King John

King John is infamous as the villain of the Robin Hood legends. As portrayed by Shakespeare, he is a mercurial enigma–dynamic one moment, standing up to the Pope and expanding England’s power through battle and crafty negotiation; and immobilized by doubt the next, driving his nobles to rebel and laying himself open to his enemies. Famous historical figures, including John’s formidable mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, dominate this historical thriller rife with corruption and littered with broken promises, shifting alliances and grim deeds of political necessity. King John is a masterful drama about skullduggery in high places. John Sipes directs.