Henrik V Laurence Olivier’s Triumphal Knight Returns RE343960

Henrik V (1944) – Laurence Olivier’s Triumphal Knight Returns

With sword aloft and a gaze forged in resolve, the English king gallops into legend. This powerful Danish poster for Henrik V—the 1944 Technicolor adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry V, directed by and starring Laurence Olivier—is an arresting tableau of wartime defiance, heroic spirit, and high dramatic pageantry. Originally released in the shadow of World War II, the film was hailed not merely as a cinematic achievement, but as a rousing call to national fortitude.

Now, through this vibrant artwork, that same majesty gallops into your study, drawing room, or theatre foyer.

A Visual Spectacle in Ink

Rendered with vivid clarity and regal fervour, the knight—King Henry—thunders across a sky of impending battle. His armour glints like silver under moonlight; his horse, white and proud, is cloaked in heraldic banners of red and gold. Behind him, a tapestry of flags—the English lions, the cross of St George, and the azure-gold chequers—billows like a storm of symbols.

The artistic composition by Wenzel, boldly signed and dated ’45, delivers a sense of motion and theatre. Arrows streak past in silhouette. Shadows of knights flank the scene, evoking a chorus of history echoing through Shakespearean verse.

But it is the pose—half defiant, half visionary—that strikes the viewer. Here stands a king ready to inspire. And indeed, he did. This was the film that brought Shakespeare to the big screen not as classroom text, but as cinematic epic.

Who Is This For?

This magnificent print is ideally suited for:

• Lovers of classic cinema, particularly those with reverence for Olivier’s ground-breaking stage-to-screen vision.

• Shakespeare enthusiasts, who cherish this moment in cultural history when the Bard was presented to wartime audiences as both poetry and propaganda.

• Collectors of mid-century poster art, particularly Scandinavian film posters, known for their compositional clarity and heroic scale.

• Interior stylists and designers, seeking a powerful centrepiece that commands attention and offers literary gravitas.

• Educators, lecturers, and stage directors, as both a teaching tool and an inspiration to the next generation of performers.

Poster Details

• Premium heavyweight 200 gsm paper with semi-gloss silk finish

• Humidity and scratch resistant, preserving colour brilliance for decades

• Crafted in the United Kingdom, ensuring exceptional print fidelity and production quality

• Dimensions ideal for both gallery framing or academic display

“Once more unto the breach, dear friends...”
This is not merely a poster. It is a standard-bearer—a charge of cinematic glory frozen in ink and colour.

— David Harrison