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HistoryDrama

The Private Life of Henry VIII

- 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.

Release Date : 1933-08-17

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : London Films ProductionsUnited Artists

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Charles Laughton

Character Name : Henry VIII

Original Name : Charles Laughton

Gender : Male

Robert Donat

Character Name : Thomas Culpeper

Original Name : Robert Donat

Gender : Male

Franklin Dyall

Character Name : Thomas Cromwell

Original Name : Franklin Dyall

Gender : Male

Miles Mander

Character Name : Wriothesley

Original Name : Miles Mander

Gender : Male

Laurence Hanray

Character Name : Archbishop Cranmer

Original Name : Laurence Hanray

Gender : Male

William Austin

Character Name : Duke of Cleves

Original Name : William Austin

Gender : Male

John Loder

Character Name : Peynell

Original Name : John Loder

Gender : Male

Claud Allister

Character Name : Cornell

Original Name : Claud Allister

Gender : Male

Gibb McLaughlin

Character Name : The French Executioner

Original Name : Gibb McLaughlin

Gender : Male

Sam Livesey

Character Name : The English Executioner

Original Name : Sam Livesey

Gender : Male

Merle Oberon

Character Name : Anne Boleyn

Original Name : Merle Oberon

Gender : Female

Wendy Barrie

Character Name : Jane Seymour

Original Name : Wendy Barrie

Gender : Female

Elsa Lanchester

Character Name : Anne of Cleves

Original Name : Elsa Lanchester

Gender : Female

Binnie Barnes

Character Name : Katherine Howard

Original Name : Binnie Barnes

Gender : Female

Everley Gregg

Character Name : Katherine Parr

Original Name : Everley Gregg

Gender : Female

Lady Tree

Character Name : The King's Nurse

Original Name : Lady Tree

Gender : Female

Frederick Culley

Character Name : Duke of Norfolk (uncredited)

Original Name : Frederick Culley

Gender : Male

Mark Daly

Character Name : Man (uncredited)

Original Name : Mark Daly

Gender : Male

Toni Edgar-Bruce

Character Name : Spectator at Executions (uncredited)

Original Name : Toni Edgar-Bruce

Gender : Female

Annie Esmond

Character Name : The Cook's Wife (uncredited)

Original Name : Annie Esmond

Gender : Female

William Heughan

Character Name : Kingston (uncredited)

Original Name : William Heughan

Gender : Male

Arthur Howard

Character Name : Kitchen Helper (uncredited)

Original Name : Arthur Howard

Gender : Male

Judy Kelly

Character Name : Lady Rochford (uncredited)

Original Name : Judy Kelly

Gender : Female

Wally Patch

Character Name : Butcher in Kitchen (uncredited)

Original Name : Wally Patch

Gender : Male

Hay Petrie

Character Name : The King's Barber (uncredited)

Original Name : Hay Petrie

Gender : Male

Terry-Thomas

Character Name : Man (uncredited)

Original Name : Terry-Thomas

Gender : Male

John Turnbull

Character Name : Hans Holbein (uncredited)

Original Name : John Turnbull

Gender : Male

Reviews

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2022-06-13

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.