Inside the Court of Henry VIII

Henry VIII has achieved enduring infamy as one of England's most ambitious, egotistical, and ruthless monarchs, although his reign began with great promise. Filmmaker Peter Chin's PBS-aired documentary examines the court of the man sometimes known as the "tyrant king." When Henry ascended to the throne in 1509, England was marked by a strict class system, and the king quickly offended aristocrats by relying on the counsel of two commoners, the very worldly Cardinal Wolsey (a butcher's son), and Thomas Cromwell. Henry and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, were unable to produce a male heir, and a subsequent infatuation with Anne Boleyn led to the king becoming obsessed with obtaining a divorce—resulting in a prolonged standoff with the Pope and disillusionment with Wolsey, after which Henry simply confiscated the assets of monasteries and declared himself head of the church in England. The documentary notes the rich cast of characters (particularly the scheming Boleyn), the rise and fall of various advisers and queens, and Henry's increasing paranoia (the king installed busts which appeared to be looking down on the members of Parliament as they deliberated, leading to the term "eavesdroppers"). Injured in a jousting accident, the once athletic Henry grew obese, and his constant physical pain no doubt sharpened his fits of rage. Henry eventually secured a male heir, Edward VI, whose reign was short-lived, setting the stage for the Tudor queens Mary and Elizabeth. In spite of Henry's tyranny, his expansion of the role of Parliament, coupled with religious reforms (including an English language Bible), helped to usher in a degree of democracy and pave the way for the birth of the modern world. Featuring commentary from historians along with dramatic recreations, this documentary makes for a timely companion piece to the recent TV and stage drama Wolf Hall, based on Booker Prize-winning novels by Hilary Mantel. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)