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From the lens Movie vs. History: 'The Other Boleyn Girl' .

  • Hannah Apr 14, 2012 @ 5:56 pm | delete
    I loved the film and the book, although it was inaccurate at times. Gregory's books are always entertaining and I think that people should realise she's trying to dramatise the general story of Anne Boleyn and Mary, if you want fact and an accurate portrayal of the two then I suggest reading a biography of them or something.
  • JJ Apr 12, 2012 @ 8:21 am | delete
    Thanks so much for this website -- it certainly helps clarify the (inaccuracies in the) movie! It's a good movie -- made by following the adage I think, to never let the facts get in the way of a good story! :)
  • Celticep Mar 22, 2012 @ 6:26 pm | delete
    My daughter has been telling me about this movie, I need to watch it now!
  • joannspears Nov 16, 2011 @ 3:50 pm | delete
    This is a great lens! The subject is dear to my heart even though I haven't seen "The Other Boleyn Girl". My upcoming novel, Six of One, is a comic riff on the Tudor legend. Feel free t check out the preview blog at http://annboleyn.sixofone.biz/
  • Vanessa Nov 14, 2011 @ 7:50 am | delete
    Both the book and the movie were grossly inaccurate. It depicts Mary's parents as devoid of affection for their daughters, and eager to use both as sexual pawns for political gain, Anne as cold, vindictive, ruthlessly ambitious, vain and given to physical violence. None of the aforementioned points have any historical basis. As to Anne Boleyn taking on Mary's son as her ward after the death of his father and supplying him with an education was a common practice in the Tudor nobility and one very similar to the situation faced by dozens of young aristocratic children, including Anne and Mary's cousin, Katherine Howard, who was raised by her grandmother when her father was penniless. Anne's actions are usually seen as kind by contemporaries and historians, but the novel and movie re-imagines it both as a cruel act and as an adoption in the modern sense, in which the child's caretakers are considered his legal and social parents. Actually, Anne secured Mary a highly respectable pension of £100 a year. These are just fabrications made by the author, Philippa Gregory. For those fans who would argue that this was historical FICTION and therefore liberties are allowed to be taken with the characters and the plot. However, Gregory has so far refused to admit that most of her works are simply fiction. Instead, she argues that she is an actual historian and her books are all based in fact. This has also led young readers to believe in the numerous fabrications, such as the assumption that Anne Boleyn had slept with her brother (as mentioned above) and that she had three miscarriages. Besides, the argument that part of the reason Anne was executed was because of her political and religious leanings, which her brother shared and supported was also ignored by Gregory.

    Enough said about the novel, we move on to the movie. For starters it actually omits certain parts of the plot present in the novel, resulting in an even further departure from history. For example, William Carey's death scene was cut from the movie. Therefore, when Mary married William Stafford and retired to the countryside, many members of the audience were scratching their heads and saying, ? But I thought that she was still married?? Also, as mentioned above as well, even the book, full of inaccuracies, depict an unwilling Mary acceding to William (Stafford's) demand for her not to go to court and give evidence for Anne and George. The movie shows Mary, always the angel, risking her life to plead for her sister Anne. Also, Anne was definitely much more composed and dignified before her death than was portrayed. Perhaps a weeping, trembling Anne was intended to instill sympathy in the audience, especially for Mary's loss of a beloved sister? This was yet another disgusting attempt to make Mary out to be the saint she never was and the evil-beyond-repair Anne to seem guilty of her crimes. For, if she had been innocent (in the movie) surely she would have at least tried to appear dignified so as to prove her innocence and fearlessness of Henry and death, given her character in the movie.

