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Sat 19 Jul, 2003 03:12 pm
A great new historical documentary on PBS -- saw the first two parts and it's without a doubt one of the best to come along since "Lewis and Clarke."
LINK TO PBS SITE "SIX WIVES OF HENRY VIII"
The DVD set is destined for my collection, I know that!
Thanks for the heads up, LW. I enjoy the era and the personalities.
Henry-- What a bastid!
LW: I remember watching this (or another one on the same subject!) years ago on PBS and it was wonderful. Do you know if it is a new version? I did go to the site, but couldn't find if it was indeed a new version or a re-run of the older one. Either way, I certainly loved the version I saw before...
If I remember correctly PBS/BBC had a series called The Six Wives of Henry VIII way back the 60's or 70's Does anyone else remember it? I believe it was a dramatic mini-series. This looks like a docudrama.
Should be very interesting!
Oh, thank you, fea! I am definitely going to tune in then...much appreciated!
Ha, Ha sweet! Same wavelength. Looks like a new one. Copyright 2003 in small print at the bottom of the page. The old BBC stuff was shot on video tape (interiiors) and film for the exteriors. From the stills on this site it looks like film or state of the art video. Looks current to me.
Okay, okay, smarty pants...I saw the copyright date, but still wondered if that was of this as a new series or simply of the site - call me dumb (DUMB!), but I didn't realize that definitely meant it had to be a new version...
sweetcomplication wrote:Okay, okay, smarty pants...I saw the copyright date, but still wondered if that was of this as a new series or simply of the site - call me dumb (DUMB!), but I didn't realize that definitely meant it had to be a new version...
yeah, -- me dumb. Even if it refers to the series, that still doesn't mean anything. The stills look like they were from a recent production. The old one I remember was a dramatic series. This one's a docudrama. Do you remember those old BBC series on PBS. They really had a harsh video tape look to me! Technology has improved tremendously since then and lighting can be more subtle.
Fea, I really don't remember much about the series except that I enjoyed it very much. However, it definitely was a drama, not a docu-drama...so, I shall be tuning this new one in. Again, thank you for all your help!
Correct -- it is a docudrama. Apparantly a lot of new facts are included that have recently unearthed. Yes, Henry was no saint, that's for sure.
Thank you as well, LW; can't wait to see it now!
Everything in the series seems real including the actors -- this isn't one of those biopics that warps history in an attempt to embellish the truth. The story is enthralling without the "artistic license," and as many have heard me say before, some filmmakers should have their license revoked.
Was one of his wife Ann Bolin who got her head chopped off at the Tower of London? The wooden block is on display....... c.i.
Yes, and made into a motion picture "Anne of a Thousand Days" with Richard Burton as King Henry and Genvieve Bujold as Anne.
Here's the 1992 dramatic series:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004U3UI/002-8311894-9825623?v=glance
The DVD is not yet available for this new series -- good thing I noticed the one at Amazon and PBS Shop is the older Masterpiece Theater six plays presentation, although that one was good also.
Finished watching the last parts last night. An enthralling and beautifully filmed historical exposition. Henry was really in need of a little help from Dr. Phil.
I loved this series - it inspired the A2K historical archives game, in the History forum!
Oh, and there was also a much older PBS series, on PBS, back in the '70s, I believe, with Dorothy Tutin as Anne Boleyn (sorry, can't recall the other actresses' names). It segued directly into Elizabeth R, starring Glenda Jackson.
I'd be surprised if the series were historically accurate--if it were, it would show that Henry first slept with Anne's mother, then her older sister, before settling on Anne. Contemporary diarists and correspondence spread the gossip that he was sleeping with the mother at the time he was pursuing both daughters, with the knowledge and consent of the mother. Henry is one of England's most unsavory monarchs, which is saying a good deal.
6 wives !! Obviously a man who does not learn from his mistakes !
Oh, boy, Gautam -- did he ever make mistakes! That's what makes the series so fascinating. It's really told more from the viewpoint of the six wives.
I'm trusting my memory on a very long series broadcast over several nights but I think they did point out that Henry slept with
Anne's mother. This was really warts and all and there were some pretty hoping big warts. If you missed it, Setanta, it is worth renting on DVD when it comes out. I'm going to own it.
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