Henry V - Speech - Eve of Saint Crispin's Day - HD

Kenneth Branagh's masterpiece film of the Shakespeare classic play. Done in High Definition. Blows away the Braveheart battle speech.

[ianpourchot]

For ten years, I’ve watched this video before every major test, interview, or life changing challenge.

[quickhistory]

technicalmark, the poster of this video, literally made his account on May 3rd, 2009, posted this video, and hasn’t commented or posted since. what an absolute hero

[foothilldave]

In the early 1980's (1984 ?) my wife and I had a short layover in the UK during a business trip to France. We visited Stratford on Avon and the Royal Shakespeare Company Avon theater. We had no tickets and said we would see whatever matinee we could get in. They had a cancelation for what ended up being front row seats for Henry V with Kenneth Branagh and Brian Blessed (both here seen). Besides the amazing performances, the sets were amazing with rain machines (we got wet) and a horse on stage (for this speech). Neither of us, nor most people outside England at the time, knew who those actors were but their names were embossed in our memories from then on. What a lucky accident.

[iangrimshaw]

There's a pub in Ashover, Derbyshire that is said to have been built on or from a house that was built be a man who returned from the battle of Agincourt. Unsurprisingly, it is called, 'The Crispin'. A glass is still raised on St Crispin's Day.

[tommyjordan]

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" that part put tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. Absolutely incredible.

[janeyrevanescence]

"Grandpa, were you a hero in the war?"
"No. I served in a company of heroes."

[JOSECANUCCJ]

This displays The Bard’s gift of using the English language. Best motivational speech ever!

[genkigenki]

Not only one of Shakespeare's greatest speeches, but one of the greatest speakers of Shakespeare!

[tyrssen]

Kenneth Branagh is such a great actor -- he can make Shakespeare understandable, no easy task. I had the honor to be in a scene with him in "The Gingerbread Man."

[BenRollinsActor]

Especially impressive when you realize that he adapted the play for the screen, produced, directed, and starred in that film - all before the age of 30. Interesting fact: at 2:26, the kid in the lower left corner is a VERY young Christian Bale. He was 12 or 13 at the time of filming.

[turnip]

One of the best speeches ever delivered in fiction. Every line oozes in comradery, passion and patriotism. It's difficult to listen to this and not get chills, regardless of whether your English or not.

[kippchapin]

If the English can beat back the French outnumbered 5-1, then I can handle all the nonsense from Janice in accounting.

[annedonovan]

Anyone want to bet the herald went back and told them "he said no'.

[exit]

God I love this speech. Kenneth Branagh does it total justice.

[johnciummo]

As a Marine combat veteran, Vietnam 68-69, this speech ring so true. As I try to explain to those that never served in mortal combat. For one small sliver of time you served with fellow Marines, who without hesitation, would clearly give up their lives and futures to save mine. As I would do the same to save their lives!
And yes, almost 60 years, I am proud to call them my brothers.
I have been very fortunate in my life. After Vietnam, college a great career in the corporate world with numerous accolades but nothing can ever top knowing I never let my fellow Marines down. Semper Fi.

[migpd]

The finest speech in the English language. I am 60 years of age and I have never ceased to be stirred by these words.

[benjaminharris]

May 2024 - still one of the greatest moments in Ken Branagh’s storied career and Shakespeare on film. I first watched this version of Henry V when I was 20 years old; I a, now 53! . This speech absolutely fueled my desire to read and understand Shakespeare and to study English history. Patrick Doyle’s amazing soundtrack is so amazing and a big reason this scene is so good! Today, the bard, Branagh and Doyle are all “freshly remembered!”

[tommyjordan]

The even more impressive thing is that the speech is written in iambic pentameter. How Shakespeare manage to pour so much profound substance and feeling into his sentences, within a rigid 10 syllable per line structure is simply mind boggling.

Nabokov said about Shakespeare: "His verbal poetic texture is the greatest the world has ever known. It is the metaphor that is the thing. A genius."

I couldn't agree more. Shakespeare's writings haunt me. Utterly phenomenal.

[wkylegreen]

Every year I watch this video on Saint Crispin’s Day… never fails to give me chills.

[TheTrohl]

3:33 - I love how Brian Blessed is just waiting for it.