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Amazon.com: A British television series originally broadcast on CBS (and rebroadcast on PBS) in America in 1971, The Six Wives of Henry VIII remains a painless way to learn something about royal history and its impact on the political and religious landscape of England. Keith Michell stars as King Henry VIII, who assumes the throne as a boy after the death of his older brother and inherits the latter's Spanish betrothed, Catherine of Aragon (Annette Crosbie), as well. Growing up and increasingly complicated in personality, with an ever-growing appetite for elusive happiness as well as power and food, Henry maneuvers (and is maneuvered by) forces around him to break from Rome and create the Church of England, in part to accommodate his wish for a divorce. Each story of the king's successive brides takes up an entire episode in the series. Dorothy Tutin plays the doomed Anne Boleyn, Anne Stallybrass is Henry's favorite, Jane Seymour, Elvi Hale is Anne of Cleves, Angela Pleasence is Catherine Howard, and Rosalie Crutchley plays last-in-line Catherine Parr. A very large and fine supporting cast adds intrigue and extra layers of tragedy to the proceedings, especially John Baskcomb as Cardinal Wolsey, Wolfe Morris as Thomas Cromwell, and Ralph Bates as Thomas Culpepper. Each 90-minute episode was crafted by a different writer, but the series holds together very well under Keith Michell's dazzling performance as the despicable if sympathetic Henry, whose emotional arc over many years and losses is something to see. --Tom Keogh Customer Reviews: Rating: 
Date: 2008-07-06
The Mini-Series That Started My Tudor Fandom
When I first watched "The Six Wives of Henry VIII" on CBS during the summer of 1971, I had no idea this mini-series would transform me over the course of six weeks into the Tudor fan I am today. I had never before seen costumes like the ones in "Six Wives", so authentically reproduced that the actors wearing them look as if they had stepped right out of the paintings of Hans Holbein. There's no more perfect Henry VIII than Keith Michell, who flawlessly portrays the monarch as an idealistic 18-year-old youth to a grossly fat, paranoid, and diseased old man of 55. The actresses who portray his six wives - Annette Crosbie, Dorothy Tutin, Anne Stallybrass, Elvi Hale, Angela Pleasence, and Rosalie Crutchley - give dazzling, deeply nuanced performances as six queens of differing appearances, ages, backgrounds and personalities, with Henry VIII as the link that connects them all together. I was overjoyed when PBS aired "The Six Wive of Henry VIII" in late 1971, and even happier when it was followed in early 1972 by a second Tudor-themed mini-series: "Elizabeth R". Rating:
Date: 2008-07-01
Henry and wives couldn't be better
This is the Henry viii for the Historical Set. Keith Michell was multi married monarch from 18 to his death. He actually looked like the portraits come to life.
As to the wives my absolute favorite is Dame Dorothy Tutin as the tragic Anne Boleyn then Elvi Hale as cunning Anne of Cleves .
All of the actresses and actors are brilliant. Some have not been seen since this series others went on to become well known in their own right.
The program was classic BBC/Masterpiece Theater in the old days. Along with such programs as I Claudius, Edward the King, and Elizabeth R.
For younger viewers who do not remember these programs first run don't be put off by the soap opera appearance. That was part of the magnificence of the series.
Rating:
Date: 2008-05-26
Still The One to Watch and Buy
This is just a great production of The Six Wives of Henry VIII. It was sensational in 1970 (in the US, 1972) and is sensational now. The restoration is very good and I appreciate the work that went into it. Some people may be put off by the videotape and stark lighting and contrasts but the BBC didn't have much money. You can still see a bit of problem today with production values. They just don't have as much money.
What the BBC does have is dedication to quality shows, acting, writing and direction. This show is beautifully written and acted at every turn. The direction is fine also. It is difficult to create a 90 minute production out of every wife Henry had. All the wives get equal time here. Catherine was Henry's wife for many years. Instead of only showing the end of their marriage, the show also brings out what she went through before she married him. He made her wait 7 years before he finally committed himself to marry her and she lived off of the dowry she was supposed to give him. She couldn't leave because of the disgrace of being rejected. Catherine was married to Henry's brother but he died shortly after at age 15. Anne, the most pivotal marriage is picked up after the wedding. The marriage ultimately lasted only two and a half years. Jane lasted a year and the episode about her is very poignant since she died giving birth to a son for him. Anne of Cleves was a washout. He married her for only 5 months and she was lucky to escape with her head and volunteered to take care of his children. Catherine got her head chopped off, her cousin was Anne Boleyn, didn't she think? Catherine Parr could have got her head chopped for conflicts with religion. She was lucky. All the wives get 90 minutes and their stories are quite interesting. Watch! Rating: 
Date: 2008-04-29
Don't waste your money
I bought this based on other people's reviews on Amazon. It was the biggest waste of money. The acting is dull, the sets are cheap, the story line is historically off. Anyone want to buy my copy?? Rating:
Date: 2008-04-18
Ferocious fun in the House of Tudor
I love this series. Keith Michell's portrayal of Henry Tudor from a young man to an aging monarch is astounding.
I first saw this production on TV as part of Masterpiece Theatre, and the images I saw were produced by 1970s technology. So I'm not going to complain about not seeing what I never saw anyway. (I actually own the DVD set, but our player died, so I haven't seen it yet. But the picture HAS to be better than the one on my parents' TV set.)
As for the production values, *I* thought they were good. I've heard the same quibble about my all-time Masterpiece Theatre favorite, the brilliantly written, brilliantly acted "I, Claudius". But I HAVE recently viewed *that* series, and didn't find the production "stagey"-looking at all, then or now, so I really don't know that the fuss is about. But then, I'm a boomer; I grew up without CGI and don't feel I'm the worse for it. I'm just grateful that the recording is available.
Like "I, Claudius", the segments (one to each wife) are cleverly written and well acted. To me, Michell is the definitive Henry. All of the episodes are marvellous, but the episode closest to my heart is that devoted to Henry and Anne of Cleves, Wife Number 4.
This is not "The Tudors," currently showing on cable TV(is it me, or anyone else here confused about which actor is supposed to be Henry? I've only seen a couple of early episodes). But then, "The Six Wives of Henry VII" set the benchmark, and set it high indeed.
This one's worth owning.
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