King Henry VIII smitten with Anne Boleyn wishes to displace his estimable Queen Catherine for her. He appeals to Cardinal Wolsey to set aside the tenets of the Church and consent to his divorce from the Queen. The cardinal absolutely refuses to do anything so inimical to his office, as representative of the Holy See. Angered King Henry induces the Archbishop of Canterbury to call a special council through which he divorces himself from Queen Catherine. In punishment for his refusal to accede to the king's wishes, the cardinal is exiled to Leicester Abbey where he dies three days afterward, conscious that he had sustained the sacredness of his office, a martyr to his faith and of service to his king.
Where to watch
Not streaming anywhere
Not on any streaming service in United States, and not available to rent.
Your rating
Your review
Cast
8 people
Hal Reid
Cardinal Wolsey
Also in
Virginius
The Deerslayer
Julia Swayne Gordon
Catherine of Aragon
Known for
Wings
It
Clara Kimball Young
Anne Boleyn
Also in
Eyes of Youth
Kept Husbands
Tefft Johnson
King Henry VIII
Also in
The Signal Fire
Sonny Jim and the Amusement Company, Ltd.
Robert Gaillard
Gardiner, later Bishop of Winchester
Also in
Lady Godiva
Rock of Ages
Logan Paul
Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury
Also in
Flesh and Spirit
From the Dregs
George Ober
Bishop of Essex
Also in
His Great Uncle's Spirit
An Elephant on Their Hands
Hal Wilson
King's friend (as Harold Wilson)
Also in
The Price Paid
Lady Godiva
J. Stuart Blackton Director · Laurence Trimble Director
United States release January 2, 1912 · Produced in United States
Production
Vitagraph Company of America
Production
United States
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
No dialogue
Release dates
United States · January 2, 1912
Theatrical
More from J. Stuart Blackton
Other films they directed, best known first.
If you liked Cardinal Wolsey
Picks that share its genres, themes, cast and crew.