    All in all, the characters of The Other Boleyn Girl proved to be extremely shallow and one-sided if not historically inaccurate: Anne absolutely evil and Mary extremely saintly and angelic in both thoughts and deed. I would suggest that everyone should read a decent biography of Anne Boleyn. Even The Tudors, which I am not crazy about, is more historically accurate than both novel and movie by about a hundredfold.
  • Lisa Oct 8, 2011 @ 7:37 pm | delete
    I enjoyed reading The Other Boleyn Girl until the end when Gregory stated that what she wrote is the true history. After that I was disgusted because it was no longer a fun historical fiction, but a book full of untruths. I highly rec everyone read Alison Weir's biography on Mary Boleyn.
  • getbackup Jun 28, 2011 @ 6:38 pm | delete
    Great lens! I'm obsessed about the topic! I did like the romantic nature of the Other Boleyn sister. Just read the six wives of henry the VIII, good book. Now ready Elizabeth & Mary. One of my favorite lenses. Thumbs up!
  • NYThroughTheLens Apr 22, 2011 @ 7:01 pm | delete
    I love this lens. Historical accuracy really gets me when I see film/tv pieces that attempt to cover this period (like The Tudors...oh boy). This was really informative and well-written.
  • Sylvestermouse Feb 6, 2011 @ 10:17 am | delete
    This is an excellent article! I have to admit, I did not truly become interested in the facts until I saw the movie and questioned the historical accuracy. I hate it when someone takes real people and fabricate tales about them. Personally, I believe people and life are intriguing enough without revisionist history. I have no problem with fictional characters. I simply do not like the idea of real people being depicted inaccurately in any form of entertainment. Thank you for taking the time to set the record straight.
  • Lucia von Toman Jan 30, 2011 @ 7:22 am | delete
    If you study the Tudor history fo a certain time, you should understand that Anne Boleyn was a very special queen. She was obviously intelligent, kind and pious. Not a frivolous and promiscuous at all as The other Boleyn girl describes her. I admire Queen Anne Boleyn because ahe was a very intelligent and educated woman. As the only queen consort in history, she was crowned with St. Edward's crown (as only queens and kings regnat were) and appart of her husband - this means that Henry trusted her so much that he made her his Queen regnant and she reigned and controlled politics with him. Some time before, Henry had made her Marquess of Pembroke, which was a very high title. She was the very first woman in history to enter peerage and gain a title in her own right. She even used to give 100, 000 pounds for charity and the poor every year (if you take into account that average peers got 100 pounds annualy, it is quite a lot). Anne brought the reformation to England and believed taht God sent her to do it. Then her daughter Elizabeth went on to become the most perfect Queen that england has ever had and built a very strong Kingdom on the basements that Anne laid. And England has prospered till these days.
    Anne Boleyn was actually a great Queen and none of the evil creatures that Mrs Gregory describes in her books. I believe the true history and not the fictive novels. What about you? :)
  • LissaKlar Jan 12, 2011 @ 11:14 pm | delete
    I'm inclined to think that Catherine was in love with Prince Arthur. They had no evidence to prove they had relations, though, I thought. And was George homosexual? They don't really say anything about this in the movie, but they do in the book.
  • Desilegend Nov 27, 2010 @ 5:31 am | delete
    Loved the movie. Thanks for sharing the acts with us!
  • Marelisa Nov 25, 2010 @ 12:51 pm | delete
    I did not watch the movie, but I read the book and I absolutely loved it. The book is very thick, but I read it in one weekend because I just couldn't stop reading. I also watched the TV show "The Tudors" from beginning to end. Now I'm thinking of going to Blockbusters and seeing if they have this movie (that's how good this lens is). :-)
  • 23squidoo Nov 21, 2010 @ 5:18 pm | delete
    I enjoyed this movie a great deal, even though I had to overlook the many historical inaccuracies. It opened up a lot of discussion topics with my daughter, who watched the movie with me. Thank you so much for this lense!
  • Pearl Rodgers Jul 26, 2010 @ 2:17 am | delete
    I saw the movie and loved it i'm going to purchase it so my childrens can see it
  • WordCustard Jul 13, 2010 @ 7:20 am | delete
    Came back for another read of this fascinating look at "The Other Boleyn Girl" and the historical inaccuracies in the movie. Leaving a well deserved ~*~* Angel Blessing *~*~ while I still can! :)
  • tandemonimom Jul 13, 2010 @ 8:39 am | delete
    Thanks very much!
  • aesta1 Mar 30, 2010 @ 9:58 pm | delete
    I enjoyed the movie but am happy you have straightened out some things here. I did not really watch it as a historical documentary. Glad to have this info.
  • Rowen Mar 9, 2010 @ 12:31 pm | delete
    You wrote a fair comparison between the movie and the facts as known to history, though I enjoyed the movie in the spirit it was presented, which was a historical romance/drama, as I expect most viewers did. Certain artistic license in regards to historical accuracy is to be expected of Hollywood.
    I bemoaned the lack of more elaborate costumes more than the lack of real facts in 'The other Boleyn Girl'.
  • WordCustard Mar 4, 2010 @ 2:39 pm | delete
    This is very interesting and I love the way you put the facts straight.
  • enslavedbyfaeries Jan 21, 2010 @ 4:38 pm | delete
    I saw the movie without knowing all of history behind it. This is a fascinating and clever lens. It is very interesting to learn the facts because the movie leaves you wondering what life was really like in this period.
  • ChapelHillFiddler Nov 30, 2009 @ 8:45 am | delete
    I OFTEN wonder how much fiction there is in so-called historical films. This was a good idea, and you made a fun lens. I've featured it on my fan-club thank-you lens so - thank you!
  • Jenn Oct 12, 2009 @ 3:20 pm | delete
    Did Mary Boleyn get her son Henry back after Anne Boleyn had custody of him?
  • perfumereviews Jul 27, 2009 @ 12:40 am | delete
    wonderful review, critique and comparison. intriguing history. good work!
  • LivingSkinny Jun 6, 2009 @ 1:28 pm | delete
    I am fascinated by the Tudor period in history. The Showtime series, Tudors, have done a remarkable job in sticking to the historical facts. Henry's wives had miscarriages because of Henry's lack of chastity more than likely. One has to feel a sense of sympathy for the wives and people living in those times.
  • mukunda22 May 16, 2009 @ 10:48 am | delete
    Neat lens--thank you--and congrats on the purple star!!
  • Jimmie May 15, 2009 @ 10:50 am | delete
    I haven't seen the movie, but I usually like those kinds of films (if I don't know the historical inaccuracies; those will bother me).

