Alexander Korda's masterpiece The Private Life of Henry VIII was the most important British film of the pre-war period and a phenomenal critical and box-office success. Greg Walker's accessible and thoroughly researched book, the first study of this classic film, examines the film itself, its makers, and its place in the cinematic and cultural history of the period. Using evidence from the parliamentary and media debates of the 1930s, Walker identifies the film's engagement with the contentious issues of Appeasement and reactions to Continental fascism. He examines Korda's subtle treatment of questions of national and 'international' identity, his representation of British history, and use of modern stereotypes, and discusses the intriguing representation of gender and sexuality in the film, not only in the portrayal of Henry's wives but also in the complex exploration of masculinity evident in Laughton's award winning central performance.