Historical hits

The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933)

Charles Laughton captured not only the regal swagger of the young king but the petulant child who emerged as the monarch lost his youthful vigour. Elsa Lancaster is a treat as a king-baiting Anne of Cleves.

Elizabeth (1998)

The young Queen Elizabeth I (Cate Blanchett) unsteadily comes to terms with both her political and sexual power, in Shekhar Kapur's lavish period drama.

La Reine Margot (1994)

The historical facts of the St Batholomew's Day Massacre in 16th-century France are padded with sex, violence and a star-making performance from Isabelle Adjani as Margot (pictured right).

Historical misses

The Affair of the Necklace (2001)

Laboriously convoluted intrigue set in the court of Marie Antoinette and starring Hilary Swank as a lady-in- waiting who seeks the restitution of her family's status. Lots of swishing brocade but little substance - the critics called for the guillotine.

Cleopatra (1963)

A disaster-prone spectacular that was dogged by stoppages and cast and crew changes - after its star Liz Taylor was taken ill, the film was shut down and the production moved from the UK to Rome. A mess.

King Arthur (2004)

The legend as a big, dumb Hollywood action movie, courtesy of the producer Jerry Bruckheimer. Keira Knightley kicks butt as an anachronistically empowered Guinevere; Clive Owen smoulders sulkily as the king.

(Wendy Ide)

The Other Boleyn Girl is released on March 7. Antonia Fraser's The Six Wives of Henry VIII is published by Phoenix

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