KEITH MITCHELL romps and bollocks his way through Renaissance England, wedding a select half dozen dames, wenches and tarts, slaughtering a couple dozen ex-buddies, creating a whole new religion, penning “Greensleeves”, then croaking of obesity from sitting on his arse too much. Much-respected Beeb period “classic”, with eponymous “wives”, in numerical order, ANNETTE CROSBIE, DOROTHY TUTIN, ANNE STALLYBRASS, ELVI HALE, ANGELA PLEASANCE and ROSALIE CRUTCHELY as the one who survived the old bloater. PATRICK TROUGHTON, BERNARD HEPTON and ANTHONY “THE NARRATOR” QUAYLE looked on. Iffy film version replaced wives with more glitzy brood and roped in DONALD PLEASANCE as chief baddie Thomas “To the Tower!” Cromwell.
sheila
November 23, 2013 at 1:51 pm
Great British period drama wipes the floor with the recent American John Reece Myers version.Bring this back would still hold its own today!!
Sidney Balmoral James
September 30, 2021 at 5:51 pm
Can recommend the film version of this – Keith Michell (not Mitchell) is a very convincing and restrained Henry VIII, a role which can encourage even the deftest actor to overdo it, and although low budget, the film has a good cast (Charlotte Rampling and Lynne Frederick both very good as Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard), and a plausible atmosphere – and a poignant ending when Henry’s ghost walks out oblivious to the mourning courtiers. One of that short burst of British historical films which followed the success of A Man for All Seasons, this one isn’t far behind it in quality, and is much less theatrical.
Richardpd
September 30, 2021 at 11:01 pm
Elizabeth R was another period drama which I think was made by the same production team.
Glenda Jackson starred, & reprised the role in a film about Elizabeth I & Mary Queen Of Scots.