Charles Laughton as King Henry VIII - Chicken Eating Scene

Charles Laughton became the first actor in a British film to win an Oscar for his portrayal of the much-married monarch in "The Private Life of Henry VIII" (1933). In this famous scene, he's in a state of fury at having been nagged by all and sundry, including the royal barber, to marry yet again, despite having had three wives already. By the end of the film he has had six wives, the fifth of whom, Catherine Howard (played here by Binnie Barnes) sings to him during dinner once he's finished demolishing his chicken.

[@lairddougal3833]

One of my most vivid memories as a child, was my mother delivering a roast chicken to the table. My father, ever given to mischief, reached across the table and transferred the entire chicken to his plate. Bringing his fist down on top of it, he first eyed the broken bird and then my mother. “Refinement is a thing of the past,” he bellowed. I didn’t get it, of course, but my mother almost fell off her chair laughing.

[@LPMAN02]

RIP Charles Laughton (July 1, 1899 - December 15, 1962), aged 63 You will be remembered as a legend.

[@sspdirect02]

Only Charles Laughton could rip a chicken to shreds and win an Oscar for it.

[@louthegiantcookie]

I love the heavy silence as Henry eats. Subtle but effective at conveying the sense of fear and paranoia in his court, everyone there looks resentful and terrified.

[@balquis1958]

Nothings changed much

[@JaythePandaren]

King Henry was known for his Anger and annoying him or pissing him off could of cost you your life

[@saiyajinali]

This makes me want to go to Costco and buy a rotisserie chicken and re-enact this scene haha. Pure gold

[@mechanicalfruit9659]

Dont forget what ever hes drinking

[@saiyajinali]

@@mechanicalfruit9659 I assume its wine. He poured a little on the dry chicken. He said it was difficult to swallow 🤣😂

[@rcstyles4472]

It was gravy

[@dkupke]

Fun fact: Napoleon had a ritual of eating a roast chicken that he would rip apart with his hands the night before most of his major battles. The night before Waterloo he had fried potatoes.

[@robertcorbell1006]

You have no idea how many times I've done just that with 5$ to 8$ rotisserie chickens from Walmart, Hyvee, Kroger, and other supermarket chains. Don't know about finding the sweetened red wine-based roux he used to offset the dryness and the black pepper coating, however.

[@stevendaniel8126]

Laughton the Magnificent !!!

[@stephenlyall7759]

The tossing of chicken bones over Henry’s shoulder. Followed by the tossing of comments over Henry’s shoulder by Robert Donat during the carousing scene.

[@lovemykiss9]

Nikocado Avocado in the 16th century.

[@bruhm4571]

Except he did something for England

[@SnowShakes]

And Orlin on the right

[@Cean613]

@@SnowShakes and had a lot of orlins

[@FatherDinny]

brutal

[@gamer2101]

Lmao. 😂😂😂

[@BloodOfYeshuaMessiah]

*A piece of chicken in they eye of Cromwell and Cranmer....BOTH AT THE SAME TIME....perfect aim...perfect timing.....two birds with one chicken !*

[@diaryofseresha]

The way he eats his food goes to show he really loved his meat, a real food lover

[@dkupke]

He didn’t eat like that though

[@j0RgiEb0ii]

If my parents knew I’ve done everything in this clip, they’ll kick me out

[@xioblu]

Just imagine him in McDonalds...

[@danielanderson2331]

Call this a Big Mac?!?! Look at that, all sauce and no substance!! (Stuffs Big Mac into mouth!!) Refinements a thing of the past!! Manners are dead!!

[@zoharhalfon4105]

"The victory of optimism over experience..."

[@Krzyszczynski]

They could have had him utter the quote word-for-word from Dr Johnson, who was safely out of copyright by the 1930s.

[@fliegeroh]

"It's good to be King."

[@gregruelas7830]

you were amazing, Mr. Laughton.

[@tm4tare]

Love how he throws the chicken behind him lol

[@Theseus9-cl7ol]

Lol, yeah it's great.

