The Private Life of Henry VIII

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.