The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)

Two sisters contend for the affection of King Henry VIII.

Director:

Justin Chadwick

Writers:

Peter Morgan (screenplay), Philippa Gregory (novel)

Stars:

Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Natalie Portman	...	Anne Boleyn
Scarlett Johansson	...	Mary Boleyn
Eric Bana	...	Henry Tudor
Jim Sturgess	...	George Boleyn
Mark Rylance	...	Sir Thomas Boleyn
Kristin Scott Thomas	...	Lady Elizabeth Boleyn
David Morrissey	...	The Duke of Norfolk
Benedict Cumberbatch	...	William Carey
Oliver Coleman	...	Henry Percy
Ana Torrent	...	Katherine of Aragon
Eddie Redmayne	...	William Stafford
Tom Cox	...	Rider
Michael Smiley	...	Physician
Montserrat Roig de Puig	...	Lady in Waiting
Juno Temple	...	Jane Parker

Storyline

A sumptuous and sensual tale of intrigue, romance and betrayal set against the backdrop of a defining moment in European history: two beautiful sisters, Anne and Mary Boleyn, driven by their family's blind ambition, compete for the love of the handsome and passionate King Henry VIII.

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Plot Keywords:

king | king henry viii | children | love | court | 

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Taglines:

In a time when a woman's destiny was determined by her father, one sister followed the rules. The other defied them.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements, sexual content and some violent images

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [jp] Sony Pictures [us]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 February 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Deux soeurs pour un roi

Filming Locations:

Bath, Somerset, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£954,994 (UK) (7 March 2008)

Gross:

$26,814,957 (USA) (18 April 2008)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Focus Features, BBC Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Initially, the movie characterizes Mary as innocent and morally upright. She had spent time in France, and was reputed to have had several affairs. One reason Henry only wanted Mary as a mistress was because he considered her a whore.

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Goofs

Written at the very end of the credits is the message: "This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and locations portrayed and the names herein are fictitious, and any similarity to or identification with the location, name, character or history of any person, product or entity is entirely coincidental and unintentional." However the novel and film are based on the true stories of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII with real people, historical events and locations that are also factual.

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Quotes

Mary Boleyn: [in Henry's bedchamber] So, this is it?... Where the king of England sleeps?
King Henry VIII: And reads and writes. Finds a few moments each day to himself.
Mary Boleyn: [nervously] And yet you invite me here?
King Henry VIII: Because I like you and trust you.
Mary Boleyn: You hardly know me.
King Henry VIII: I have lied to a hundred times a day. Petitioned. Lobbied. One learns how to decifer a face.
[caresses Mary's face]
King Henry VIII: Yours is as the sun. One shouldn't gaze too long.
[pauses]
King Henry VIII: My flattery makes you uncomfortable?... Because compliments in your family are usually for ...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Jeopardy!: Episode #26.84 (2010)

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Soundtracks

"Westron Wynde"
Traditional

User Reviews

A Film Worth Seeing for the Issues of Gender

The Other Boleyn Girl is a compelling film due to the exceptional performances and the splendid costumes. Additionally, there is simply a terrific story told about the relationship of Henry VIII and the two Boleyn sisters, Anne and Mary.

Natalie Portman (Anne) and Scarlett Johansson (Mary) are outstanding as characters engaged in both sibling rivalry and sisterly bonding. In the central relationship of the sisters, the film develops the social roles and imposed limitations on women in Tudor England.

One of the film's most moving character portrayals is the mother of the two Boleyn Sisters. In the heartbreaking performance of Kristin Scott Thomas, Elizabeth Boleyn can only watch helplessly as her daughters become pawns of the greedy men (Thomas Boleyn and the Duke of Norfolk), who use the young women much like pimps in order to line their pockets and further their own advancement at court. Another sterling aspect of the film is the portrayal of Katherine of Aragon (Ana Torent), another victim of the men due to the obsessive pursuit of Henry VIII to beget a male heir, leading to his momentous divorce from Katherine and England's break with the church of Rome.

While commentators may point out the omissions of many of the details from the novel by Philippa Gregory, the film is still true to the spirit of the book. It is also a faithful representation of the role of women in Tudor age. The film effectively presents the gender issues from the perspective of many of the remarkable women of the age along with the reminder of the greatest legacy of Anne Boleyn, which was the indirect result of her relationship of Henry VIII. That legacy was the future ruler of England...and also a woman: Elizabeth I.