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Poster for The Private Life of Henry VIII

The Private Life of Henry VIII

Seen it?

1933 | 97 min | History, Drama

Sunday Safe Betearly rating

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

Critics loved it (95% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it won an Oscar, though it had a lukewarm 6.4 out of 10 from audiences and soft box office. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for history buffs. If you loved Judy or Queen of Katwe, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Thoughtful and character-driven.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 37 min.
What might put you off
  • Made in 1933: an older pace and style.
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

Renowned for his excess, King Henry VIII goes through a series of wives during his rule. With Anne Boleyn, his second betrothed, executed on charges of treason, Henry weds maid Jane Seymour, but that wedded bliss also ends in tragedy. Not one to be single for long, the tyrannical king chooses German-born Anne of Cleves, but their union lasts only months before an annulment is granted, and so Henry's reign of spousal terror continues.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    95% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesBelow par

    6.4 out of 10

  • AwardsStrong

    Won 1 Oscar: Best Actor. Also nominated for 1 more Oscar.

  • Box office & staying powerBelow par

    $1 million worldwide on a $100K budget; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactSolid

    About 41K people sought it out in the past year

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Cast & crew

Directed by Alexander Korda

  • Charles LaughtonHenry VIII
  • Robert DonatThomas Culpeper
  • Franklin DyallThomas Cromwell
  • Miles ManderWriothesley
  • Laurence HanrayArchbishop Cranmer
  • William AustinDuke of Cleves
  • John LoderPeynell
  • Claud AllisterCornell
  • Gibb McLaughlinThe French Executioner
  • Sam LiveseyThe English Executioner