The Other Boleyn Girl

I remember it well.  One night when I was 13, I started watching the movie "Anne of the Thousand Days" about Henry the Eighth and Anne Boleyn.  But I didn't get to see the end. 

The next morning at the library, I checked out as many books as I could about Anne, Henry, and their baby Elizabeth.  Thus began my lifelong love affair with the time period.

I read--and really liked--Phillipa Gregory's book "The Other Boleyn Girl" (which this movie was based on) several years ago so, of course, the movie was a must see. 

Overall, I thought it was well done and a credible interpretation of the book.  Of course, I could pick at the differences between the book, the movie, and actual historical fact for hours, but for just a few thoughts, read on.  (Spoilers!)

Biggest surprise:  Natalie Portman as Anne.  I was a little upset when I saw that she had been cast.  She's Queen Amidala, she's Novalee in "Where the Heart Is", she's sweetness and light and sunshine.  I just really didn't think she could pull off Gregory's smoldering, witty, ego-maniacal, and even kinda bitchy characterization of Anne.  I was wrong, wrong, wrong.  I only wish they had made time in the movie for some of the sexually charged banter that goes on between Henry and Anne in Gregory's book.

Biggest whitewashing of historical fact:  At the end of the movie, Henry really believes Anne had sex with her brother George.  In real life, not so much.  The real story is that after Anne's second or third miscarriage, Henry was ready to be rid of her so he could marry wife number three, Jane Seymour.  Anne was charged with having adulterous affairs with five men, one of which was her brother.  The charges are generally thought to have been trumped up, with Anne and the men in question in completely different palaces on some of the dates in question.  Allegedly some of the men were even offered pardons if they would just confess and implicate Anne.  None did except for Anne's musician, Mark Smeaton, who was tortured into confession because he was a commoner.

Biggest reduction of depth of character from book to movie:  George Boleyn and William Stafford.  In the book George is portrayed as kind of a jaded playboy.  He does the court-thing because that's what he has to do, but gradually gets more and more disgusted with himself as the book goes on.  William Stafford--the guy Mary eventually ends up with--on the other hand is kind of a foil for George in the book.  Stafford is the good, salt-of-the-earth guy who recognizes life at court for the nonsense it is, and ultimately takes Mary away to the good life she loves in the country.  I was kind of sad that they didn't choose to develop all of that more in the movie.

Biggest change from book to movie:  This is one I actually didn't mind.  In the book it is at least strongly indicated that George and Anne had sex and had a deformed baby as a result.  In the movie they almost have sex (in order to save Anne's life by giving her a baby) but stop short.  I think if you read more of Gregory's books (in particular "The Virgin's Lover") you can see that she tends to think the very worst of both Anne and Elizabeth (and conversely tends to adore both Katherine of Aragon and her daughter Mary--see "The Constant Princess").  I'll admit it's a bias that I don't particularly appreciate.  The historical facts don't specifically prove her wrong as to Anne (Elizabeth is, in my opinion, another story), but I think she pushes them just a little too far.  So, I was glad that Anne and George remained just brother and sister.

I'm interested to hear what everyone else thought, so comment away if you've seen it!

Comments

[StacyH]

I've got one up too ... http://www.bellsforstacy.blogspot.com.

I just find it odd that the book proposes the incest to have been true, and yet the movie based on that book goes the other way. And the other 5 men that he executed were completely left out. And the parties and the money she spent and her overall image didn't help her either. The people hated her.

The thing about Gregory and Mary and Katherine. I agree she favors them, or at least heavily sympathizes with them. I didn't like the Virgin's Lover as much either because I felt she was anti-Elizabeth.

But what I get out of it is ... she see's Katherine as the great victim, and Mary as the girl who had a terrible youth and was horribly treated as well, and grew up to do horrible things either because of or inspite of that youth. And Elizabeth as some sort of harlot. :)

Not my favorite movie. Natalie Dormer (the tudors) is a vastly superior Ann. I was tainted by her.

[Meryl]

I was going to go leave you a comment, but your blog isn't working today for some reason. :(

I guess (especially after the "Elizabeth" movies) I just kind of go in with low expectations as far as the movies being like the books or the movies being like actual history. I think movie producers feel like they have to dumb things down or people will get bored--which is a little sad, really.

I pretty much expected that Katherine Carey wouldn't make the cut. I also figured it was a given that the Henry/Anne courtship would be much shortened (after all it went on for 7 years!).

Bottomline: The book is pretty much always better than the movie.

But I liked the costumes, lighting, etc. Especially Mary's costumes! Wish I could find a couple of those fabrics they used--gorgeous prints!

[Kathleen]

Unfortunately, not playing in P-burg. Surprise, Surprise. A movie I would pay to go see. Please bring the book next time you come down Meryl. I would like to read it. Especially since I will probably get to read the book before the movie actually comes to P-burg!

[Meryl]

Sucks that it isn't there, but pretty much as expected. I'll bring you the book though.

[Amanda]

I found this movie to be a complete disappointment compared to the book - then again, isn't that usually the case? I had a hard time watching it without picking out all of the errors. It seemed sloppily put together and left out a lot of the emotion that should have been felt by the viewer. I think those that have not read the book will enjoy it far better than those who did.