Anne of the Thousand Days / Mary, Queen of Scots 2-Movie Collection [DVD]

Here we have two terrific films, appropriately packaged together. You get two DVDs packaged in a single case, each individually labeled. Perhaps if the distributor would have included Cromwell (1970, Richard Harris) it would have been the ultimate CD package ever, (considering the great price in this instance). "Anne of the Thousand Days" is the superior of the two entries for a couple of reasons. First, it stars Richard Burton whom, as expected, plays his role brilliantly. Secondly, all the scenes are brightly lit and colorful, thereby overcoming a frequent problem with films such as these. The story is a well-known one about the first failed marriage of Henry VIII of England and his solution to rid himself of this unwanted wife so that he could pursue his lust with a second, the lovely Anne Boleyn (circa 1525 C.E.) The tale is a complicated one but this film yields the story in a coherent and comprehensible manner. Henry was initially guided to marry his recently dead older brother's wife (Catherine, a Catholic), a princess of Spain whom was said to have not consummated her marriage with Henry's brother. She had a child, Mary, but produced no male heir which Henry desperately desired. In order to rid himself of Catherine and marry Anne, Henry had to proclaim himself to be head of the church of England, thus the Pope had him ex-communicated. Still, he married Anne who produced yet another female child, Elizabeth. (So do you see why the next film in this package is "Mary Queen of Scots"?). You probably know what happened with Anne as a result of her failure to produce a male heir for Henry but I'll stop there anyway. The focus of this 1969 film is centered on how Anne, having seen her own older sister's mistake of becoming Henry's mistress and receiving nothing, learned to exploit her own sexual power over the King to entice him into marriage. She is portrayed as both evil (in her power-monging) and good (as a devoted mother). This is a pretty fair rendering of the actual story. This film was directed by Charles Jarrott and the original music (very good!) was composed by Georges Delerue. It runs at an epic length for a full 2 hours, 26 minutes. The second film of the package, "Mary Queen of Scots," is of course a follow-up to the first movie, albeit Henry VIII had many wives after Anne Boleyn and a great deal of politics transpired in the period between the two. Still, "Mary Queen of Scots" seems a natural sequence for this movie package. The cinematography in this 1971 feature is excellent and the brisk writing moves this one right along, again a frequent complication with such films. The scenes, sets, scenery, and casting are all excellent here. Vanessa Redgrave plays Mary Queen of Scots (Mary Stuart) and Glenda Jackson plays her cousin, Elizabeth I. This film was more difficult for the writers in that Mary Stuart was looked at, and is still viewed, differently by various people and factions -- some still consider her to be conniving and evil while others see her as a heroine and a heraldic victim of Elizabeth I. This film leans more toward the latter view, so the correctness of the history here is somewhat called into question. You can tell which way the wind is going to blow in the film, though, because Elizabeth is made up to LOOK mean and evil while Mary's appearance is lovely. Mary returns to Scotland from France where her husband (the king) had died and so she accedes as the rightful heir to the Scottish throne. Her half-brother becomes her advisor but he clearly has his own agenda. Mary makes some missteps in love and in marriage which is mostly what led to her ultimate demise. At one point, she is forced to meet with her cousin Elizabeth face-to-face in England (a "fact" which many astute historians still assert never happened) and the meeting does not turn out to Mary's benefit. I'll stop there to avoid a spoiler but most folks are aware of the conclusion of this sordid tale. Again, this is a fine film and while it's not quite as good as "Anne of the Thousand Days," it still fully earns the five stars. It was directed by Charles Jarrott and the original music was by John Barry and Sidney Margo (the latter being uncredited). This film runs for 2 hours, 12 minutes. Both movies are Universal releases and they are beautifully conveyed in color, letterbox format. When I received this DVD package, the shrink wrap had a "Made in Mexico" sticker on it, a fact that appears not at all to have affected the quality of these excellent film prints. These two DVDs (in a single package) are high-up amongst the treasures of my ever-expanding film collection and I highly recommend them.

