The Private Life of Henry VIII

Watch: The Private Life of Henry VIII

9/21/19331h 37m

Theatrical Release (US)

~ HE GAVE HIS WIVES A PAIN IN THE NECK, And did his necking with an axe. Henry, the Eighth Wonder of the World! And this picture...the wonder of all time! ~

Overview:

Renowned for his excess, King Henry VIII goes through a series of wives during his rule. With Anne Boleyn, his second wife, executed on charges of treason, King Henry weds maid Jane Seymour, but that marriage also ends in tragedy. Not one to be single for long, the king picks German-born Anne of Cleves as his bride, but their union lasts only months before an annulment is granted, and King Henry continues his string of spouses.

Director:

Alexander Korda

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$0.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Key words:

biography
based on true story
tudor
king
pre-code
henry viii
16th century
british monarchy

Cast

Charles Laughton

~ as ~

Henry VIII

Robert Donat

~ as ~

Thomas Culpeper

Franklin Dyall

~ as ~

Thomas Cromwell

Miles Mander

~ as ~

Wriothesley

Laurence Hanray

~ as ~

Archbishop Cranmer

William Austin

~ as ~

Duke of Cleves

John Loder

~ as ~

Peynell

Claud Allister

~ as ~

Cornell

Gibb McLaughlin

~ as ~

The French Executioner

Sam Livesey

~ as ~

The English Executioner

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

CinemaSerf
Written 3 year(s) ago
8
Charles Laughton well deserved his only Oscar for this wonderfully over the top, rumbustious portrayal of Henry VIII as he embarks on his infamous spree of wives. "Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived" goes the mnemonic - this version skips the first wife describing her as a "decent woman" but he quickly works his way through Merle Oberon, Wendy Barrie, Binnie Barnes before Everley Gregg finally gets his measure as Katherine Parr. His real-life wife Elsa Lanchester is easily the best of the five as Anne of Cleves - her facial expressions and one-liners are great. Robert Donat is good as the frustrated Culpeper and the scenes with the two executioners bring a smile to your face too. The score has a vivacious jollity to it - and helps carry the whole thing along in a sprightly fashion. Great stuff.