[@dkupke]

Funny thing is the real Henry probably only ate like this rarely. He typically took his meals alone and had everything served up to him.

[@devannyblanco3309]

Daniel Ryan u mean he didint eat like a savage with his hands but with table manners I mean isn't he royalty or is today's royalty different than before?

[@joesteers9251]

@@devannyblanco3309 Henry's outrageous weight in the later stages of his reign is well documented and known to us all but i'm pretty sure that historians have no real reason to believe he ate with such horrible table manners. Henry was apparently very clean and tidy, and ate alone or accompanied by his close advisors or friends in his private chambers. Each meal was served separately and what he turned down or didn't finish was distributed to the rest of the royal household. Obviously when I say that he was clean I don't mean it by modern hygiene standards but I think we are learning today that all though he is one of the most appalling figures in history many areas of his reign have been widely exaggerated, though yes he was a huge binge eater and basically lived on sweet, sugary wine, beer/ale, bread and various meats/fish. Despite all that the acting is absolutely superb!!

[@devannyblanco3309]

@@joesteers9251 I agree just because he wa fat doesn t mean he has to act like a pig even rats have better manners then this movie Henry and it is rumored Henry was a handsome young man when he was with Catherine of Aragon and Anne boleyn but later he started getting fat and ugly

[@joesteers9251]

@@devannyblanco3309 Yes absolutely! Henry was over 6ft tall and contemporaries note that he resembled his grandfather Edward IV. In his prime he was very athletic! He loved jousting, hunting, Royal tennis and archery. He was musical and loved philosophy and enjoyed talking with his humanist friends like Thomas More. He was supposedly very charming though that deadly, swift cruel Tudor streak was ever present in him through out his reign! In the late 1520's/early 1530's he had a series of jousting accidents, the worst of all was when a lance struck him directly in the face and splinters pierced his legs, he laid unconscious for over an hour! I've read that from this point onwards historians believe that the pleasant, charming king began to deteriorate into the tyrant known to us all!

[@preciousfox4740]

So I imagine in those times, when the king laughed, everybody else had to too

[@JaythePandaren]

Henry was the big cheese of the day. To not laugh at the Kings jokes would of angered him. Like how the people in NK had to cry at their leaders funeral or risk a fate worse then death

[@elizabethtudorstuff]

this scene is so silly i'm sorry but I cannot stop giggling maniacally!

[@Theseus9-cl7ol]

Charles Laughton was a really good actor, I love his role as King Henry VIII here. He was married to the beautiful Else Lancaster (Bride of Frankenstein).

[@Krzyszczynski]

Lanchester.

[@stevedyer6252]

Hilarious....anyone notice that the first time he tossed the capon behind him, he hits the guard in the nuts

[@LandondeeL]

Quite ironic, when one realizes what a capon is.

[@gazebo46]

I love how Henry 8 eats with so much gusto!

[@robertcorbell1006]

It's good to see an accurate portrayal of the way I down rotisserie chicken from the Walmart butcher's section and at Medieval Times.

[@henrylechmere5042]

I love the acting

[@amandac9894]

Charles Laughton has the same piggy eyes and moon face of Henry viii - goodness could it be that he in fact reincarnated 😂

[@shanemanchester]

For those that haven’t seen it, Laughton is brilliant in the 1954 film HOBSON’S CHOICE. 👍👍

[@blipblip88]

Yes!

[@adam28xx]

@@blipblip88 ... Here he is in the 'Moon in the Puddle' scene in "Hobson's Choice" ... kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5ishHiVlsmMac0

[@shanemanchester]

adam28xx 😀😀 Mint clip, great at playing a drunkard. 👍👍

[@linniem5982]

Henry VIII did not act like this. He was well educated and sat rather quietly at the dinner table. His bad deeds were carried out by othets.

[@_strayfer_]

He sent two of his wives to be decapitated 💀

[@SealDude]

he looks so happy..

