach.
Textual information
Between 1978 and 1986 the BBC published individual scripts of the series. Each volume of The BBC TV Shakespeare, ed. Peter Alexander et al. (London: British Broadcasting Corporation) contains the full text of the play (the Peter Alexander edition) with accompanying notes on the scene breaks and cuts made in the production, as well as a glossary. A general introduction to the play by series literary advisor John Wilders is followed by an essay on the production of the play by Henry Fenwick. This is based on interviews with actors, directors, and designers.
Reviews
Susan Willis, The BBC Shakespeare Plays: Making the Televised Canon (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1991).

Neil Taylor, "Two Types of Television Shakespeare", Shakespeare Survey, Volume 39: Shakespeare on Film and Television (Cambridge, 1987), pp. 103-111.

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
Name

Time-Life Films Inc

Phone
0101 201 843 4545
Address
PO Box 644
NJ 07652
USA

Distributor (Sale)

Name

Simply Media

Contact
Laura Smith
Email
info@simplymedia.tv
Web
http://www.simplymedia.tv/ External site opens in new window
Phone
0203 542 3722
Address
Highlight House
57 Margaret Street
London W1W 8SJ
Notes
Formerly known as DD Home Entertainment or DDHE
Name

Trumedia Ltd

Contact
Bill Cotton
Email
sales@trumedia.co.uk
Web
https://trumedia.co.uk/ External site opens in new window
Phone
01865 847837
Fax
01865 847837
Address
9 Meadow View
Kidlington
Kidlington
OX5 2XY
Notes
Trumedia supplies video tapes and DVDs to UK schools, colleges and universities and is geared up to take official orders from educational institutions. The catalogue highlights programmes likely to be of use in the curriculum, but the company can supply any video in current UK distribution, as well as some deleted titles. Particularly strong in the areas of English literature and drama, as well as history, natural history, art & artists, and foreign language films.

How to cite this record

Shakespeare, "Henry VI. Part I". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/av36481 (Accessed 25 Nov 2024)