November 4 - The Six Wives of Henry VIII - Part I - Catherine of Aragon

This movie has a scene that happens today – November 4. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

THE SIX WIVES OF HENRY VIII, PART 1- CATHERINE OF ARAGON

On November 4, 1499 [00:19 to 03:49] Catherine of Aragon meets Arthur, Prince of Wales for the first time. They are married, but Arthur soon dies. King Henry VII schemes in every way to save money, even if it causes embarrassment to Catherine. A new ambassador arrives from Spain and annoys the English. Then Henry VII dies and Henry VIII becomes king. Fulfilling his father’s last request, Henry marries Catherine.  A son is born, but dies at age two months. Fifteen years later Henry wants a divorce from Catherine, as his only legitimate child is a girl, the Princess Mary. However, Catherine refuses to agree to a divorce. A church court is convened, but Catherine appeals to Henry and refuses to participate. The Pope moves case to Rome. The Imperial ambassador tries to convince Catherine to support a faction of nobility who oppose Henry, but she refuses, even after she learns Henry has married Anne Boleyn. Princess Elizabeth is born. Catherine dies.

A very good film, carried by good acting as the sets are clearly second rate. These performers live their roles, giving a sense of realism that makes up for the poor sets.  Catherine’s marriage to Henry was clearly valid in the modern view of things.   

Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII by David Starkey (HarperCollins Publishers, New York, 2007) at page 45 gives the date of their meeting  

Producer - Mark Shivas and Ronald Travers

Director  - John Glenister

Screenplay – Rosemary Ann Sisson

Awards -     The film won the Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading

Role (Michell) Emmy award. It was also nominated for the Outstanding   Drama Series, Outstanding New Series, Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a leading role in a dramatic series (Michell) and the Outstanding Single Program, drama or comedy at the 24^th Primetime Emmy Awards.

Runtime - 1 hour 30 minutes

Released - January 1, 1970

Starring -

Keith Michell as Henry VIII of England

Annette Crosbie as Catherine of Aragon

Dorothy Tutin as Anne Boleyn

Patrick Troughton as the Duke of Norfolk

John Woodnut as Henry VII

Martin Ratcliffe as Prince Arthur

Ken Wynne as Dr. de Puebla

Sally Travers as Elvira Manuel

Donald Bisset as the Earl of Surrey

Margaret Ford as Maria de Salinas Willoughby

Joyce Mandre as Francesca de Carceres

Peter Stephens as Gutierre Gomez de Fuensalida

Robert Hartley as Bishop Fox

Will Leighton as tutor

Valentine Palmer as Lord Willoughby

Ina de la Haye as Inez de Venegas

John Baskcomb as Cardinal Wolsey

Verina Greenlaw as Princess Mary

Ronald Adam as Cardinal Compeggio

Raymond Adamson as Duke of Suffolk

Richard Burnett as usher

Edward Atienza as Eustache Chapuys

Charles Workman as Archbishop Warham

Geoffrey Lewis as Bishop Fisher