Search - Lady Jane on DVD

Samuel K. (Solvanda)
Reviewed on 11/16/2019...

1986 Paramount film. Several members of the Royal Shakespeare company on board here, including Patrick Stewart, Joss Ackland, and for the two starring roles: a young Helena Bonham Carter and Cary Elwes. The subject matter concerns the aftermath of the death of Henry VIII, and the succession chaos which ensued. As well, the battle between two Christian faiths, one iconoclastic, one not, is causing massive shifts in lives and wealth.

I'm glad I finally got to see this. It's been on my wish list for a decade, and was worth the wait. The only item of annoyance I found was that the composer seems to have written the score for a completely different film. Much of it seemed out of place from what was occurring on screen. Helena is almost rather plain here, being so young; but her acting skills are already well developed. This is a tragic tale from the Tudor period, demonstrates the brutality of one's relatives during the Reformation, is prognosticative of the English Civil War, and ends a bit like Romeo and Juliet. Wait til you see the extended formalized spanking scene!

3 of 3 member(s) found this review helpful.

Birthright and power after Hentry VIII's death

Reader | Boca Raton, FL | 01/05/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well, we all more or less know the story of Henry VIII and his reign. Most of it is attributed to his many wives and his effort to separate England from the Catholic Church. But once King (Henry VIII and his son Edward) died, court had to deal with counry that is divided by church, religion and potential fight on who will inherit the throne. Lady Jane was Henry's nice, daughter of his siter Frances. Young and well educated, she is an idealist who is being used for political purposes by the court advisors and her own parents. Without being groomed for power and reign, she is ill equipped to lead the country that is in trouble politically, economically and spiritually. Newly married, she is deeply influenced by her husband and her own strong will. It does not take long before Mary, her cousin and Henry's daughter with his marriage with Catherine of Aragon of Spain takes action to regain her crown and her birthright to reign Englad, Ireland and France. With the help of the Spanish Army, Mary reclaims her throne and eventually executes her cousin Lady Jane, pretender to the throne. Young Helena Bonham Carter gives wonderful performance of a young woman (Lady Jane) from aristocratic family, ill prepared for the duties her family laid out for her in unprecedented political coup that lasted only 9 days and took lives of most of her family, including her father and her husband."