Anne by the fountain at Penshurst Place © Universal Pictures
Writer: Maxwell Anderson (Play), Bridget Boland, John Hale, Richard Sokolove
Starring: Richard Burton, Geneviève Bujold, Anthony Quayle, John Colicos, Irene Papas
Production Company: Hal Wallis Productions
Kent Locations Used: Hever Castle, Penshurst Place
Geneviève Bujold as Anne © Universal Pictures
Based on the Broadway play by Maxwell Anderson, Anne of the Thousand Days (1969) is an account of the rise and fall of the beautiful and ambitious Anne Boleyn (Genevieve Bujold), second wife of the tyrannical Henry VIII (Richard Burton).
The film was nominated for 10 Oscars in 1970, including best picture and won best costume design. It also won Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Actress and Best Director.
Hever Castle was an obvious choice for Anne Boleyn’s home, as it was her real-life home. It was used for the scenes where King Henry VIII visits the Boleyn household to pursue Anne Boleyn.
The stunning Kentish scenery of both Hever Castle and Penshurst Place bought this Oscar winning tale to life with Hever Castle being an obvious choice to double as Anne Boleyn’s home, as it was her real-life home and was used for the scenes where King Henry VIII visits the Boleyn household to pursue Anne Boleyn. Hever Castle is now a visitor attraction and includes many 16th century Tudor portraits, furniture and tapestries. The castle also displays two prayer books, signed and inscribed by Anne Boleyn. The castle has been used for other film projects such as Inkheart (2008), The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) and Lady Jane (1987).
Exteriors of Penshurst Place were used to double as the King’s court and the stunning formal Tudor gardens were used for the scenes where King Henry VIII is shooting targets when Anne Boleyn joins him as well as where she announces her pregnancy. The Gardens, arranged into “garden rooms” each with a different style and character are also open to visitors between March and November. Penshurst Place has been seen on screen in projects such as The Hollow Crown – Henry V (2012) and Merlin (2008).
Anne of The Thousand Days also features in the Kent Film Office Tudor(ish) Trail which celebrates Kent’s Tudor history and film connections.
Anne of the Thousand Days (1969) was released on Wednesday 18th December 1969 and is now available to buy on DVD.
For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.
