The Wives of Henry VIII
Our Price: $124.99
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $72.99 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: David StarkeyDVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 198 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2002-10-08
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Bfs Entertainment
DVD Reviews of The Wives of Henry VIII
DVD Review: Mediocre - an introduction at best
Summary: 3 Stars
I was extremely excited when this series was announced, but after seeing episode 1 I was bored and decided not to bother with the rest.
This is probably much more interesting to someone who is not familiar with Henry's marital escapades. The history and analysis were simplified and shallow, even given the very real limitations of the format. Part of the problem is that the visuals aren't used effectively to enhance our understanding or bring the characters to life. There is a certain amount of eye-candy, but this would lose very little if it was used as a radio broadcast. It would be fine as an introduction and overview, so long as the viewer realizes that things were a lot more complicated. I don't think that anyone already familiar with this oft-told tale will learn much.
Rather than really acting, the visuals were done more like tableaux of people moving against historic backgrounds. These sometimes got VERY repetitious. There was one shot of Catharine of Aragon praying that was used over and over. While there were some handsome shots, the casting, costuming and makeup left a lot to be desired. I think that in portraying historic figures, it is a good idea to be guided by their portraits.
The casting for Henry and Anne was fairly good. Catharine of Aragon was red-haired, but for some reason she was played by a dark-haired actress, presumably to "look Spanish". Sloppy, sloppy. I am sure that the audience could have coped with an auburn-haired Spaniard. One of my criteria for judging a book on Henry's wives is whether or not the author realizes that Catharine was not dark-haired and that she was quite pretty as a young woman. The glimpses that we got of Jane Seymour were not promising.
Although the costuming was generally handsome the women's headresses were often wrong. O.K., maybe it is a little picky to wince because Anne Boleyn is wearing the wrong style of French hood, but accuracy is nice, and probably wouldn't have cost any more. Again, why not rely on her portraits?
The makeup was truly appalling. Catharine of Aragon looks exactly the same at 16 as she does on her deathbed at age 50. It was remarked by one foreign visitor when she was in her 40s that the King of England was young and handsome, but his wife was old and deformed. I think that portraying her as she actually looked might have added to our understanding of the web of reasons that inspired Henry to seek an annulment. Henry also looks the same at 17 and 44 - couldn't makeup and costume have made a little effort? At least shown him as clean-shaven, as he was when he was young and added the beard and a little poundage as he got older? Ironically, the story makes a point of saying that Anne Boleyn was visibly aging although she is the one who is shown for the shortest time period. The visuals simply add very little to the program, a serious flaw in a visual medium.
I can only hope that this has inspired viewers to go out and read on the period. David Starkey's book Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII is much better than this.
Bestsellers in DVD
![The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
The Story of Jeremiah [VHS]Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Wresting With God [VHS]by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops:
Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops:
Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
![Strike the Original Match [VHS] Image](/images/Strike-the-Original-Match-VHS-0001374079-X.jpg)
Strike the Original Match [VHS]New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
![Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] Image](/images/Medjugorje-The-Miracles-and-the-Message-VHS-0001373293-X.jpg)
Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99
Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops:
Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single Userby Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops:
Cost Accounting [VHS]by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
Elizabeth IHBO Home Video; Release date: 2007-11-20; DVD
Best price: $12.42
Price in other shops:
Lady JaneBONHAM-CARTER,HELEN; Release date: 2003-02-18; DVD
Best price: $17.29
Simon Schama: A History of Britain (Special Edition)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2010-08-17; DVD
Best price: $42.59
Price in other shops:
Elizabeth (Spotlight Series)BLANCHETT,CATE; Release date: 2007-09-18; DVD
Best price: $6.39
Price in other shops:
The Tudors: The Complete SeriesParamount; Release date: 2010-11-23; DVD
Best price: $74.93
Price in other shops:
Monarchy Complete CollectionAcorn; Release date: 2010-08-03; DVD
Best price: $52.58
Price in other shops:
Henry VIIIBONHAM CARTER,HELEN; Release date: 2004-11-16; DVD
Best price: $5.99
Price in other shops:
Elizabeth: The Acclaimed Saga of England's Virgin QueenA and E Home Video; Release date: 2002-05-28; DVD
Best price: $12.11
Price in other shops:
Six Wives of Henry VIII, TheWarner Brothers; Release date: 2011-04-12; DVD
Best price: $30.99
Price in other shops:
National Geographic - The Madness of Henry the VIIIWarner Brothers; Release date: 2006-08-15; DVD
Best price: $13.29
Price in other shops: