10 Best Movies About The British Monarchy

8. The Private Life Of Henry VIII

Private_Life_large There's absolutely nothing better than a historical comedy about King Henry VIII and his revolving door of wives. Just think about the hijinks! Alright, so it's kind of a dark subject to make a comedy about, but for the most part, it works pretty well. We all know the story -- Henry needs a male heir and has a serious case of The Grass is Greener going on. What else can you say about a man who had six wives with a survival rate of 50%? Charles Laughton plays King Henry with a certain panache, and won an Oscar in 1933 for his troubles. This also marked the first time that any British film production was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Funnily enough, Laughton went on to perform the same role years later in the film Young Bess, alongside Jean Simmons as Elizabeth. (No...not that Gene Simmons...subtle but crucial difference.)
Contributor
Contributor

Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.