British Universities Film & Video Council

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King Henry the Fourth

Synopsis
Fourth episode in an 8-part radio serialisation of Shakespeare’s two parts of King Henry IV. Arranged for broadcasting by Robert Gittings. With Ralph Richardson as Falstaff and Laurence Olivier as narrator. Produced by John Burrell with incidental music composed and conducted by Herbert Menges.
Series
King Henry the Fourth
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Radio
Transmission details
21 Jun 1945 at 21:45 (Channel: BBC Home Service)
Duration
45 mins
Availability
Unknown

Credits

Producer
John Burrell
Writer
William Shakespeare
Music
Herbert Menges
Adaptor for Radio
Robert Gittings
Cast
Nicholas HannenKing Henry IV
Michael WarrePrince Henry (Hal)
Ralph RichardsonSir John Falstaff
James McKechnieHenry Percy (Hotspur)
David KentishSir Richard Vernon
Harcourt WilliamsThomas Percy, Earl of Worcester
John RaeArchibald, Earl of Douglas
Laurence OlivierSir Piers Exton
Mark DignamEarl of Westmoreland
Michael RaghanBardolph
Robin LloydPrince John of Lancaster
Weyman MackayMessenger

Additional Details

Production type
Television and Radio Drama
Plays
Henry IV Part 1; Henry IV Part 2
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

General
Laurence Olivier acts as Sir Pierce of Exton, the narrator, or chronicler, for the broadcast episodes. A character borrowed from Richard II, he is a "man in retirement ... - he is a sardonic and personal commentator on all the events of the reign" (Robert Gittings, ‘Shakespeare Serialised’, Radio Times, 4 May 1945).
Textual information
A written transcript of the production is held at the Birmingham Central Library as part of their Shakespeare Collection.
Reviews
Source: The Radio Times
Robert Gittings introduces his adaptation in ‘Shakespeare Serialised’ . According to Gittings, Ralph Richardson as Falstaff "suggests a fatness, of body and spirit, beyond anything that stage-padding could achieve" (Radio Times, 4 May 1945).

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Record Stats

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