"The Six Wives of Henry VIII" (1970) TV mini-series 1970-

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

1 January 1970 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | History | Romance

Tagline:

The legendary, BAFTA award-winning BBC historical drama!

Plot:

A six-episode dramatization of Henry VIII's relationships with each of his six wives. Each episode is devoted to one wife, and is a complete play in itself.

Plot Keywords:

Royalty | 16th Century | British Royal Family | Father Daughter Relationship | Line Of Succession

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 6 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Keith Michell	...	Henry VIII (6 episodes, 1970)
Anthony Quayle	...	Narrator (6 episodes, 1970)
Patrick Troughton	...	Duke of Norfolk (5 episodes, 1970)
Bernard Hepton	...	Archbishop Thomas Cranmer (4 episodes, 1970)
Sheila Burrell	...	Lady Rochford (3 episodes, 1970)
Basil Dignam	...	Bishop Gardiner (3 episodes, 1970)
Wolfe Morris	...	Thomas Cromwell (3 episodes, 1970)
Angela Pleasence	...	Catherine Howard (2 episodes, 1970)
Anne Stallybrass	...	Jane Seymour (2 episodes, 1970)
Dorothy Tutin	...	Anne Boleyn (2 episodes, 1970)
Daniel Moynihan	...	Edward Seymour (Lord Hertford) (2 episodes, 1970)
John Ronane	...	Thomas Seymour (2 episodes, 1970)
Howard Goorney	...	Will Somers (2 episodes, 1970)
Patrick Godfrey	...	Sir Thomas Wriothesley (2 episodes, 1970)
Alison Frazer	...	Princess Mary (2 episodes, 1970)
Edward Atienza	...	Eustache Chapuys (2 episodes, 1970)

Series Directed by
Naomi Capon		(3 episodes, 1970)
John Glenister		(3 episodes, 1970)

Series Writing credits
Maurice Cowan		(6 episodes, 1970)

Series Produced by
Ronald Travers	....	producer (6 episodes, 1970)
Mark Shivas	....	producer (5 episodes, 1970)

Series Film Editing by
Colin Hill		(1 episode, 1970)
Tony Tew		(1 episode, 1970)

Series Production Design by
Peter Seddon		(5 episodes, 1970)

Series Costume Design by
John Bloomfield		(5 episodes, 1970)

Series Makeup Department
Pamela Burns	....	makeup artist (5 episodes, 1970)

Series Sound Department
Chick Anthony	....	sound (4 episodes, 1970)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Wright	....	lighting (5 episodes, 1970)
A.A. Englander	....	film camera (2 episodes, 1970)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rita Rumbelow	....	wardrobe (5 episodes, 1970)

Series Music Department
David Munrow	....	music arranger / musician (1 episode, 1970)

Series Other crew
James Brabazon	....	story editor / script editor (4 episodes, 1970)
Geraldine Stephenson	....	dance arranger / dances (2 episodes, 1970)

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1972) (USA) (TV) (original US airing)
• Masterpiece Theatre
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2008) (Australia) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

USA:540 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

The series was later adapted into the film Henry VIII and His Six Wives (1972) in which Angela Pleasence's father Donald Pleasence played Henry VIII's chief minister Thomas Cromwell.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: At the end of the segment "Jane Seymour", the supposedly dead Seymour is still breathing.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Pebble Mill at One: Episode dated 21 December 1973" (1973)

I can watch this miniseries over and over again!

This was one of the most amazing pieces of television/theater. I was 17 when I watched it for the first time and about 10 years ago, acquired the miniseries on VHS. Just recently I was given the DVD set as a gift. I've been re-watching it and I marvel at just how amazing the production and the performances were. At the time Keith Michell played Henry, the actor was in his early 40's yet managed to portray the monarch from age 18 till his death at 56. Simply remarkable and I think Michell is the consummate Henry VIII. As the previous poster, my favorite episodes were Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard; I didn't know Ms. Pleasence was Donald Pleasance's daughter. I also enjoyed Annette Crosbie's performance; she also portrayed Queen Victoria in the miniseries about Edward VII. All in all, this is one of the finest miniseries ever done on television and I doubt we'll see its equal anytime soon.