John Barry: The Lion In Winter

Peter O'Toole and Katherine Hepburn are the starry leads in this intense drama, but John Barry knows how to bring a drama of his own to the soundtrack.

The Lion in Winter was one of John Barry's most successful scores, picking up an Oscar, a Bafta and a Golden Globe in 1968. The film itself is a historical drama based on the Broadway play of the same name by James Goldman, and told the story of Henry II's family at Christmas in 1183. It starred Peter O'Toole, Katharine Hepburn, John Castle and Anthony Hopkins in his film debut, playing Richard the Lionheart. Brassy fanfares and medieval choruses capture the mood and intrigues of the court of King Henry II.