Erik the Viking is the brainchild of Terry Jones, who originally conceived the idea as a children's story. He has now brought his vision to the screen with a welter of special effects. Tim Robbins, Mickey Rooney and John Cleese star.

On location Kenneth Branagh, in keeping up with his reputation as the new Olivier, has taken on the daunting task of remaking Henry V. Comparison with the original will be inevitable, and Branagh explains how his version will differ from the 1944 original.

Barry Norman: page 16