"The Private Life of Henry VIII" (British Film Guides) - Softcover

Walker, Greg

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1860649092 ISBN 13: 9781860649097

Publisher: I.B. Tauris, 2003

Synopsis

Alexander Korda's masterpiece "The Private Life of Henry VIII" was arguably the most important British film of the pre-war period and a phenomenal, critical and box-office success. Greg Walker's accessible and thoroughly researched book examines the film itself, its makers and its place in the cinematic and cultural history of the period. He examines Korda's subtle treatment of national and "international" identity, his representation of British history, use of modern stereotypes, and discusses the representation of gender and sexuality in the film, including that of Henry's wives and Laughton's award-winning central performance.

About this title

Review:

'Greg Walker convincingly connects Alexander Korda's The Private Life of Henry VIII to disarmament debates in the 1930's, and singles out a telling reflection of the film's overwhelming success: one of the wife actresses subsequently made a packet endorsing Shredded Wheat.' -Chris Wood, The Times 'This is an excellent addition to an already distinguished series, edited by the doyen of British Film Historians, Jeffrey Richards.' -Nicholas Cull, Film International

About the Author:

Greg Walker is Professor of Early-Modern Literature and Culture at the University of Leicester. His publications include 'Plays of Persuasion: Drama and Politics in the Reign of Henry VIII'.

About this edition

• Publisher: I.B. Tauris
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 1860649092
• ISBN 13: 9781860649097
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 128