The Private Life of Henry VIII

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• Mel Brooks
• King Henry VIII

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Upon finding out that The Private Life of Henry VIIIwas made in 1933, my roommate's first reaction was "Dude, this is gonna suck." I had higher hopes, thinking it would be kitschy, maybe, or at least slightly amusing because of the historical context. But good, probably not. How could it be good when they were just figuring out how to make movies? They can barely make good movies today, three-quarters of a century later. But from the first frame, Private Life proves itself to be incredibly witty, sarcastic and even dark. The quirky interpersonal relationships between King Henry and his six wives accomplish the kind of comedy that Mel Brooks only grasps at before falling back on slapstick. It also brings forth a clear and precise drama of a king who gets whatever he wants but can't find love no matter how many wives he beheads. Be at Starz FilmCenter in the Tivoli Student Union at 7 p.m. this Saturday, July 7, when the Tattered Cover presents a one-night-only screening of The Private Life of Henry VIII as part of its classic-films series. Admission is free, but you'll need a ticket from the box office, which opens at 6 p.m.