Six Wives of Henry VIII

Having the viewed all the discs, I disagree. While it is true there are not additional features on the set (like interviews, directors comments, etc) I found the picture quality and sound to be good. There were no times when I had to raise the sound to hear. In other words, it is like watching the tapes - except on 3 discs which take much less space.

The performances need no comment. This series has stood for years as superb and transfering it to DVD hasn't changed that

This classic BBC television series from 1970 is an outstanding production of 6 plays, all by different authors, depiciting the relationship Henry VIII had with each of his 6 wives.It's an entertaining and enlighting look at the monarch, played exquisitely from his youth to his sickly old age by Keith Michell.The six very different women, most of whom meet with a tragic ending are also portrayed brillantly by the actresses and will draw you into their joys and fears at being the Queen of England.

Catherine of Aragon(Annette Crosbie), Ann Boleyn(Dorothy Tutin), Jane Seymour(Anne Stallybrass), Anne of Cleves(Elvi Hale),Catherine Howard(Anglea Pleasence) and Catherine Parr(Rosalie Crutchley),were all picked to serve a purpose for the Royal Court. Some served useful in forming political alliances, and some in gaining favors for social climbers in the court. But to Henry....They were there to provide him with sons..heirs to the throne..and God help them if they didn't.

The production is wonderful. The costumes, make up, each play beautifully written, and the majestic performances will have you enthralled with each story and hanging on every word.The authentic look at this Royal soap opera is one any student of European history, or anyone who loves stories about Kings and Queens would be thrilled with.It is a five star performance.

The DVD did not get the kingly treatment it deserved.Although there is nothing about it that will interfere with your enjoyment of this treasure, it is very dated. The costumes and magnificent jewelry need to be brightned up, the outdoor scenes are a bit grainy, and the sound(although clear and distinguishable) is a very low recording.The price is a little high considering what this could look and sound like on DVD with a restoration.So 4 stars for the package.

It is absolutly worth the view and worth owning though.Unless a new edition comes along(this edition was released July, 2000), I would suggest to check with the sellers here, the prices seem much more reasonable.(I got a great deal at about half the price).

You may lose your head over this one.....enjoy...Laurie

But I give the dvd set three stars because of its poor technical quality. The picture is often faded and the sound is inconsistent, veering from too quiet to too loud within the same scene. The dvds are also difficult to navigate. For example, there is no scene index so you cannot skip from scene to scene. If you stop watching and then start up again, you are forced to fast forward through everything you watched before. Since the scene index feature is one of the main reasons people watch dvds instead of videotapes, its absence means these dvds are no better than VHS tapes - and far more expensive.

However, the opportunity to view this miniseries again is a reason to celebrate in itself. It's simply a shame the BBC did not put nearly as much effort into The Six Wives of Henry VIII as they did Elizabeth R. Beautifully transferred with lots of special features, the Elizabeth R dvds are a genuine treat for the Tudor enthusiast. The Six Wives is a necessary purchase for the compelling stories and thorough recreation of Tudor history, but watching it is a needlessly frustrating experience. I wish the BBC had put more care into this transfer.