Book review
I came across this book by chance, at Christmas, on Amazon, and immediately bought it. I have always been a great fan of this film since it started my passion for the Tudors. So, any snippets of information I could get my hands on regarding the creation of this film would be eagerly read.
The book is not big – just 143 pages long – so it can be read pretty quickly. The first thirteen pages tell the historical background to the film, the truth about Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII. This is useful for those who might not know the real story, making it clear that ‘Anne of the Thousand Days’ is not a documentary, but a mainly fictionalised love story.
The book goes on to discuss how the original play, written by Maxwell Anderson, started life in a Broadway theatre, in 1948. However, it took twenty years before a Hollywood producer turned it into an epic movie. Moving from stage to screenplay was interesting as a woman was chosen, Bridget Boland, to write from Anne’s perspective. Ahead of her time, Richard Burton, however, was critical of the dialogue.
As to the casting, Burton, although wanting the part of King Henry and enthusiastic at first, quickly became bored and difficult. Apparently, he had to rely on his wife, Elizabeth Taylor, to motivate him into learning his lines. He also wanted Taylor to play the part of Anne, and appears to have not liked his leading lady, 27-year-old French Canadian, Genevieve Bujold. But was this actually true? Since much of what is said in this book is taken from Richard Burton’s own diaries, we cannot be sure what was real and what was a smokescreen to hide a possible affair.
As to Genevieve, she says nothing about Burton and we are left to wonder what her true opinion might have been. Either way, Bujold took her role very seriously, doing a great deal of research so as to understand the character of Anne, whom she admired.
After the principal characters, the book takes a look at the other parts played and gives biographies on Anthony Quayle, Michael Horden, Irene Papas and others.
How the film was directed by Charles Jarrott is discussed in some detail, and it seems his calm nature was ideally suited to deal with the difficult Burton. He later went on to direct ‘Mary, Queen of Scots’, 1971, with Vanessa Redgrave.
The next few pages cover the costumes, information about the soundtrack, awards the film received, fact versus fiction and Anne Boleyn as a pop culture icon.
I enjoyed ‘Anne of the Thousand Days: The Making of an Epic’, very much and wish it had been longer. There are a few black and white illustrations, an interesting bibliography and it is well researched. I would have liked information about the sets, locations, and logistics of filming, but you can see some of this online. I’d also like to know what the locals thought about Hollywood coming to their village and if they were involved. Many years ago, I was told by someone at Hever Castle that Richard Burton had demanded exotic fruit to eat on set, such as the newly introduced Kiwi fruit. Since such fruits were impossible to find in a small place like Edenbridge, they had to be flown in. True, or just a story? I would also have liked to have had more information on the dynamic between the actors and actresses, more on what they thought of each other. With so much talent, the set must have been a hot-bed of tension at times. But perhaps that’s just me enjoying, as the author herself says, the juicy bits.
Finally, if you’d like to read more about the making of this film, Susan Bordo interviews Genevieve Bujold in her book ‘The Creation of Anne Boleyn’, published in 2014.
About the author:
Jennifer Lafferty is the author of Movie Dynasty Princesses; Rebecca: The Making of a Hollywood Classic; Offbeat Love Stories and More; and Knight of the Purple Ribbon. Her fiction has appeared in magazines such as The Storyteller and Deep South Magazine. She has written articles for a number of publications including MORE; Divine Caroline; Fitness & Physique; and Stack News. She sometimes uses the pen name Jennifer Leigh Wells.
Besides reading and writing, Jennifer's other great passion is music. She enjoys classic rock, soul, indie, and dance. Her favourite artists range from Dusty Springfield to Sara Bareilles, to Jamie Cullum.
