
A pleasant portray of Anne Boleyn by Bujold
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'Anne of The Thousand Days', starring Richard Burton as Henry VIII and Genevieve Bujold as Anne Boleyn concerns the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII's second, and most controversial wife. The film surprisingly takes a sympathetic approach to a woman who has received much disdain throughout history and fiction. Anne Boleyn spent a considerable amount of her childhood and adolescence in France in Francis I’s court, so it is interesting having the French Bujold play Anne. While Richard Burton gives, as usual, an enthusiastic and powering performance, he appears too old to play Henry and it is often hard to see why in the film he keeps viewing himself as a young monarch burdened with an older wife (Catherine of Aragon). But in terms of acting the cast is, on the whole, faultless and the costumes are sumptuous.
The film is really only concerned with Anne's rise to power, her eventual love for the king and her downfall. Sadly the film doesn’t focus much upon her time as queen and makes out that the birth of Elizabeth marked the beginning of her downfall. However this opinion was one endorsed back in the 1960s (when the film was made) therefore it is hard to attack the film for its incorrect approach. The film also simplifies Henry's arduous divorce from Catherine, yet in fairness no production on this period can portray the divorce procedure correctly and fully.
Overall though 'Anne of The Thousand Days' is a great type of ‘afternoon movie’ and one that can be watched by all the family. Perhaps its greatest quality is presenting a woman, who has suffered a poor reputation throughout the centuries, as more humane and ultimately as a victim to sixteenth century politics and desires.
Review ID: 10000000004044389

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