|
Editorial Review Product Description
This lush, perfectly cast 1969 drama concerns both a doomed, royal love affair and a pivotal moment in British history. Based on Maxwell Anderson's 1948 play, Anne of the Thousand Days concerns the mess that surrounded King Henry VIII's decision to rid himself of his first wife, Catherine of Aragon (Irene Papas), and marry the young Anne Boleyn (Geneviève Bujold). Anglophiles know what happened next: Henry (Richard Burton) solved his problems with the Vatican's condemnation of divorce by having himself named head of the Church of England (see also A Man for All Seasons), while Anne's perceived problem conceiving a male heir made her vulnerable to plots by the nefarious likes of Oliver Cromwell (John Colicos). Director Charles Jarrott does a splendid job bringing all of these intrigues to life, though the story is ultimately about Anne, a naive young woman who prepares herself to navigate some of the dangers of Henry's court. Bujold and Burton never gave better performances, and this strange, tragic chapter in the history of the kings of England has never been more compellingly told on film. --Tom Keogh ... Read more Customer Reviews (3) 
Educational and Entertaining!
Anne of The Thousand Days brings to the screen the turbulent story of King Henry VIII and Ann Boleyn; the fruit of their passion was to be Queen Elizabeth I, the woman responsible for transforming England into a major world power.
The setting is England in the 1520's, and Queen Katherine (formerly of Aragon) has yet to produce an heir for the English throne. King Henry VIII, frustrated and unable to control his sexual appetite is intrigued by the young Ann Boleyn, recently returned from France, and her steadfast resistance to his advances. England and the world, however, will never be the same once Henry VIII does all he can to have his way...
Richard Burton, Geneviève Bujold, John Colicos (the villain from the original Battlestar Galactica), Irene Papas (possibly the best Greek actress of all time), and the rest of the cast have truly outdone themselves with their performances, which are exceptional to say the least. All the actors, without exceptions, give it their 100% and it really shows (the chemistry is AMAZING)!
It is simply amazing that one man's urges had such repercussions worldwide.
The setting, the dialogues, the music and the costumes are all wonderful!
History, politics, and intrigue, are all about.
Strongly recommended along with Elizabeth R (starring Glenda Jackson), Mary Queen of Scots (starring Vanessa Redgrave and Glenda Jackson), and Elizabeth (starring Cate Blanchett), Anne of The Thousand Days is a movie definitely worth watching and one to seriously consider adding to your movie collection!
I love this movie
I've seen "Anne of the Thousand Days" numerous times and never tire of it. The story, the acting, the costumes, the sets.....it's all 5 stars. I really wish this movie would be put on DVD already.
THE QUEEN IS DEAD...LONG LIVE THE QUEEN...
This award winning production is a masterpeice. The cinematography is beautiful, the costumes are lush and magnificent, and the acting is superlative. Richard Burton, in the role of King Henry VIII, is superb, as his velvet voice mesmerizes the viewer. Genevieve Bujold, wonderful in the title role of the notorious Anne Boleyn, plays her part intelligently and with great presence. Irene Papas plays the role of the wronged Queen, Katherine of Aragon, with suitable pathos. Anthony Quayle is wonderful in the role of Cardinal Wolsey, prelate of the church and chancellor of England, who eventually was brought low by Anne Boleyn. John Colicos does a remarkable job with the role of the ambitious Cromwell, who, regretably, would stop at nothing, even torture and murder, to see that his King got what he wanted.
While not historically accurate, it is still a sublime historical drama. It centers around Anne Boleyn's rise to prominence and her ultimate demise at the executioner's sword. While at court one day, she catches the King's eye. She, however, is in love with a courtier whom she is to marry. The King, besotted by her, refuses to grant her permission to marry, and her courtier is forced to marry another. The King pursues Anne, while still married to the aging Katherine. Anne refuses to give in and become his lover, knowing that once she does, she will be yesterday's news. Holding Cardinal Wolsey responsible for the loss of all her hopes and dreams, she plays him like a fiddle, eventually bringing about his downfall. With Cromwell on the ascendancy, however, little does Anne know her troubles are just beginning.
Angry at the turn her life has taken, Anne becomes a doyenne of intrigue and, as with Wolsey, also plays the King like a fiddle, setting into motion the events that would bring about the great Reformation, which would transform England from a Catholic country into a Protestant one. While she finally succeeds in marrying the King, she fails to produce the son that Henry VIII so desires, though the fault is Henry's and not hers, as we now know that it is the male who determines the sex of a child. The terms of Anne's reign would cost her dearly and her legacy would be a bloody one. What had started out with high hopes would end tragically for her and set a precedent that would make all future wives fearful of coming to the same end. Ironically, Henry would never know that his child with Anne would become the greatest monarch that England has ever known, Elizabeth I.
This Is a film that all lovers of period pieces and historical dramas will enjoy. It is simply a great movie.
... Read more |