Two for a great price Anne of the Thousand Days We own the Show time series, The Tudors, and are simply fascinated about the life of Henry VIII. Now, by owning "Anne of the Thousand Days" we have another interpretation of the life of Anne Boleyn, pursued by the king at all costs, for he destroys his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, the daughter of King Ferdinande II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castille. In 1502, Arthur, brother to Henry VIII, dies of an unknown disease, throwing young Henry into having to fulfill the royal duties. To maintain the alliance between England and Spain, Henry marries Catherine but in order to do so, he obtains special dispensation from the Pope because under Cannon law to marry the widow of a brother, was then considered illegal and incestuous. Catherine swore that her marriage to Prince Arthur was not consummated and that her marriage to Henry VIII was therefore, her only real union. Time passes and Catherine does not produce male sons and Henry VIII no longer cares about maintaining a relationship with Spain and to marry Anne Boleyn, he tries to annul his marriage, claiming that it is based on sin. King Henry VIII is key to understanding the history of the English monarchy for he is responsible for the separation of the Anglican Church from Rome and for establishing the English monarch as the Supreme Head of the Church of England We see Anne Boleyn discovering that by withholding all favors from the King, she is able to capture and sustain his interest, by her public disdain of his favor; he literally becomes the king's obsession. From her sister's affair with the king, she had learned that any woman that gave herself to the king was soon discarded for another conquest. Anne Boleyn promises to give Henry many sons and finally, she is crowned Queen of England. Anne's world starts to unravel when she produces a daughter, Elizabeth I, and a son who dies at birth. Soon, the king starts to consider an affair with Jane Seymour, his fifth cousin three times removed. Jane Seymour was a lady-in-waiting for Catherine of Aragon. As Anne's marriage to Henry VIII falls apart, Henry believes the accusations of adultery placed against Anne Boleyn by Cromwell probably because he now wants to marry Jane Seymour. The movie is beautifully filmed, the costumes are superb, and the performances exquisite. Richard Burton provides an unforgettable Henry VIII. Don't miss it! Mary, Queen of Scots Now we see Elizabeth, daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn crowned as Queen of England. Glenda Jackson is powerful as Elizabeth I, and Vanessa Redgrave is wonderful in her role of Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary was raised in France as a Catholic and was said to be vivacious, pretty and clever, therefore she was a favorite at French court. She received the best education and mastered several languages, able to converse in French, Latin, Greek, Spanish and Italian. Mary was also able to play several musical instruments and was gifted in poetry, an ability to ride horses and falconry. Mary marries the Dauphin Francois and becomes Queen consort of France. Upon the death of her mother, Mary is brought back and crowned Queen of Scots. Mary was the next in line to the English throne after her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I, who in the eyes of many was illegitimate. Being a devout Roman Catholic, Mary runs against religious prejudice by many of her subjects and by Elizabeth, who rules Protestant England. Mary is no match to Elizabeth who is masterful in her understanding and ability to handle palace intrigue. Mary marries an English subject, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, who is her first cousin but the marriage gets Elizabeth upset because she was not asked for permission. Elizabeth is now threatened not only by her cousin's claim to the English throne, but by the marriage because both Henry Stuart and Mary Queen of Scots are descendants of the Tudor line and their children would have the right to claim the English throne. James Stewart, Mary's half brother and a protestant, sees the marriage as a clear threat because they are both Catholics, and he joins other Protestant Lords in open rebellion against his half sister. Mary becomes pregnant but by then, her husband has openly become arrogant and demanding of more power, namely wanting the title of King. The performances are superb and we see Timothy Dalton deliver a powerful, yet pitiful interpretation of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley. In the pursuit of power, lots of palace intrigue takes place and Darnley conspires to have David Rizzio murdered because by being so close to Mary, he has become jealous and resentful. A plot to murder Darnley is initiated and he is found dead soon after. James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell marries Marry but he is seen by many as an adventurer who is guilty of the assassination of Darnley. Mary is captured but refuses to acknowledge the power of any court to try her because she is an anointed Queen, something Elizabeth is ill prepared to dismiss because she too, shares the feeling. Finally, Mary Queen of Scots is tried and executed and the movie delivers powerful performances by both Vanessa Redgrave and Glenda Jackson. Without a doubt, this is a collectible item. Don't miss these two movies!

