The Private Life of Henry VIII

Starring: Charles Laughton, Robert Donat, Franklin Dyall, Miles Mander, Binnie Barnes, Elsa Lanchester, Wendy Barrie, Merle Oberon, Everley Gregg, William Austin, Lady Tree, John Loder
Directed by: Alexander Korda
Rating: Not rated
Genre: Drama, Comedy
1933

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: King Henry VIII's six marriages consume his time and focus and ultimately represent his most enduring legacy.

Review:

Tim: I really enjoyed The Private Life of Henry VIII. It's not a film that often comes up in discussions of important movies of the 1930s- this might be because it's not quite a great film. However, it's an important and influential one and I had a lot of fun with it. It's a movie I would certainly recommend.

First off, this movie matters because it's the first British film to win an Academy Award. It also somewhat revitalized the period drama, proving to be a box office success despite many doubters. It's also an entertaining, memorable movie. While it may not offer a historically accurate view of Henry VIII, it's the one most people imagine now when they think about the oft-married monarch. This film undoubtedly influenced how future generations would view this King (although the catchy music hall song helped).

The film does a fairly good job of portraying Henry's wives and the title sums up this film's focus. While the movie does touch on some of the kingly duties and concerns of Henry, it's much more focused with his surprising and controversial personal life. I was fine with this focus- the movie title tells us what it's chiefly concerned with, and there's enough drama and fireworks here to hold our attention throughout the film. It's a little interesting that Henry's first wife is glossed over- an intertitle card is all we get. This didn't bother me much, as there's more than enough to explore with his other five wives. I liked how the film approached this- his ensuing five wives are all different enough that our attention is refocused as the next woman comes into the picture.

The biggest reason to see this movie is the Academy Award winning performance of Charles Laughton. I really enjoyed his performance in Mutiny on the Bounty, but even seeing him there didn't prepare me for the wonderful performance here. His over-the-top, flamboyant performance is absolutely perfect for Henry. He draws you in with his charisma while showcasing the more flawed aspects of Henry's character. It's a larger than life performance that feels rooted in authentic human behavior. He's mesmerizing in this role and you don't want to take your eyes off him- whether he's interacting with one of his wives or eating chicken with his bare hands. It's just such an excellent performance- he certainly deserved the Academy Award for Best Actor.

The supporting cast is large and make favorable impressions. It was interesting to see how many actors were able to make their mark in a relatively short amount of screen time. Merle Oberon is the most vivid example of this. Her Anne Boleyn gets just minutes of screen time, but her proud, strong-willed performance remains in your mind long after her time on screen ends. Wendy Barrie was good as Jane Seymour, immediately contrasting her character with Oberon's. Elsa Lanchester (Laughton's real-life wife) is memorable in one of the more humorous exchanges of the film- she quickly gets a divorce by making herself unattractive and then "wins" her freedom in a memorable card game). Lanchester again doesn't have much screen time, but makes a lasting impression. Binnie Barnes is great as Henry's fifth wife. Her intelligence and cunning are obvious and she feels like a true formidable match to the king. Robert Donat gives a strong performance as well. I enjoyed him a lot in later films like The 39 Steps and especially Goodbye, Mr. Chips and it was fun seeing him in this earlier role. As a whole, this cast is quite strong.

I enjoyed The Private Life of Henry VIII. It tells a fascinating story based on true events of a larger-than-life character. It features some great performances. It's a worthwhile and effective period drama that is influential and memorable. It might not pack the emotional punch of the best films of the decade, but it's well worth seeing. Alexander Korda did a truly effective job of bringing this story to life on the screen.


Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Mutiny on the Bounty, Goodbye Mr. Chips, Spartacus