Henry VIII and His Six Wives

Audience Reviews

View All (6) audience reviews

Lee C Fantastic! Excellent (probably the greatest ever) portrayal of the infamous king! Michell is majestic with a superb supporting cast! No special effects, just make up and pure talent! Simply brilliant! A lesson for all actors today on how it should be done! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/13/23 Full Review Audience Member King Henry is on his deathbed and recounts his life with his many wives Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Audience Member 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. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Audience Member Probably Keith Michell's finest hour as he's superb as England's most famous Tudor King. It's a worthy costume drama in its own right and although each marriage is only given a short screen time the story of Henry's marital life is well represented. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Audience Member The best Henry VIII film by far. Takes several hours to watch all episodes. Really creepy 1970s-style sets and camera work which reminded me of the Carol Burnet Show. It takes about an hour to get used to the sets. Once you are, its a fine drama about the biggest pimp ever. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/23/23 Full Review Audience Member Makes Henry look like a foolish old man at times and hints that his mood swings are the result of illness, perhaps syphilis. This version also brings to light some other rumors you won't see in films like "The Other Boleyn Girl" - like Anne's having a 6th finger on one hand. Interesting if not historically accurate. And it's nice to get a glimpse of the other women in his life. Fine performances all around. Even Donald Pleasance, playing the much-hated Thomas Cromwell, manages to evoke sympathy at one point. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Henry VIII and His Six Wives

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW