The Tudors are back, and it looks like we're in for some interesting intrigue. Would Henry VIII have been able to inflict as much personal damage if he had a computer? Or would he have been surfing the 'net on dating sites all day trying to find the perfect brood mare?In the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden there are banners displaying the museum's portrait highlights. One banner features a Holbein portrait of Henry's son, Edward VI, as a child. It's one of the few portraits of children that displays the family's rank and wealth (primary function) while also showcasing a chubby-faced baby boy that looks like a real child and not some strange miniature adult (bonus). Cute kid. Holbein later gained a reputation from Henry himself of being too flattering a portraitist (the "deceptive" Anne of Cleves portrait debacle that cost matchmaker Cromwell his estates, property and life).
It will be interesting to see how the series continues, through his third and fourth wives and whether it is willing to continue to follow this most famous of English monarchs through his old, dissipated aging. Or will it stick to the young, petulant, spoiled beauty of Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, who has been sowing hints of megalomania through the first two series and now looks ready to let 'er rip. They are dealing with his health issues (leg ulcer). And feeling less than great can definitely spoil one's mood, so when it's a person with the power of life and death...Let Henry enjoy a brief bit of happiness as his first legitimate son is born. Then look out, everybody...
5 comments:
If the Tudors doesn't deliver the final years, there's always the 1970 production of The Six Wives of Henry the Eighth. Keith Mitchell doing a splendid job in the title role.
Hmmm. The Tudors might be worth Netflixing.
I know my mom was addicted to the 6 wives and I definitely saw part of it, because as a little kid I actually composed a poem about the wives(!)to remember their names. All I can remember was one of the lines was "Anne of Cleves had lovely sleeves." Yes, I was that sort of kid and yes, everything is formed in childhood...There was a PBS series on the 6 wives which was kinda interesting. I've never seen Anne of the Thousand Days, and really should, now. I have the first season of The Tudors,, that I recorded, if you want to borrow it...
You sound like the sort of kid I was (not that I was a kid anymore in 1970), albeit in a very different way, if that makes sense.
Anne of the Thousand Days was, as I recall, a very good film -- of course, I saw it when it first came out, and memory grows dim. But if nothing else, Genevieve Bujold is lovely to watch.
I'll take a pass on your recording of the Tudors, my VCR is growing increasingly wonky, plus there are bound to be extras on the DVDs, but thank you for the offer.
they are actually dvds...
It was just announced that the Tudors are coming back for a fourth season where we will see Henry and his last two wives. Will JRM hit the pubs to fatten up?
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