The performance of Claire Bloom as Catherine of Aragon dominates this BBC adaption of the Shakespeare play I did not know existed. I know he had written about other members of the British royalty, but thought that Hank had been skipped over. The memories of Charles Laughton, Richard Burton and Keith Michell from previous filmed accounts of his life as well as other actors who played him after this was made dominated my thoughts, but it's the only time where Henry's first wife gets to dominate the story even if she isn't in every scene. Her soliloquy in the court of the king with Cardinal Wolsey present as one of the greatest moments I've seen about a real life person, and Bloom is mesmerizing.
As the youngish King Henry, redheaded John Stride isn't perhaps as bombastic as other actors had been in a roll, but that gives him a more human element, conflicted in many ways yet definitely a far too proud King and egotistical man of power. As Woolsey, Timothy West is definitely a standout, his conflict with Catherine of Aragon four friends in the drama yet filled with hidden guilts over his obvious misuse of his power. Barbara Kellerman doesn't say much as Anne Boleyn, but she certainly is a striking physical presence, with the last quarter of the play surrounding the pending birth of her first child who became Queen Elizabeth I. However, there is a lot of footage of Catherine after the divorce, ailing in her banishment yet determined to see her daughter Mary take her rightful place as the oldest child of Henry. A very handsome production design, well directed and never dull.
As the youngish King Henry, redheaded John Stride isn't perhaps as bombastic as other actors had been in a roll, but that gives him a more human element, conflicted in many ways yet definitely a far too proud King and egotistical man of power. As Woolsey, Timothy West is definitely a standout, his conflict with Catherine of Aragon four friends in the drama yet filled with hidden guilts over his obvious misuse of his power. Barbara Kellerman doesn't say much as Anne Boleyn, but she certainly is a striking physical presence, with the last quarter of the play surrounding the pending birth of her first child who became Queen Elizabeth I. However, there is a lot of footage of Catherine after the divorce, ailing in her banishment yet determined to see her daughter Mary take her rightful place as the oldest child of Henry. A very handsome production design, well directed and never dull.