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Rewatching Wolf Hall

74 replies

BansheeofInisherin · 22/06/2023 14:56

Sorry, I know this is so old! I watched it first in the pandemic and I don't think I appreciated Mark Rylance's incredibly expressive face as Cromwell, Mark Gatiss's sourpuss act as Gardiner, Claire Foy's hauteur as Anne.... all of it is so good. So subtle, just like the book. No hamming.

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BansheeofInisherin · 23/06/2023 19:10

midsomermurderess · 23/06/2023 18:41

Claire Foy is marvellous as Anne Boleyn. The last scenes, her terror, are unforgettable.

Agree. The cowed speech she gives at the end-so Elizabeth would not suffer- is one of the most moving bits of TV I have ever seen.

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MissMarplesNiece · 23/06/2023 21:01

I'm pleased to say that I now have a ticket to see Dr Semmelweis. Keeping my fingers tightly crossed that there are no train strikes on that day. I didn't see Jerusalem, sadly. I'm quite envious of those that did.

Yes, Claire Foy was terrific in Wolf Hall.

thenightsky · 23/06/2023 21:21

midsomermurderess · 23/06/2023 18:41

Claire Foy is marvellous as Anne Boleyn. The last scenes, her terror, are unforgettable.

God yes. Terrifying. That moment when she fingers her neck with trembling hands, she looks so very delicate and vulnerable. I wept buckets through that episode 😭

Marsyas · 23/06/2023 21:24

I was walking in London the other day and passed a sign saying Austin Friars, it gave me goosebumps even though the house isn't there any more

rosegoldwatcher · 23/06/2023 21:29

Ormally · 23/06/2023 16:08

Oh yes. Looking forward to the sequel.

But if you haven't seen the scenes in 'Upstart Crow' where "the actor, Wolf Hall" auditions in front of Shakespeare's troupe, who are looking for an actor who can SHOUT and STRUT, then it's probably a few keystrokes away on Youtube...

Just watched that Upstart Crow scene. Hilarious!

We are the Wolf Pack.

Ormally · 23/06/2023 21:46

(Whoop!)

I also saw him in Jerusalem last year. Still processing!

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BansheeofInisherin · 24/06/2023 18:55

That Upstart crow link was hilarious.

BTW, complete segue, but I visited Hever Castle today and it was lovely. Small but perfectly formed. Gorgeous setting.

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thelionthewitchtheaudacityofTHISbitch · 24/06/2023 19:08

I am a huge mark Rylance fan and found him mesmerising in Wolf Hall. I studied this period for A level and it was interesting to see the different take. I do struggle more with the books - really dont have the time to read them. But they are there on the bookshelf waiting. His Iago at the Globe was stunning. He literally moved the audience with his voice. I flew to New York to see Farinell and the King. I had kept missing it in London and was determined not to miss it any more. As the rest of the cast were delightful too.

Almahart · 24/06/2023 19:13

midsomermurderess · 23/06/2023 18:41

Claire Foy is marvellous as Anne Boleyn. The last scenes, her terror, are unforgettable.

Agree, I think that is the best thing I've ever seen on TV.

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MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 25/06/2023 10:50

DisplayPurposesOnly · 23/06/2023 16:58

Going against the tide... I absolutely loathed Mark Rylance as Cromwell and therefore couldn't watch the TV programme for long once i realised that.

I loved the books and the plays.

Swimming with you here. I had such a vivid picture of Cromwell from the books and Rylance wasn't it.

ItsOnlyMeNow · 25/06/2023 10:50

I loved this series and yes him in it. Bridge of Spies too!

pop574 · 28/06/2023 15:28

BansheeofInisherin · 23/06/2023 15:11

@rosegoldwatcher I wish they would adapt both Bring Up the Bodies and The Mirror and the Light. 6 episodes is not enough and doesn't complete the story.

I have read the books as well and they are fantastic, but not for everyone perhaps as written in quite an opaque way. ( third person third person, I think it's called).

Bring up the Bodies has already been adapted in the first series. The book ends with Anne Boleyn's execution.

The Mirror and the Light , well who knows if that will ever be adapted now. It's been eight years since the first series, and I doubt they will be able to get back all of the original cast. Plus Mantell has died too. I can't see it happening to be honest.

BridportSpectacular · 28/06/2023 15:35

I loved the play with Ben Miles as Cromwell -he had the subtlety but also the menacing physicality that I imagined of Cromwell from the books.

I found Mark Rylance didn't have that physical menace. Though I love him as an actor even though he's turned out to be a Covid pillock.

pop574 · 28/06/2023 15:36

Mark Rylance was wrong for Cromwell. Great actor, but Cromwell was a nasty thug. Rylance looks too gentle.

thelionthewitchtheaudacityofTHISbitch · 28/06/2023 21:09

pop574 · 28/06/2023 15:36

Mark Rylance was wrong for Cromwell. Great actor, but Cromwell was a nasty thug. Rylance looks too gentle.

I dont think so - he was totally menacing as Iago. Really seriously menacing.

SheilaFentiman · 28/06/2023 23:37

Ooh, must rewatch

MissMarplesNiece · 29/06/2023 08:17

Cromwell was a nasty thug In Hilary Mantel's books though Cromwell wasn't a nasty thug, he was much more rounded than that, which is how Rylance played him. In the film A Man For All Seasons, Leo McKern does play Cromwell as a thug, very different to how Rylance portrayed him.

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BansheeofInisherin · 29/06/2023 08:21

Yes, in Mantel's books, Cromwell is a loving husband and father. And has a sense of humour. Bits of the thug shine through. More is not the saint he is made out to be in other books.

The scene where Cromwell's daughters and wife die of the sweating sickness was so moving.

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WeightInLine · 29/06/2023 08:23

This thread has given me FOMO. Where are you watching it - is it on iPlayer?

BridportSpectacular · 29/06/2023 08:27

I think the capacity for Cromwell to be a nasty thug, he’d have had to have that hardness to have survived, underneath the loving family man, the intellectual, but a real steel ruthless core….that came out better in the books and the stage play for me.

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BansheeofInisherin · 29/06/2023 08:27

I watched it on BritBox. Which I know not many people have!

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Sunglassescase · 29/06/2023 08:27

Brilliant books and yes Mark Rylance superb as Cromwell. Telling Anne to 'arrange her face' loved it all

BitOutOfPractice · 29/06/2023 08:32

BansheeofInisherin · 23/06/2023 15:11

@rosegoldwatcher I wish they would adapt both Bring Up the Bodies and The Mirror and the Light. 6 episodes is not enough and doesn't complete the story.

I have read the books as well and they are fantastic, but not for everyone perhaps as written in quite an opaque way. ( third person third person, I think it's called).

The first series covers the first two books. The next series will cover the last one.

I have a crush on Thomas Cromwell since I read the books. I sobbed at the end. Spoiler alert: he doesn’t make it!

Mark Rylance is just terrific in everything he does. I love him.

pop574 · 29/06/2023 09:24

BansheeofInisherin · 29/06/2023 08:27

I watched it on BritBox. Which I know not many people have!

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