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The Private Life of Henry VIII main poster

The Private Life of Henry VIII

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6.4/10 • 85

1933-08-171h 37m

HistoryDrama

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!

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.

Directors
Alexander Korda
Editors
Stephen Harrison

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Charles Laughton

    Charles Laughton

    Henry VIII

  2. Robert Donat

    Robert Donat

    Thomas Culpeper

  3. Franklin Dyall

    Franklin Dyall

    Thomas Cromwell

  4. Miles Mander

    Miles Mander

    Wriothesley

  5. Laurence Hanray

    Laurence Hanray

    Archbishop Cranmer

  6. William Austin

    William Austin

    Duke of Cleves

  7. John Loder

    John Loder

    Peynell

  8. Claud Allister

    Claud Allister

    Cornell

  9. Gibb McLaughlin

    Gibb McLaughlin

    The French Executioner

Reviews1

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Jun 13, 2022

8/10

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.

Media

  • The Private Life of Henry VIII poster
  • The Private Life of Henry VIII poster
  • The Private Life of Henry VIII poster
  • The Private Life of Henry VIII poster
  • The Private Life of Henry VIII poster
  • The Private Life of Henry VIII poster
  • The Private Life of Henry VIII poster
  • The Private Life of Henry VIII poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
biographybased on true storytudorkingpre-codehenry viii16th centurybritish monarchy