Film Preview – Bognor Regis Observer – Saturday, 29 March 1947

PAVILION, SELSEY. Charles Laughton brings to the screen of the Pavilion for three days from Monday next, his interpretation of Henry VIII as England's famous much-married monarch in "THE PRIVATE LIFE OF HENRY VIII," the London Film Productions' re-presentation which British Lion distributes. The film presents in a light, humorous and modern mood the story of the 16th century monarch and five of his six wives, two of whom were sent to the block and two of whom were divorced ! Olivia De Havilland may well be an Academy contender on the strength of her performance in "TO EACH HIS OWN" which comes on Thursday. The story spans World Wars I and 2. It adopts flashback technique as Olivia remembers her youth and then proceeds as straight timely narrative to its close, 27 years later, in bomb scarred London. She has loved but one man, a flyer, who is killed in World War I, and is tragically unable to acknowledge his son, born out of wedlock, as her own. Through a misunderstanding the child is taken into the home and legally adopted by a former sweetheart of Olivia's, Phillip Terry, and his wife, Mary Anderson.