In Hepburn’s third Oscar-winning performance, she plays Eleanor of Aquitaine and goes head-to-head with Peter O’Toole playing King Henry II in 12th century England. It’s all palace intrigue all the time as the King and his estranged wife (released from imprisonment for the Christmas holiday no less) engage in a battle of words over which of their sons will succeed the throne. Though gloriously wordy, THE LION IN WINTER manages to breathe life into a set of characters mostly known through history books—thanks in no small part to the stupendous performances of Hepburn and O’Toole.

Double feature with ON GOLDEN POND