The Private Life of Henry VIII ***** (1933, Charles Laughton, Robert Donat, Franklin Dyall, Merle Oberon, Elsa Lanchester, Binnie Barnes) – Classic Movie Review 2495

Producer-director Alexander Korda’s 1933 triumph The Private Life of Henry VIII was the first British movie to enjoy worldwide success. It was an even sweeter triumph because at the time period films were considered to be box office poison, so Korda battled to raise the £60,000 budget, had to defer actors’ fees and shot on location and half-built sets to save money. He ended up founding a film studio, London Films, on the back of its success.

Taking place almost entirely within the king’s castle, it is boosted by a popular subject, a Best Actor Oscar-winning star performance from Charles Laughton in full flood as the lusty Henry VIII and a spot-on screenplay that achieves just the right note of cheeky irreverence. It opens just before the death of second wife Anne Boleyn (Merle Oberon) and concludes just after his sixth wedding to Katherine Parr (Everley Gregg).

Charles Laughton with his wife Elsa Lanchester in The Private Life of Henry VIII.

The Private Life of Henry VIII is very old, so it is hardly surprising if it is a tad creaky now. But it still remains great entertainment, with Laughton’s wife Elsa Lanchester (as wife number four Anne of Cleves) a standout among other wives. We also see Binnie Barnes as Katherine Howard and Wendy Barrie as Jane Seymour.

Also in the cast are Robert Donat as Thomas Culpeper, Franklin Dyall as Thomas Cromwell, Miles Mander, Claud Allister, John Loder, Lady Tree, William Austin, Gibb McLaughlin, Sam Livesey, Laurence Hanray, Judy Kelly, Frederick Culley and John Turnbull.

It was also Oscar nominated as Best Picture.

Perks of the job: Laughton for many years was often given a free roasted chicken without utensils at restaurants because of the famous banquet scene.

The Private Life of Henry VIII  features in the Treasures section at the 2018 BFI London Film Festival.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2495

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