HENRY VIII AND HIS SIX WIVES
UK, 1972, 126 minutes, Colour.
Keith Michell, Donald Pleasence, Charlotte Rampling, Jane Asher, Francis Cuka, Lynne Frederick, Jenny Bos, Barbara Leigh- Hunt, Michael Gough, Brian Blessed, Michael Goodliffe, Bernard Hepton.
Directed by Waris Hussein.
Henry VIII and His Six Wives is based on a television series with the present cast.
Many actors have portrayed Henry VIII before Keith Michell – Charles Laughton in his Oscar-winning performance in The Private Lives of Henry VIII as well as James Robertson Justice in The Sword and the Rose. (Laughton reprised his role as Henry VIII in Young Bess.) Richard Burton had portrayed the king in Anne of the Thousand Days in 1968.
After Keith Michell the king was portrayed rather differently, especially in the television series The Tudors by Jonathan Rhys Meyers and by Eric Bana in The Other Boleyn Girl.
This film gives the opportunity for an overview of Henry VIII and his relationships. Keith Michell is very good in the central role with support from Donald Pleasence as Thomas Cromwell. The wives include Charlotte Rampling as Anne Boleyn, Jane Asher as Jane Seymour, Lynne Frederick as Katherine Howard.
The film does fill in the background of the politics and religious controversies of the time with Michael Goodliffe as Thomas More and Bernard Hepton as Archbishop Cranmer. Indian-born director Waris Hussein came from India to the United Kingdom and directed a great deal of television in the 1960s. He moved into feature films with A Touch of Love, The Possession of Joel Delaney and moved to the United States where he made a number of television films for several decades.
1. Continued audience interest in Henry VIII? His status in plays and films? In history? The reasons for continued interest?
2. Were the television origins of this film evident? The emphasis on Henry, on his wives?
3. The importance of the film’s focus on Henry? His deathbed, the deathbed review of his life, the significance of Henry's death? The fact that the wives themselves were secondary to the exploration of Henry's character?
4. What kind of man was Henry VIII? His place in history, his Influence? Twentieth century understanding of his role in history? Henry VIII as presented in art, both paintings and drama? The legends of Henry VIII? How well did Keith Michell interpret Henry VIII? Acoording to history, art, legend? How realistic, sympathetic, credible a portrait?
5. How much insight into Henry's character did the film give? The background of England at the beginning of the sixteenth century, the Tudors and their role., Henry's consciousness of his being a Tudor, King of England with responsibilities? Henry as a Renaissance prince? His self-centredness, his capacity for love, the influence of sexuality? Henry as a politician, interested in England's politics, international politics? The importance of religion, its relation to the kingdom and politics? The importance of the male heir? Henry's obsession about this and its influence on his attitude towards his wives? Henry as petty, self-indulgent, capricious in his relationships?
6. How impressive was the presentation of the wives? Audience knowledge of their history? Sympathy for them as victims of Henry VIII? How well developed were each of the characters? Did the film rely on brief sketches
rather than characterisation?
One, Catherine of Aragon, her history, Spanish background, marriage to Arthur, dispensation for marriage to Henry, the mother of Mary, the long marriage, her being discarded, the religious controversy as exemplified, for example, with Thomas More?
Two - Anne Boleyn as a capricious young lady, her self-centredness, her hold over Henry, the birth of Elizabeth, her being victimised, her death for witchcraft and the lies that were told? How sympathetic a character?
Three - Jane Seymour as a plain girl, the birth of Edward VI, her death, the influence of the Seymour family?
Four - the ironic humour of the marriage with Anne of Cleves? Thomas Cromwell's big mistake in organising this marriage? Henry's immediate repugnance and rejection?
Five – Catherine Howard as a pathetic young victim of her family, being pushed forward in the name of family and religion? Her infatuation with others? Her being a victim of Henry's vengeance?
Six - Katherine Parr and her calmness? Her ability to match Henry? Her care and concern for his children?
Why did Henry marry all these women? What did he expect? What effect did each of them have on him?
7. His origins, his type, his commonness, devious nature and politics? The quality of his advice? His mistake with Anne of Cleves and his downfall? Was he in any way sympathetic? As a man of the sixteenth century?
8. How sympathetic was the portrayal of Cranmer? His religious ideas, religious loyalty, the Church in England and the Church of Rome, his role in English politics, his advice to the King? How sympathetic and credible a Reformation religious man?
9. The brief portrayal of Sir Thomas More, as a character, the values and stances that he took?
10. The importance for a historical film of the minor characters, the various courtiers and their influence, ambitions? The noble families, for example, the Howards? The influence of the Seymours? The international characters, for example, the Spaniards and the French?
11. How well did the film present the religious and political issues of the times? Amongst the nobility, amongst the common people?
12. How romantic a portrait of Henry VIII? How real?
