History at the Movies: The Tudors

It’s no wonder the Tudor years are popular with movie-makers — their period of English history really does feel like one big soap opera. From the War of the Roses (which paved the way for a Tudor takeover) to the larger-than-life Henry VIII to the world-changing reign of Queen Elizabeth, there’s plenty to explore in these films set during turbulent Tudor times.

Wolf Hall

This adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s trilogy (the final book is out now) reminds us that Henry VIII wasn’t always an overweight wife-killer — in the early days, he was England’s heart-throb hero. Through the eyes of commoner-turned-adviser Thomas Cromwell, we watch Henry transform into a tyrant over the course of this miniseries.

A Man for All Seasons

Sir Thomas Moore butts heads with Henry VIII over the king’s role as head of the church in this gorgeously filmed period piece. It’s an old- fashioned, dialogue-driven film that really digs into the big philosophical question that defined so much of the Tudor era: Does the king or the church have ultimate authority?

Anne of the Thousand Days

Either you feel sorry for Anne Boleyn or you think she’s a scheming Jezebel, but this film tries to capture a more multifaceted view of the second Mrs. Henry VIII (and the first to be beheaded.)

Elizabeth

Though this adaptation plays fast and loose with some historical facts, it nonetheless does a brilliant job capturing Elizabeth I’s transition from opinionated individual to English icon. Cate Blanchett’s Elizabeth slowly realizes that her own feelings and dreams have to be sublimated if she wants to rule England — and she really, really wants to rule England.

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