The Private Life of Henry VIII 
Directed by Alexander Korda
Written by Lajos Biro and Arthur Wimperis
1933/UK
London Films Production
IMDb page
Repeat viewing/Amazon Prime rental
Palace servant: Anne Boleyn dies this morning; Jane Seymour takes her place tonight. What luck!
Another servant: For which of them, I wonder?
Charles Laughton gives a bravura performance that spans decades in this biopic that focuses on Henry VIII’s last five wives.
The story begins on the execution day of Anne Boleyn (Merle Oberon). We never really get to know Jane Seymour (Wendy Barrie) before she dies in childbirth, giving the King his only son. Courtiers convince Henry to marry Anne of Cleves (Elsa Lanchester) for political reasons. Clever Anne does not want the marriage as she has another lover and manages to escape by winning at cards.
The main wife focused on is Katherine Howard (Binnie Barnes). She has been dreaming of a royal alliance since the death of Anne Boleyn despite her affair with Thomas Culpeper (Robert Donat). She gets her chance with the exit of Anne. She seems to be the one true love of Henry but is caught cheating and makes wife number two to be beheaded. Finally, Anne of Cleves tells Henry, who is now an old man, that he needs a real wife. She points out Katherine Parr (Everely Gregg) who is acting as governess to the King’s children. He takes the advice and she gently nags and takes care of him until his death.
The first time I saw this movie was in drama class many moons ago when I was in high school. I can still vividly recall the scene when Charles Laughton’s Henry plays cards with Elsa Lanchester’s Anne of Cleves. I enjoyed that just as much this time, possibly more. Merle Oberon makes quite an impact in very little screen time. This is a very fun movie and a performance that shows off Laughton’s range from comedy to pathos. Recommended.
Charles Laughton won a Best Actor Oscar, the first awarded to a foreigner, for his performance in this film. This was also the first foreign film to be nominated for Best Picture.
