Review of The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933) by Victor L — 01 Mar 2010
This wasn't quite what I expected. This was actually much much better! It doesn't really matter that it hasn't got much to do with the real Henry VIII, not when it's this good!
Occasionally hilarious biopic (or should I say just tale?) about the english king Henry VIII, who had made it his own personal hobby marrying women and then "chopping their heads off".
Contains two of my all-time favorite actors; Charles Laughton and Elsa Lanchester (who were actually married in real life, for you who didn't already knew :) So I may seem partial when saying that the acting is superb!
Merle Oberon (you know, she who played Cathy in the most famous movie-adaption of Wuthering Heights) has a small part as well, in the beginning as one of Henry's wives soon to be executed.
The movie is directed by Alexander Korda who among others, directed Rembrandt 1936 (also with Charles Laughton and Elsa Lanchester), and That Hamilton Woman 1941 (starring another very famous english married couple; Viven Leigh and Laurence Olivier).
I love the scene when Henry is going to "fulfil" his marriage with his new wife Anne of Cleves. Anne of Cleves wasn't really the brightest of Henry's wives...
Henry VIII: Madame, all that stuff about children being found under gooseberry bushes...That's not true...
Anne of Cleves: Oh no, it was the stork, huh?
Henry VIII: The stork?
Anne of Cleves: The stork flies in the air with the babe, and then he drops, huh?
Henry VIII: Ummm....no, madame. that isn't true either......when a hen lays an egg it's not all entirely her own doing....
Anne of Cleves: You mean sometimes it was the cuckoo, huh?
Henry VIII:.....Yes......it was the cucko.......
A few more scenes with Elsa and I would have given this 90%.
This review of The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933) was written by Victor L on 01 Mar 2010.
The Private Life of Henry VIII has generally received positive reviews.
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