I never realized how immoral and deplorable were most English male Monarchs until I watched what Hal did to his wives who bore him dead or no sons. He was a demon possessed man bent on a male heir but in the end Elizabeth I, The Virgin Queen, ruled England with somewhat questionable diplomacy and grace. If I were in England, I would much rather have a female Queen if one at all. I think the so-called royals are a bore and expensive to the populous. If they were not so brainwashed by the press and their lame tradition of giving titles, they would have been thrown out long ago. Richard Burton is a perfect Hal. He was gross and weighty as was Henry. His evil shines as Burton puts his entire heart into this most famous of all roles. It is too bad his genius was not rewarded with even ONE award. He would die with no recognition as being the finest Shakespearean actor of his day and ours. I gave the acting a five but NOT the history. It is a dark time for England when so many died for nothing but fights and squabbles between the church and crown. Breaking with the Romish Church was Henry VIII finest hour. It had to be done and God evidently picked him to do it. The Pope had no right to overrule the desires of the King of England or any country. But, in this case, divorce was wrong and I do have to admire the members of his council for their decisions in NOT voting for his many divorces and marriages. He was a rogue King and a philanderer. I just think it is so wonderful that his daughter Elizabeth became queen and if he knew it, I am sure he would have turned over in his grave. Bujold did a fine acting job of playing the unloved, beheaded queen. Liz wanted the role but was too old by this time and as I watched Genevieve and Burton together, I had to wonder if her fears were well founded and that they were involved as he always was with his leading ladies. I hear she was one the set at all times watching every move the two made so how could they have gotten together with her under foot. She as even in the crowd scenes if you can imagine that? It makes for an intriguing story. The two were not yet married at the time of shooting. Trivia! I recommend this film, not for the despicable historical tale it tells but for the acting of most involved. Cromwell, the most evil lawyer in the court, was well acted by John Colicos and Anthony Quayle plays Henry's personal Bishop who was thrown out of his many manses, stripped of wealth and power and sent packing. He was a conniving old man with wealth beyond that of anyone in the realm including the King! Does that surprise any of us? Rome. Get it? Each did their part to make this a successful film about Hal VIII. Bravo!!!

I remember seeing both of these films many, many years ago. Each covers a distinct period in the history of the Tudor/Stuart English monarchy. Each, is also portrayed by a group of actors who are, without a doubt, some of the best who've ever been in the business. I am so impressed by Richard Burton as Henry VIII, Glenda Jackson as Elizabeth I, and Vanessa Redgrave as Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots. This two-film DVD is definitely a keeper. I am very pleased to have this is my collection and will enjoy watching a pair of queens over and over. Thanks so much for making these two important films available as a set. We sometimes think that we live in turbulent times, but during the Tudor dynasty and the subsequent Stuart dynasty, nations rose and fell, kings came and went, armies invaded and crushed rebellions, heads would roll, and queens would be sent to the Tower of London. The English Renaissance was a glittering period in british history and helped to define the modern England and Europe. The men and women who sat on the thrones of power could be wise, petty, paranoid, vindictive, worldy, cultured, strong and weak. In other words, they were merely human for all the world to see. These two films are dramatizations of the royal giants of their times clashing and thrashing to secure their places in history. It is highly interesting to watch Henry VIII cast away so many talented and beautiful women, yes his queens, to secure a male heir. Of course, he is ultimately thwarted by fate and his realm is ruled by his two daughters in an unplanned succession. It is also highly interesting to watch the terror and suffering that Elizabeth I experienced as she struggled to cope with her captured cousin Mary Stuart. Elizabeth was truly tortured by the prospect of killing "an annointed queen." In the end, it was her signature that ordered Mary Stuart's death, and it would be an event that she would never forget for the rest of her long reign. The struggles and the clashes of these amazing men and women in English history are both the reality and the stuff of legends. They are not to be missed.