[@kentmere100]

laughton is a genius

[@syedrizvi3201]

the great and the late charlie

[@rachelring2542]

I wonder how many times he had to do the scene?😍

[@tasteful_trash4773]

I wish I was alive then to get the part as king Henry so I could eat the delicious food

[@charlesthe5th744]

Ah, my friend over there who has a soft spot for food.

[@susanwebber9247]

Well, it' patently obvious that some people making remarks on here have no idea about real history or Henry VIII eating habits

[@carvinlambert6899]

Ever worked a Drive Thru window, and People like this pull up ? 😨

[@terrancebigham6765]

This film first put Korda and his London Films on the map. And Henry really did write the music and words of "What Shall I Do For Love", and quite a few other songs!

[@srothbardt]

His behavior shows that not much has changed. I think Sam Johnson said the thing about hope vs experience.

[@Samuel-vw4yv]

He did a very good job

[@thedativecase9733]

I remember seeing the chicken eating scene on a film programme when I was a child and I really believed that was how they ate in those days - chucking the bones over their shoulders. I was quite disappointed when I found out they didn't.It was just a bit of artistic licence by Alexander Korda. Charles Laughton even looks like Henry VIII - it's amazing. It's a shame the BBC doesn't have those programmes examining old black and whit films I picked up half of my extensive knowledge of film history from watching this stuff on BBC 2 as a child.

[@robbiewalker2831]

TheDativeCase I’m guessing Alexander and Charles did that to showcase how Henry VIII would behave in those days. You have to admit, the King was a pig, both sexually and literally.

[@Capricosm]

The artistic Director of this film was Philip Lindsay who was an historian.

[@bingola45]

@@robbiewalker2831 He certainly wasn't a pig LITERALLY!

[@josephforbes7911]

He’s Nero reincarnated.

[@downhilltwofour0082]

I hope there weren't too many takes on this scene! Burp.

[@timecrashv5wu709]

the actor is lucky

[@surfstrat59]

I love LAUGHTON...🐼

[@SealDude]

maybe. maybe not. we'll never know for sure. we can only assume he liked to eat.

[@robertnahum5823]

SealDude Trust me, they ate like "pigs" compared by today's standards. Their table manner was boorish at best.

[@chrisgibson4248]

I could see Tom Hardy playing this role

[@A-R-17]

What people don't realise is that back in those days kings and queens would never had eaten like that because they had no teeth, in Tudor times only the rich could afford luxury things like sugar and didn't have the luxury of toothpaste and mouthwash, so by the time they would be in their late teens/early twenties their teeth would have rotted away. The meat would be more served like a stew or a pie (braised and seared) so that it would have been much easier for the courtiers and the royal family to chew on.

[@wnie9552]

But I think that if they had good teeth Henry would totally eat like this (sorry for myvas English I'm from Brazil)

[@JaythePandaren]

Let's not forget that there was no cure for tooth pains as well...and no athestic to help you while they removed the teeth...

[@robertcorbell1006]

@@JaythePandaren Clove oil and opium were used by Greek and Roman physicians up through that very period. The wealthy would have had access.

[@Bouchedag89]

Cromwell totally looks like Dr Silberman from the Terminator movies lol

[@lisesmith5057]

I want to eat lots of chicken

[@seraphik]

amazing how period movies from nearly a hundred years ago actually don't look that much different from those from today. i mean i get it, they're obviously replicating the same unchanging costumes and interior decoration. still, it's a little jarring!

[@bobweiram6321]

I remember a scene where Henry throws the pieces of chicken over his shoulders and the paupers outside fight over it. I don't know id it is the same movie.

[@wheelie642]

If we look at this openly his food was considered a feast and only he was allowed to partake. Yet today, even our poor have Access to EVERYTHING and our youth are so spoiled that transgender issues are on their forefront. And now everybody has access to so many spices!!!!

[@JaythePandaren]

Well there was according to history , king Charles the 2nd apparently ate in front of his common subjects on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I'm not sure did the rest go to the poor watching, but it was implied that the poor did often robbed food from the kings table and ran for it.

