Anne of the Thousand Days versus The Tudors
When I was ten years old, a movie version of my grandfather's play, Anne of the Thousand Days, was released. He'd made his mark in the 1930s with several historical dramas, written in blank verse, including Elizabeth the Queen (later made into a movie with Bette Davis) and Mary of Scotland (the film starred Katharine Hepburn). Anne of the Thousand Days, about the romance of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, was originally staged in the 1940s. Rex Harrison starred as the king and won his first Tony Award.
I don't remember much about the movie, an overblown vehicle for a lusty Richard Burton, but I do recall being completely captivated by Genevieve Bujold as Anne Boleyn. The reason I remember is that the crush would stay with me for years, through high school at least, only reinforced when I saw The King of Hearts.
It's impossible to compare Anne of the Thousand Days to The Tudors because it is impossible to compare the incandescence of a young Bujold with the self-satisfied pig-faced presence of the modestly talented actress who plays the queen in the Showtime series. The only way she surpasses Bujold is in fucking more blatantly for the camera, but, for that, I really have to give partial credit to the changing times.
A Man for All Seasons is being revived on Broadway, no doubt due to the success of The Tudors. Can Anne of the Thousand Days be far behind?
Labels: Maxwell Anderson, things versus other things, unsolicited criticism
posted by John Levenstein at
10:47 AM
7 Comments:
Maxwell Anderson? Didn't he write BAD SEED? That's awesome.
I would like to see THAT revived. Maybe with one of those Fanning brats?
there was talk of a bad seed movie a few years ago. but the play plays like a comedy (unintentionally). i once saw a production with a thirty-five year old man in pig tails in the lead that was very funny.
that's bujold on the left, by the way, pig face being measured for her height on the upper right.
I don't think Natalie is a pig face. I think she's beautiful.
Also, it's well known that John's taste in women is suspect.
fine. she's a little cutie pie.
Actually, they look a lot alike.
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