    Purple star congratulations to you!
  • Jimmie May 15, 2009 @ 10:50 am | delete
    I haven't seen the movie, but I usually like those kinds of films (if I don't know the historical inaccuracies; those will bother me).

    Purple star congratulations to you!
  • YourAndalucia Apr 2, 2009 @ 1:20 am | delete
    Great lens! I enjoyed the film for its entertainment value but it was so historically inaccurate and also was way off Philippa Gregory's book which it was based on. When Philippa Gregory entitled her book "The Other Boleyn Girl", she was talking about Mary NOT Anne, so that annoyed me a bit.

    Brilliant lens, you've worked hard.
  • Evelyn_Saenz Apr 1, 2009 @ 11:14 am | delete
    I don't usually allow lenses that are not strictly for teaching children in this group but your lens on the Boleyn Girls does such a great job helping to separate the fact from the fiction that I just had to include it.

    I have proudly included this lens in the Unit Studies: Fun, Creative Hands-On Leaning Group.
  • Evelyn_Saenz Apr 1, 2009 @ 11:06 am | delete
    I loved the costumes as well and agree that the movie would have been much better if they had stuck to the facts. It would be wonderful to be able to use the artistic abilities of Hollywood to help children learn history.
  • amandascloset0 Mar 30, 2009 @ 7:49 am | delete
    Thanks for sharing this lens! Very informative. I think the movie makes should stick to the facts and only create fiction where there are no gaps. It was a pretty good movie but believe it could have been better if fact and fiction were a little closer together. 5 stars
  • JenOfChicago Mar 27, 2009 @ 11:39 am | delete
    Very well done lens. I read the book and enjoyed it.
  • Mortira Mar 14, 2009 @ 3:10 pm | delete
    What a great perspective for a film review! Welcome to the Armchair Critics group!
  • lou16 Mar 12, 2009 @ 9:54 pm | delete
    I haven't seen the movie yet, but I used to love reading books about Tudor times when I was younger (read no family!).
  • stargazer00 Mar 12, 2009 @ 11:56 am | delete
    Very interesting. I saw the movie but did not know how much of it was likely true. Well done!
  • Treasures-By-Brenda Mar 11, 2009 @ 6:50 pm | delete
    I enjoyed the movie but I was not too concerned about the history. My sister-in-law was, however, mightily disappointed at the historical issues. Your lens is beautifully done!

    Brenda

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tandemonimom

Carma enjoys history and historical fiction, as long as it doesn't flout known facts. She has a special spot in her heart for the Tudors. more »

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