[@bobweiram6321]

@@JaythePandaren Antiestablishment folks often wonder why a revolt hasn't happened yet given the massive growth in inequality. What they don't realize is the power of food. So long as the poor are well fed, there's not enough impetus to revolt. Take away their food, however, you'll unleash a massive revolt. Nothing, and I mean nothing, will get people up off their asses like hunger.

[@sharonfranceshumphrey3965]

I felt sorry for that guard standing perfectly still behind him as Henry tossed his chicken bones - kept thinking one would hit the guard, but bless him, he remained STOIC.

[@youfallinfire6959]

king henry shouldve have got his manner.

[@nudnikjeff]

He WAS Henry. Talk about inhabiting a character.

[@lizettec]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 this vid eo never fails to make. My laugh!👏👏👏👏👏👏🐔🐔🐔🐔

[@cyndierella1781]

was that really how king henry viii ate?! amazing..

[@mollyocallaghan5065]

No, Henry was a Renaissnce prince (not in personality but in manners) and he would have prided himself on his impeccable manners. He DID have a Royal upbringing

[@dramaking9559]

I hope there's an outtakes where a peice of chicken thatvwas thrown just hits a guard. Many moments in the video that gaurd almost got hit

[@yourlocalbluntfriend4136]

In the first few seconds of him eating, you can see one piece hit a guards chest.

[@amandac9894]

Is it true that courtiers had to monitor their eating so that they’d finish when Henry finished and last equally as long as he did?

[@user2144]

True. You waited 6 months for an answer. I thought I would oblige you, as no one else seemingly would.

[@scottloar]

People dining with Queen Victoria commonly ate before the dinner as protocol demanded the queen was first served then the others. She ate quickly and indifferently, so when she finished one course hers and all plates were removed for the next course. Once done the queen would abruptly retire, obliging all others to rise and do the same. Many of the diners had not enough time to get in more than a mouthful and so took care not to attend on an empty stomach.

[@blackoutninja]

This is actually really historically innacurate- Henry VIII was noted for his finnicky table manners

[@billymarino4452]

I've heard that too. Meals conducted back then were done with extreme formality, almost to the point of ritualism. And Henry the VIII usually ate alone; even his wives wouldn't typically join him at dinner. Perhaps public feasts like this did occur but it wasn't that often.

[@tevya017]

Spoil sport

[@reenadevinongmaithem8805]

He demolished the chikin?

[@TriCop]

1:10 I laughed way harder at than then I shouldve.

[@azazel166]

Were his table manners that bad?

[@adam28xx]

This was a largely fictional movie intended purely as entertainment for 1930s cinema audiences. It was not intended as a factual historical documentary, such as you might find among today's television programmes. I therefore suggest that viewers should simply enjoy Charles Laughton's Oscar-winning performance for what it was and not start wondering about whether or not he was being historically accurate. In fact, he was following the directions in the script which, as it happens, was published in book form at the time and which I have in my library.

[@madlove1581]

questionable - remember, comedy was essential in this film. it would have a total bore without it -

[@chloejohnson6861]

Probably not like that, I think it was played for comedy. But I think back in the 16th century, most people's table manners were pretty bad by our standards.

[@dkupke]

Nobility were obsessed with the idea of being poisoned, so Henry ate his meals alone with only a handful of his advisers present to talk affairs while he ate. His meals were laid out course by course.the food had to be cut by a specially trained carver and tasted for poison before he ate it.

[@veeseee128]

he was a big boy

[@mariamatonti3809]

He said Capon, that rings a bell, that's what kinda bird we would have 4 xmas dinner, 2 this day don't know what kinda bird that is

[@brianwright657]

+Maria Matonti It's not a kind of bird, it's what they do to the bird. I'll describe it with a comparison. A capon is to chicken what a calf is to veal.

[@mariamatonti3809]

+Brian Wright , hmm,but still a full grown chicken?, not like a calf? kept in the dark. As ours needed 2 feed 7

[@badchippo]

It's a castrated rooster.

It's a neutered young rooster.

