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| The Other Boleyn Girl - 2008 |
Coming up next we have 2008's "The Other Boleyn Girl", another fictitious look at the story of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, this time with the addition of Anne's sister, Mary.
The film's cast includes Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana, Kristin Scott Thomas, Mark Rylance, Jim Sturgess, Ana Torrent, Juno Temple, David Morrissey, Eddie Redmayne, and Benedict Cumberbatch.
In England, Queen Katherine, the wife of Henry VIII, cannot conceive a living male heir, a source of great distress to both her and the king.
The Duke of Norfolk and his brother-in-law, Sir Thomas Boleyn, ask Thomas's daughter, Anne, to become the king's mistress in an effort to gain influence over the king and attain promotion for the family. Anne is initially repulsed by the idea, but is convinced of its merits to help her family.
When the king visits the Boleyn home, Anne and her sister Mary eagerly await his arrival. The king is charmed by Anne, and she is excited to begin a thrilling new chapter in her life.
However, Anne unwittingly causes an accident which injures the king, who is brought back to the Boleyn residence on a stretcher.
Mary Boleyn is sent in to nurse the king back to health, and he falls for her.
Henry secures places for the Boleyn girls in the retinue of the queen. Katherine, however, knows all to well exactly why they are at court.
As Mary begins to spend more and more time with the king, she finds herself falling in love with him.
While Mary is away at court, Anne embarks on some seriously bad behavior. She enters into a forbidden marriage with a young nobleman, and it is consummated.
Mary finds out about it, and alerts her father in an effort to salvage Anne's reputation and the family fortunes. Anne is furious with Mary, for now she must be sent away to France to serve the French queen. It seems a rift from which the sisters won't recover.
Mary finds herself pregnant with the king's child. The Boleyn family moves up in the world, gaining estates, riches, and titles. Mary's mother, Elizabeth, is most wary of life at court. "These gifts, this favor will go as swiftly as it
came. These rooms belonged to the Duke
of Buckingham, the King's closest friend. His head now rots on a
spike," she warns her husband.
While Mary awaits the birth of her child, Anne returns to England and arrives at court. She dazzles Henry with her newfound worldliness and self-assurance.
Henry sets out to woo Anne, sending her extravagant gifts, which she returns to him every single time, driving Henry crazy.
Mary is not exactly thrilled to see Anne at court. She fears that her younger sister will take her place in Henry's affections.
And these fears are confirmed when Mary gives birth to a boy and Henry does not even so much as glance at the child.
And it falls to Anne to tell Mary that she must take her child and return to the country for a life without Henry. Mary is devastated at being cast aside so coldly.
However, when Anne's illegal marriage to the young nobleman is revealed, it is up to Mary to save her sister's reputation and possibly her life by pleading before Henry. Mary tells Anne that she did to to heal any rift between them, for which Anne is very grateful.
Henry initiates divorce proceedings against Queen Katherine, who is not happy when she sees the "Boleyn whores". Facing up to them squarely, she informs them, "I am Katherine, Queen of England, the King's one
true wife and mother of the heir to
the throne. Beloved of the people, and beloved of a King you have
bewitched."
Eventually, Henry's divorce comes through and he marries Anne secretly, after she is discovered to be with child. She is also crowned Queen of England in an elaborate ceremony, to the great unhappiness of the English people.
Anne gives birth to a daughter, Elizabeth, and everyone is greatly disappointed that it is not the longed for son and heir to the throne.
It's all downhill from their for Anne. Henry is increasingly unhappy in their marriage and accusations are hurled at her left and right, leading her to be put on trial and eventually condemned to death.
Mary goes once again before the king to intercede on her sister's behalf. However, there is nothing that can sway Henry. Mary then goes to her sister and comforts her as best she can.
Anne is taken and beheaded outside the Tower of London, with Mary bearing witness to her sister's downfall.
Mary takes Anne's daughter, Elizabeth, for a life in the country, where Mary is at last able to find some happiness.
Cast rundown:
Natalie Portman..............................Anne Boleyn
Scarlett Johansson..........................Mary Boleyn
Eric Bana.......................................King Henry VIII
Kristin Scott Thomas.......................Lady Elizabeth Boleyn
Mark Rylance..................................Sir Thomas Boleyn
Jim Sturgess...................................George Boleyn
Ana Torrent....................................Queen Katherine
Juno Temple...................................Jane Parker
David Morrissey...............................Duke of Norfolk
Eddie Redmayne..............................William Stafford
Benedict Cumberbatch.....................William Carey
And that's all for The Other Boleyn Girl. Before Natalie Portman was cast, Keira Knightley was attached to the project, but dropped out before filming. Jessica Biel and Emma Bell both auditioned for the role of Mary Boleyn. This film is noted for its many historical inaccuracies. Mark Rylance was very dissatisfied at the end of filming because of them. An example: Mary is portrayed in this film as an innocent young woman with a high regard for morality. In reality, she was the mistress of both the King of France and Henry VIII, though it is generally accepted that Henry was not the father of her son. Also, in the film Anne is shown marrying a young nobleman. In real life, they were only secretly betrothed.
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