Feature1933·97m·6.4

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!

HistoryDrama

Renowned for his excess, King Henry VIII goes through a series of wives during his rule. With Anne Boleyn, his second betrothed, executed on charges of treason, Henry weds maid Jane Seymour, but that wedded bliss also ends in tragedy. Not one to be single for long, the tyrannical king chooses German-born Anne of Cleves, but their union lasts only months before an annulment is granted, and so Henry's reign of spousal terror continues.

Play now

Cast

Charles Laughton

Henry VIII

Robert Donat

Thomas Culpeper

Franklin Dyall

Thomas Cromwell

Miles Mander

Wriothesley

Laurence Hanray

Archbishop Cranmer

William Austin

Duke of Cleves

John Loder

Peynell

Claud Allister

Cornell

Gibb McLaughlin

The French Executioner

Sam Livesey

The English Executioner

Merle Oberon

Anne Boleyn

Wendy Barrie

Jane Seymour

Elsa Lanchester

Anne of Cleves

Binnie Barnes

Katherine Howard

Everley Gregg

Katherine Parr

Lady Tree

The King's Nurse

Frederick Culley

Duke of Norfolk (uncredited)

Mark Daly

Man (uncredited)

Toni Edgar-Bruce

Spectator at Executions (uncredited)

Annie Esmond

The Cook's Wife (uncredited)

Details

Status: Released
Original language: English
Languages: English
Budget: $100,000
Revenue: $1.0M
Age rating: —
Quality: 4K UHD · HDR10 · Dolby Vision
Production: London Films ProductionsUnited Artists

Crew

Director

Alexander Korda

Writers

Lajos Biró, Arthur Wimperis, Arthur Wimperis

Kurt Schröder

Original Music Composer

Georges Périnal

Director of Photography

Stephen Harrison

Editor

John Armstrong

Costume Design

Gallery

Reviews

CinemaSerf

6/13/2022

8.0

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.