MovieChat Forums > The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1971) Discussion > Exponentially better than the new one

Exponentially better than the new one

posted 20 years ago by Grand
8 replies | jump to latest

I learned a big chunk of my English history from this series (http://imdb.com/title/tt0066714/combined), and it still ranks as an awesome event, if only in memory now.

A few weeks ago I tuned into the newer series with the same name and was shocked at how dull and insipid it seemed compared to the great drama of this original. Decades on I can still remmember the thunder of individual lines from this version ("Anne, Queen of England, come into the court!") and the poignant desparation of Anne of Cleves and strength of Catherine Parr. The new one, for all its merits, falls flat in comparison.

Talk is cheap. Movies are expensive.

[–] melj 19 years ago

I definitely agree. Series like this would be useful for history students, as they make the events and the people involved not only memorable but often unforgettable. The Six Wives of Henry VIII is a shining example of the great trend of historical drama that was prevalent among British television in the 1970s. The costumes, the dialogue and above all the magnificent acting brought the period richly to life in a lucid, yet accessible manner. Bravo!

[–] inamourada_flux 19 years ago

("Anne, Queen of England, come into the court!")

Don't you mean Katherine?

--
"Now is the winter of our discontent" - Richard III.

[–] wrappedinstars 18 years ago

Hard to recall--they summoned so many of Henry's poor queens into the court!
But I agree--the original is infinitely superior to the remake.
And did you know that the marvelous original is now available on DVD??? I found mine at Borders a few months ago--couldn't believe my luck!!!!

[–] mamacat76 18 years ago

I TOTALLY agree. This is by far superior to the newer version. Watched it WAY back in the 70's, then watched it again. I STILL love it!

"It's clearly a budget. It's got a lot of numbers in it." George "Dubya" Bush

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Catdubh 17 years ago

Keith Michell will always be the ideal Henry VIII as far as I'm concerned. Both Burton and Laughton were great in their own ways, but nothing compared to Michell.

AGREED 100%

See what a difficult situation you've created. Proud of yourself now are you?

[–] LadyAnne608 11 years ago

Are you guys seriously this dull-witted? David Starkey's "The Six Wives of Henry VIII" is a DOCUMENTARY, not a drama series. If it's too "dull" for you then maybe you don't have the intellectual capacity to understand history that in-depth and comprehensively anyway. It's a scholarly program, not sensationalized drama. Heck, for that matter this version also falls flat in places with cheesy acting like KoA's when Henry tells her they should separate.

All wish to possess knowledge, but few are willing to pay the price.

[–] Liza-19 17 years ago

Which recent series were you talking about - there have actually been two that came out around the same time. I think you mean the documentary that was on each of the wives. I actually found that extremely interesting, although very dry. I saw it on the history channel when it first aired. I'm not surprised if you didn't like it if you were expecting something like this. That one focused on facts, not drama. It had historians instead of actors (it's been a few years, but I seem to remember there were actors in that series, but they never spoke).

The newer miniseries that came out in 2003 was interesting too. That was with Ray Winstone as Henry VIII. You'd probably like it, as it's much more dramatic and has some very good scenes between Henry and each of his wives. The ending of that series always made me cry. It's at Henry's funeral and the narrator sums up everything that happened to all the others that survived. Edward died so young, Mary took the throne but was a bitter ruler, Catherine Parr did marry Ed Seymore, Cranmer was beheaded by Bloody Mary, Anne of Cleeves outlived all of Henry's wives... and for all his dreams of a son, "His glorious successor was not a son, but a daughter."

I don't care about money. I just want to be wonderful. - Marilyn Monroe