"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:

Boom mic visible: In the "Anne Boleyn" chapter, at 12:11 (dancing scene) the boom mic is visibly seen.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Cult of...: The Onedin Line (#2.5)" (2008)

Hypnotic for lovers of drama, romance, and history

I first saw this BBC production at 13 in 1971, and was simply fascinated. I have seen it several times since, and it's always fresh and interesting to watch. Keith Mitchell is excellent as Henry VIII, and I found no fault with the acting or history of the series. Well-cast, well-acted. I must say that my favorite episodes were Dorothy Tutin as Anne Boleyn and the very unfortunate young Katherine Howard, played by Angela Pleasence. I was surprised that she is the daughter of of Donald Pleasance. All of the episodes are outstanding, and are educational as well. Keith Mitchell plays Henry the VIII with all the conceited, bombastic, loving, hating and self-indulging qualities that history describes him as having. A must-see for lovers of drama, romance, and English History. 10 out of 10 stars easily.