The film world in the 1960s and 1970s exhibited a fascination with Tudor England as demonstrated by a number of fine films and PBS/BBC television productions: A Man for All Seasons (1966), Anne of the Thousand Days(1969), Mary Queen of Scots(1971), Elizabeth R (1972). And The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1970). Recently that fascination has returned with cable productions of Elizabeth I, and The Tudors, and the anticipated Elizabeth the Golden Age. Universal Studios has determined to use two of the earlier films in part as promotion for this October's release of Elizabeth the Golden Age. The fact that Anne of the Thousand Days and Mary Queen of Scots should be released on a single DVD set would otherwise be curious indeed. Together as a promotional DVD or separate, no matter, many viewers will just be happy to see these films released in this format. They are both tour de force productions that show off the acting talents of major actors. And it should be noted neither pretends to be purely historical; they are historical dramas. And both are commendable even with the passing of time. Anne of the Thousand Days gives us one of the better later performances of Richard Burton as Henry VIII, and a young Genevieve Bujold as Anne Boleyn, a sound script (based on an earlier play), solid production values, and a wonderful score by Georges Delerue (who also scored A Man for All Seasons). Mary Queen of Scots suffered from a bit of a convoluted plot but a literate script nevertheless (also loosely based on a prior play), and still had dependable performances across the board with Glenda Jackson reprising her portrayal of Elizabeth I from Elizabeth R with great gusto, and Vanessa Redgrave in a very believable interpretation of Mary (ironically, she did a cameo as Anne Boleyn in A Man for All Seasons). Many of the supporting roles are notable as well, Patrick McGoohan, Trevor Howard, Daniel Massey and Nigel Davenport. The production is grand, and the score by John Barry is one of the highlights of the film, so much so that Universal has provided the musical track only option (with commentary) on this disc which is an unexpected treat. This is one of Barry's best works! The music of Delerue and Barry really set the standard for films in this genre, and nothing has really equaled them to date. The two films counted fifteen Academy Award nominations between them. Good production values,and nicely packaged.

I was so glad to hear that both films were being released as a duel set. "Anne of the Thousand Days" and "Mary Queen of Scots" are independent enough to stand alone, but even more charming when watched back to back, since the latter references minor details in the former. "Anne of the Thousand Days" is the story of Anne Boleyn and how she was pursued by Henry VIII at the cost of his marriage and the fate of England's understanding with the Catholic church. It is both a charming retelling and one that has a particular bite to it, particularly as Anne's world starts to fall apart when Henry's eye is cast upon the beautiful Jane Seymour. For a late sixties production, the value of filmmaking is excellent; the costuming is absolutely gorgeous, and the performances are memorable. If nothing else, Anne's final speech to her husband while imprisoned in the Tower of London will linger with you -- that it will be their daughter, Elizabeth, who is remembered for her reign. "Mary Queen of Scots" does not deal merely with the title lady, but also her cousin Elizabeth, whose performance is beyond brilliance. It does dally a bit with the facts but no one really cares since it is presented in such an interesting manner. There are some gruesome aspects that seem a bit startling in contrast with the beauty of the film, but nevertheless it carries quite an impact, and the chance to see Mary and Elizabeth head to head in a couple of different scenes is well worth your time. I particularly liked the depiction of Elizabeth as something of a jealous, temperamental woman, since she was known for her tantrums, just like her dear father. I pre-ordered this the moment I learned about it, and look forward to viewing both films in all their former glory. And if you're anything like me, a fan of the Tudor generations, you'll want to add it to your collection as well.

I remember going to the theatre when Anne of the Thousand Days first was released. To see it again after 30 years was just as thrilling as the first time! Genevieve Bujold is simply wonderful - she portrays her character, Anne Boleyn, with such passion and fire. Such a powerful performance from such a tiny person. The costumes and scenery are just lovely. Richard Burton is Richard Burton being whatever character he is suppose to portray. But all in all, a great movie. The other movie, Mary Queen of Scots is another gem I hadn't seen in 30 years. Once again, costumes and scenery breathtaking, but the acting wasn't the greatest. Vanessa Redgrave was Vanessa Redgrave portraying Mary, Queen of Scots. They took poetic license in making her a blonde, but what the hey, it's Hollywood, afterall! Glenda Jackson is just superb as Queen Elizabeth, same acting as in the PBS television series sans the false nose prop, but an excellent performance just the same. I loved Lord Bothwell, but was glad when Timothy Dalton's Lord Darnley, the wimp, got his! All this drama, and to think it really happened. Hollywood couldn't have scripted a better screenplay! I must say that selling these two movies was a great marketing idea. I'm glad I have them to add to my "royal movie collection".

