Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 05/16/2006 Rating: Nr
A British television series originally broadcast on CBS (and rebroadcast on PBS) in America in 1971, The Six Wives of Henry VIII remains a painless way to learn something about royal history and its impact on the political and religious landscape of England. Keith Michell stars as King Henry VIII, who assumes the throne as a boy after the death of his older brother and inherits the latter's Spanish betrothed, Catherine of Aragon (Annette Crosbie), as well. Growing up and increasingly complicated in personality, with an ever-growing appetite for elusive happiness as well as power and food, Henry maneuvers (and is maneuvered by) forces around him to break from Rome and create the Church of England, in part to accommodate his wish for a divorce.
Each story of the king's successive brides takes up an entire episode in the series. Dorothy Tutin plays the doomed Anne Boleyn, Anne Stallybrass is Henry's favorite, Jane Seymour, Elvi Hale is Anne of Cleves, Angela Pleasence is Catherine Howard, and Rosalie Crutchley plays last-in-line Catherine Parr. A very large and fine supporting cast adds intrigue and extra layers of tragedy to the proceedings, especially John Baskcomb as Cardinal Wolsey, Wolfe Morris as Thomas Cromwell, and Ralph Bates as Thomas Culpepper. Each 90-minute episode was crafted by a different writer, but the series holds together very well under Keith Michell's dazzling performance as the despicable if sympathetic Henry, whose emotional arc over many years and losses is something to see. --Tom Keogh
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Engrossing History:
From start to finish, the story of Henry VII is played out so well that you can't wait to see the next episode. Engrossing, historically accurate, and portrayed by the finest of English actors.I have rarely been so engrossed in a series.I am not going into each episode because most know the story. And for those who don't, you will enjoy this production even more while learning...HISTORY, Heaven forbid!Guaranteed to keep you watching.
The Mini-Series That Started My Tudor Fandom:
When I first watched "The Six Wives of Henry VIII" on CBS during the summer of 1971, I had no idea this mini-series would transform me over the course of six weeks into the Tudor fan I am today. I had never before seen costumes like the ones in "Six Wives", so authentically reproduced that the actors wearing them look as if they had stepped right out of the paintings of Hans Holbein. There's no more perfect Henry VIII than Keith Michell, who flawlessly portrays the monarch from a slender, idealistic... more info
Henry and wives couldn't be better:
This is the Henry viii for the Historical Set. Keith Michell was multi married monarch from 18 to his death. He actually looked like the portraits come to life. As to the wives my absolute favorite is Dame Dorothy Tutin as the tragic Anne Boleyn then Elvi Hale as cunning Anne of Cleves . All of the actresses and actors are brilliant. Some have not been seen since this series others went on to become well known in their own right. The program was classic BBC/Masterpiece Theater in the old... more info
Still The One to Watch and Buy:
This is just a great production of The Six Wives of Henry VIII. It was sensational in 1970 (in the US, 1972) and is sensational now. The restoration is very good and I appreciate the work that went into it. Some people may be put off by the videotape and stark lighting and contrasts but the BBC didn't have much money. You can still see a bit of problem today with production values. They just don't have as much money.
What the BBC does have is dedication to quality shows, acting, writing and... more info
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