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 (Natalie Portman) and Mary Boleyn (Scarlett Johansson), driven by their family's blind ambition, compete for the love of the handsome and passionate King Henry VIII (Eric Bana).

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Plot Keywords:

rape | king | king henry viii | court | children | 

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

During her three year reign as Queen, Anne was constantly pregnant due to her and Henry's royal duty to produce a male heir. Unfortunately, sometime after she had given birth to Elizabeth, the rest of Anne's pregnancies resulted in miscarriages and a stillborn child. It is said that one of her miscarriages was the result of extreme stress over Henry's jousting accident which left him with severe and permanent injuries to his head and body.

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Goofs

Mary Boleyn's wedding scene takes place in late spring or early summer. She married William Carey in early February 1520, so the weather should be much bleaker, with snow.

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Quotes

[deleted scene]
William Carey: Have you christened the child?
Mary Boleyn: Henry.
William Carey: I see. And is he to take my name or is he to be a Fitzroyal or some other sign that he's a royal bastard?
Mary Boleyn: He is to be Henry Carey.
William Carey: [looking up at her] To think, all you needed to say was no.
William Carey: [begins weeping] Can you forgive me? Although I could never forgive myself.
[Mary takes his hand and he kisses it]

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Connections

Featured in MsMojo: Top 10 Most Historically Inaccurate Costumes in Movies (2020)

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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.

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Pictures [United States]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 February 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Other Boleyn Girl

Filming Locations:

Windsor, Berkshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,203,061, 2 March 2008

Gross USA:

$26,814,957

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$78,201,830

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