Review of Henry VIII and His Six Wives (1972) by Stuart K — 05 Aug 2013

In 1970, The Six Wives of Henry VIII was a huge ratings winner on the BBC, to the point where EMI bought the option to do a film version. They employed Waris Hussein (Melody (1971) to direct the film. Also brought over was the original producer from the series Mark Shivas as well as Ian Thorne, who had written one episode that won an award.

It's a powerful and compelling drama with some lovely sets and some very good performances too. It begins with Henry VIII (Keith Michell) on his death bed, looking back on his life, and the Six Wives he wed.

Beginning with Catherine of Aragon (Frances Cuka), who gave him a daughter, so he divorced her and married Anne Boleyn (Charlotte Rampling) who gave him another daughter, so Henry had her executed, he marries Jane Seymour (Jane Asher) who gives him a son, but she dies afterwards.

Henry then marries Anne of Cleves (Jenny Bos), who Henry hates and divorces her, he has less luck with Catherine Howard (Lynne Frederick), who is unfaithful, but his final wife Catherine Parr (Barbara Leigh-Hunt) becomes his widow.

It's a powerful adaptation, with Michell reprising his role from the TV series, it has lovely cinematography by Peter Suschitzky, and a good supporting cast including Donald Pleasence, Michael Gough and Brian Blessed.

You don't get historical films like this now.