Charles Laughton well deserved his only Oscar for this wonderfully over the top, rumbustious portrayal of Henry VIII as he embarks on his infamous spree of wives. "Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived" goes the mnemonic - this version skips the first wife describing her as a "decent woman" but he quickly works his way through Merle Oberon, Wendy Barrie, Binnie Barnes before Everley Gregg finally…
HE GAVE HIS WIVES A PAIN IN THE NECK, And did his necking with an axe. Henry, the Eighth Wonder of the World! And this picture...the wonder of all time!
Renowned for his excess, King Henry VIII goes through a series of wives during his rule. With Anne Boleyn, his second betrothed, executed on charges of treason, Henry weds maid Jane Seymour, but that wedded bliss also ends in tragedy. Not one to be single for long, the tyrannical king chooses German-born Anne of Cleves, but their union lasts only months before an annulment is granted, and so Henry's reign of spousal terror continues.
Top Cast
Charles Laughton
Henry VIII
Robert Donat
Thomas Culpeper
Franklin Dyall
Thomas Cromwell
Miles Mander
Wriothesley
Laurence Hanray
Archbishop Cranmer
William Austin
Duke of Cleves
John Loder
Peynell
Claud Allister
Cornell
Gibb McLaughlin
The French Executioner
Sam Livesey
The English Executioner
Merle Oberon
Anne Boleyn
Wendy Barrie
Jane Seymour
Elsa Lanchester
Anne of Cleves
Binnie Barnes
Katherine Howard
Everley Gregg
Katherine Parr
Lady Tree
The King's Nurse
Reviews
FAQ about The Private Life of Henry VIII
What is The Private Life of Henry VIII about?
Renowned for his excess, King Henry VIII goes through a series of wives during his rule. With Anne Boleyn, his second betrothed, executed on charges of treason, Henry weds maid Jane Seymour, but that wedded bliss also ends in tragedy. Not one to be single for long, the…
When was The Private Life of Henry VIII released?
The Private Life of Henry VIII was released in 1933.
What genres does The Private Life of Henry VIII belong to?
The Private Life of Henry VIII is categorised as History, Drama.
Who stars in The Private Life of Henry VIII?
The cast of The Private Life of Henry VIII includes Charles Laughton, Robert Donat, Franklin Dyall, Miles Mander, Laurence Hanray.