Anecdotes

According to Binnie Barnes, Charles Laughton was a method actor, and when Wendy Barrie giggled during a scene to the actor's aggravation, he bit her on the arm, breaking her skin, exactly as the real Henry often did when angry with his wives.

Charles Laughton (Henry VIII) and Elsa Lanchester (Anne of Cleves) were married in 1929 and remained so until Laughton's death in 1962.

Because of the memorable banquet scene, Charles Laughton for many years thereafter, was often given a free roasted chicken, without utensils, by restaurant owners who thought it was a good joke.

Because of the film's modest budget, director Alexander Korda had to shoot on actual locations instead of the studio. Some sets were half-built out of necessity, so if an actor moved off his mark, the slats would show the sides.

Stunned by Merle Oberon's radiant beauty, director William Wyler recommended to his cousin Carl Laemmle that he sign her. Months later Wyler discovered that "Universal" had taken his advice, but mistakenly signed Binnie Barnes.