The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933)
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100% of critics liked it
(12 reviews) -
68% of users liked it
(1,205 ratings)
Charles Laughton became an international star by chewing both mutton and scenes in his Oscar-winning turn as King Henry VIII. Alexander Korda's British super-production also put the British cinema on the map, which, until this film, received precious little respect in the international film… More Charles Laughton became an international star by chewing both mutton and scenes in his Oscar-winning turn as King Henry VIII. Alexander Korda's British super-production also put the British cinema on the map, which, until this film, received precious little respect in the international film community. The film, with tongue planted firmly in cheek, details the private life of the famous British monarch. His first wife, Catherine of Aragon, is barely mentioned -- explained away by a prologue which states that she was "too respectable to be included." Henry then marries Anne Boleyn (Merle Oberon) but she is soon beheaded. His next wife, Jane Seymour (Wendy Barrie), dies during childbirth. His next wife is Anne of Cleves (Elsa Lanchester, in a prelude to her Bride of Frankenstein role), whom Henry reluctantly beds with his famous sigh, "The things I've done for England." They divorce and Henry next marries Katherine Howard (Binnie Barnes), who also finds herself beheaded when she has an affair with Henry's friend, Thomas Culpepper (Robert Donat). Finally, Henry is brought down to size with his final wife, Catherine Parr (Everley Gregg). ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Directed By
- Alexander Korda
- Genres
- Drama, Classics
- In Theaters
- Sep 21, 1933 Wide
- Studio
- Criterion Collection
Critic Reviews
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Charles Laughton, who wa sonly 33 but looked older, won the Best Actor Oscar for playing the titular role with such bravado.
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Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
The film's most famous bit involves Laughton eating a chicken with a primal gusto that clearly defines King Henry's character as a gluttonous man devouring whatever is put before him.
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Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
Korda and his humorists make sure the usual biopic solemnity is not part of this royal court
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Sean Axmaker, Turner Classic Movies Online
... an illusion of grand production values and produced and released... with a mix of high culture and popular showmanship.
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Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Laughton's definitive performance is reason to see this elaborate costume drama.
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Cast
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Charles Laughton
as Henry VIII
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Binnie Barnes
as Katheryn Howard
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Merle Oberon
as Anne Boleyn
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Elsa Lanchester
as Anne of Cleves
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Everley Gregg
as Catherine Parr
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Wendy Barrie
as Jane Seymour
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Robert Donat
as Thomas Culpepper
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Lady Tree
as Henry's Old Nurse
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Claud Allister
as Cornell
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Miles Mander
as Wriothesley
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Frederick Culley
as Duke of Norfolk
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Franklin Dyall
as Thomas Cromwell
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Lawrence Hanray
as Archbishop Thomas Cranmer
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Judy Kelly
as Lady Rochford
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Sam Livesey
as Executioner
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John Loder
as Thomas Peynell
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Gibb McLaughlin
as French executioner
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John Turnbull
as Hans Holbein
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William Austin
as Duke of Cleves