Henry VIII (Part 1 of 2)
Ray Winstone stars as Henry VIII, England's cruel and colorful monarch, who married six times, founded a new church and presided over a bloodbath – all in pursuit of a male heir. Helena Bonham Carter plays Anne Boleyn, with Emilia Fox as Jane Seymour, David Suchet as Cardinal Wolsey and Charles Dance as the Duke of Buckingham.
Infatuated by the beautiful Anne Boleyn and desperate for a male heir, King Henry VIII seeks an annulment from his Spanish wife, Katherine of Aragon. When the pope objects, Henry breaks from the Catholic Church and banishes Katherine, leaving her powerless. Their daughter, Mary, is declared a bastard. Henry marries Anne, who gives birth to a daughter, Elizabeth, and thereafter suffers several miscarriages. Anne, falsely accused, is convicted of adultery and condemned to death. Henry, now besotted with Jane Seymour, offers Anne the option of an annulment. If she accepts, Elizabeth will be labeled illegitimate. Anne would rather die than allow this to happen.
|