You cannot imagine my delight in finding both "Anne of the Thousand Days" and "Mary, Queen of Scots" in a 2 DVD package...and inexpensively priced!! These were two of my very favorite period movies. Wonderful stories, beautifully filmed and magnificently acted! Anne is, of course, the second wife of King Henry VIII. Bright, witty, beautiful, and full of spunk, she caught the eye of the King, had a thousand days with him, and met her doom. I have not been able to find a Region 1 DVD of this movie, and it was a pleasure to see it again for the first time in 25 years! Mary, Queen of Scots, cousin to England's Queen Elizabeth I, was beautiful, and determined to gain what she considered her rightful title as Queen of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Quite an ambitious undertaking, considering Elizabeth "the Virgin Queen" was not likely to hand the throne over to her. This story includes a fictional emotional meeting between the two queens (which actually never happened) but the movie-makers are entitled to some artistic license. Magnificent Scottish film sites enhance this movies beauty.

Voici deux films racontant des événements qui ont eu lieu en Angleterre au XVIe siècle. ANNE OF THE THOUSAND DAYS; Bien des films ont été faits sur l'histoire de Henri VIII mais celui-ci est une bonne reconstitution historique. Richard Burton joue un Henri VIII sans scrupules mais tout de même attachant. La Québécoise Geneviève Bujold joue une Anne Boleyn belle et attachante mais aussi manipulatrice. Il faut remarquer aussi la prestation d'Anthony Quayle et John Colicos qui jouent les rôles prenants du cardinal Wolsey et de Thomas Cromwell. À mon avis, le meilleur film sur Henri VIII même s'il n'est plus très jeune. MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS: C'est un bon film sans être un grand film . Mary Stuart, interprétée par Vanessa Redgrave, est montrée comme une femme romantique mais naïve et un peu sotte, ce qu'elle était en réalité. Elizabeth Ière, interprétée par Glenda Jackson, est montrée comme une reine pour qui la raison d'État domine toutes les autres. Les deux actrices sont bien entourées par Trevor Howard, Nigel Davenport, Ian Holm et Timothy Dalton (futur James Bond) dans le rôle du méchant Lord Darnley. Il faut remarquer que, même si les deux reines se rencontrent deux fois dans le film, en réalité elles ne se sont jamais croisées.

"Anne of the Thousand Days" is the best adaptation of the lives of Henry VIII - Anne Boleyn I've seen. Richard Burton was the same age as Henry VIII at that time, and had the same body shape (the King would get fat years later). Stunning beautiful Geneviève Bujould is perfect as Anne Boleyn, she gives a show of acting in each scene. This movie only would worth the purchase, but there is another from the same director/procucer team, "Mary Queen of Scots". The locations of both movies includes real Tudor or Elizabethan palaces. Vanessa Redgrave looks great as Queen Mary, and Glenda Jackson wonderfully embodies Queen Elizabeth I. I highly recommend this DVD.

Hace tiempo los ingleses hicieron varias películas históricas con excelente calidad y magníficas actuaciones, estas dos son un ejemplo claro de este tipo de películas, realmente vale la pena verlas

It was perfect.I like historical films and as these are only on television once in a blue moon it is wonderful to have them.

I bought this double features for Glenda Jackson, who was such a talented actress and admirable woman. But the dream of her life was England's politic in which she got involved after she retired from acting in 1992 to become a strong opposition to Margaret Thatcher and it would take 25 years of absence before to see her back on stage. I deeply loved her in the TV BBC drama serial role of Elizabeth R and I was longing for that serial as well as for this particular movie in which she is so powerful that she supplanted Vanessa Grave in the major role of Mary Queen of Scots - same phenomena experimented with Charlize Theron who steal the star role from Kristen Stewart in Snow White & the Huntsman as a second example of what I mean. Now, although Genevieve Bujold is not one of my favorite actresses lets also "give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar" : this double features gave me the opportunity to rediscovered her again in her magnificent performance as Anne Boleyn. Both actresses are so dedicated in their role that you forget completely that you are looking at a movie and for that brief moment, you simply dive in their world and time so deeply that you can even forget, as I did, your surrounding environment.