[@robertcorbell1006]

@@badchippo Specifically, a rooster castrated before puberty the same way a steer is and for the same purpose: meat. Whole roosters and hens were almost entirely for breeding and egg production back then. You had to be of means to afford to keep and eat capon. For instance, Shakespeare raked in so much money as a playwright that one of his favorite foods was roast capon with pine nuts and clove. This would have been nothing for Henry VIII to down often. In fact, as any proper king of the period his favorite hobby was hunting and his real-life favorite meat was the venison he shot turned into savory pies.

[@beatricesanfilippo6925]

You just imagine that Henry VIII could be eat Chicken leg from KFC XD

[@Mark_nobody3]

0:27 Chicken smash

[@Lee2k4]

Is that gravy he is drinking?

[@jyothisgopal6238]

I think its ale

[@FatherDinny]

@Simon McCreath Ahhhh my favourite drinking buddy, let’s get some Mead

[@bandicoot5412]

Great!

[@hanscheong2676]

he used to be handsome though..

[@jbarry39]

Classic.

[@frankconti7529]

Imagine if Skeksis would behave like henry vill!

[@TrentonHand]

is that caseoh

[@shiromi_emoji_cat_2012]

No it's Medieval Caseoh

[@QuentinUK]

exaggerated Henry VIII-like rending and chewing motions

[@mackbolin3861]

What ever you do don't by the ones from Walmart. They really bust up when hit it!

[@Capricosm]

The artistic Director of this film was Philip Lindsay , who was an historian and authority on King Henry.

[@Zooumberg]

He mentions Cromwell. Henry died in 1547 and Cromwell was born 1599. Strange altering of history.

[@philiphughes8224]

@@Zooumberg Referring to Thomas Cromwell (Henry's chief minister) as opposed to Oliver Cromwell (Parliamentarian Roundhead)

[@bingola45]

@@Zooumberg Cromwell is played by Franklin Dyall. He's sitting on Henry's left...

[@yugiatemmoto9789]

What did he pour on his chicken

[@shevdiam5]

Yugi Atem Moto looks to me like wine or maybe gravy.

[@passionfruitfruit]

Yugi Atem Moto His wine.

[@gheorghebot2225]

Henry un animal

[@Ellen24493]

Man in the restaurant scene in Monty Python

[@Jayhawkboyfan]

What was Henry poaring onto the chicken?

[@tasteful_trash4773]

Probably some kind of sauce and I don’t think it was chicken I feel like it was a young pheasant

[@JaythePandaren]

@@tasteful_trash4773 Well it can't be sauce since he was drinking from it. Possiblity wine. Funny thing though was king Henry was never this sloppy or vicious with food. he ate with fine manners and any waste went to the poor or to the lower ranking members of the court. And he often ate in private with his favorite courtiers and servants.

[@tasteful_trash4773]

J.J.McCarthy oh cool didn’t know that

[@JaythePandaren]

@@tasteful_trash4773 it's grand! Don't get me wrong it's a good movie but how he ate wasn't like that at all though he ate allot sure but everything back in the 1500s was all Beautiful. The houses were lovely even the poor lived in lovely houses, the music was Devine and clothes were important. Even the poor were picky over their clothes. I mean there is so much splender then the dirty out look we see on TV

[@tasteful_trash4773]

J.J.McCarthy true

[@Jungleland33]

Did they have plates then? I thought they ate off of bread.

[@Capricosm]

Plates were hand made back then. Not every one could afford them.

[@slipper409]

You are ignorant.

[@robertcorbell1006]

Trenchers (flatbread or the undersides of bread loaves made and used specifically for serving meat dishes on) were a thing for the back-then equivalent of the middle-class. Merchants, freeborn farmers such as yeomen and gentlemen, town aldermen, high-level guild members, knights, and low-level nobility such as baronets and barons up to poorer lords. Higher nobility and royalty would have well-crafted plates while the lowliest peasants either used wooden bowls that were often shared or even ate directly from the cookware. During feasts, those under the rank of earl would eat simpler dishes from trenchers while those above ate the finest foods from plates. It was gluttonous to eat the bread after you were done with the food on top (rolls and other baked goods would be served with your meal, anyway), with it being specifically distributed to beggars after the feast.

[@henrylechmere5042]

He could at least have some manners.

[@terrywestbrook-lienert2296]

Henry Lechmere Back in the day, *those were manners!*

[@nudnikjeff]

Manners? BAH! I am the KING and I'll do whatever I want to.

[@ZemArte]

Riqueza e falta de civilidade...é uma grande piada....

[@Bailey2006a]

I thought Artie Lange was dead... lol

[@gregoryalberts2503]

Is it true that Henry the Eighth had a toilet cut out on the throne?

[@ATMAnubis]

😋🍗🍗🍗

[@elbaestridge6503]

Any Vegan there?

[@Thedoctor-db9yt]

He was eating too much I told him to calm down on the eating food he didn't listen .

[@danwroy]

The dog ate the bones and, well, today that dog is dead

[@mickshaw555]

Why wasn't he knighted?

[@brianwright657]

+mickshaw555 He likely was offered the title of Sir. However, many celebrities turn it down. While the title is prestigious, accepting the title means paying for it... literally. By a celebrity accepting the title of Sir or Dame, they will end up paying even more in taxes to the British government... hence the reason some celebrities turn it down.

[@TheMarcinhamcm]

Que nojo! Mas o cara tá incrível.

[@pvtrichter8816]

in a very late response to Cyndie rella we''ll never know for certain but he was certainly a man of big appetites in every sense hence the six wives and the way he eats but what gusto ; gives added meaning to'' chewing the scenery!'' how many British school boys do you think pissed off their parents imitating this!??

[@bingola45]

In a very late response to pvtrichter88 : I did!

[@pvtrichter8816]

@@bingola45 AH-HA ! i'm glad you responded better late than never ! be safe over there CHEERS mate!

[@alvinhadiyanto7326]

Kim jong un eating scene

[@SpinningbacKFisT]

Was he really this obnoxious? Poor table manners for royalty.

[@adam28xx]

It's a movie, not a documentary, so obviously the script writers can use any dramatic or comedic licence they wish, purely for entertainment reasons. Charles Laughton certainly made the most of it and deservedly won an Oscar for his performance.

[@SpinningbacKFisT]

@@adam28xx hey thanks so much for that informative reply. Very kind. I appreciate it.

[@HolyInquisition]

Certainly not. There was strict etiquette for eating.

[@SpinningbacKFisT]

@@HolyInquisition hey thanks 🙏

[@JaythePandaren]

King Henry's table manners were very strict and were treated as such. Even as he ate was a ritual. And he never really dined around people. He would eat in private sarrounded by his favourites and ate the best of the best.

[@DeE-pt5lz]

he should have been a Vegan

[@Annais1211]

De E He has been for several years in this current life.

[@YortOK]

Vegetarian, not vegan. But I do sometimes need to cut back on dairy for cholesterol reasons.

[@pangeo1259]

oooooover acting and not so high level...

[@MariaM-sl6cm]

That was the point. Laughton was a brilliant actor with a sense of comedic timing. 🙂

[@si.1317]

Ignorant.

[@pangeo1259]

@@si.1317 ...said the cinema expert

[@si.1317]

@@pangeo1259 like u?😆

[@pangeo1259]

@@si.1317 like you of cource but with totaly lack of humor my dear fellow🙃

[@markherron1407]

Congratulations on your 580th milestone and King 👑 Henry VIII IS BLACK 🖤 Blessings and Hugs 💖💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕!

[@Steve-wf3vv]

Henry the 8th in this portrayal could easily represent the Democratic Party.

[@landedstranded]

Go away

[@turtleruski1915]

As a conservative, go away.

[@sharonfranceshumphrey3965]

@@landedstranded Get so sick of hearing every KIND of comment applied to politics on-line. Give us a break. Intended to reply to "Steve" Sorry Ruth Smithers.

[@azazel166]

You're comparing a monarch to a political party that couldn't even exist back then.