Elizabeth R
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Movie Reviews of Elizabeth R
Movie Review: Good Queen Bess
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a superb BBC miniseries, or "cycle of six plays", with extraordinary acting and most of all, a script that is a marvel, which uses original documents and the writings of Queen Elizabeth I as its source, making the story, so full of intrigue and drama, for the most part very accurate.
My favorites are the monologues, spoken with such power by Glenda Jackson, whose performance is a treasure. The cast that surrounds her is also wonderful, and often having a physical similarity to the historical character (with kudos to the make-up department).
There are so many reasons to buy this fantastic DVD package, which may seem expensive but is actually an excellent value. For historians this is a must, and anyone who appreciates great English theater will be delighted. The quality of the film is also exceptional, with an exceedingly clear picture and audio.
I bought it to prepare for a portrait of Queen Bess, and was enthralled by the detail of the costuming; what amazed me was how the fashion changed during the queen's forty-four year reign. It was a time rich with culture and style, with the emergence of Shakespeare and other great writers, and the queen loved clothes and jewelry, and surely set the trends.
The music by David Munro also adds to the atmosphere, and the sets have an authentic feel.
This is a brilliant production, and total running time is 540 minutes.
The DVD "extras" are terrific, are the entire content of the 4th disc, and should perhaps be viewed before the film, for full appreciation of the history. The "extras" are:
1: A lengthy interview with Glenda Jackson
2: An interview with historian Alison Weir
3: "Elizabeth I", an A&E documentary with commentary by various authors and historians, and marvelous imagery to illustrate it.
4, A: Glenda Jackson reads documents. B: Portrait Gallery (there is an error here, where the portrait of Robert Dudley is actually one of Sir Francis Drake). C: Historical Sites, including the queen's tomb, palaces, etc.
5: Behind the scenes, with a Who's Who of the cast.
Movie Review: Reliving History
Summary: 5 Stars
Elizabeth R is the third part in the BBC trilogy dealing with The Tudor royal dynasty of England, albeit the second that was filmed and transmitted. The story of Henry VII, the first Tudor King, came later. First broadcast in 1971, this six-part, nine-hour drama still remains one of the finest and most lavish costume dramas ever produced by any TV company in the world. The story follows on from the previous year's similar six-parter Henry VIII, and each epsiode deals with a particular aspect of Elizabeth's life from the time of her brother King Edward VI death, through to her own death. Double best actress Oscar winner Glenda Jackson is the definitve actress to play the role, and is surrounded by a stellar cast, including Robert Hardy, Robin Ellis, Peter Egan, Michael Williams, Angela Thorne and Vivian Pickles. The story is presented in a theatrical style, with very few film inserts, which somehow adds to the intensity of the piece. The picture quality and sound remain superb, depite the age of the material, and the extras on the fourth disc in the set are worth the price alone. Here, Ms. Jackson, who retired from acting upon her election to the British Parliament in 1992, gives a fascinating (although a little badly edited) interview on the role and her life since, alongside Tudor expert Allison Weir giving her thoughts on the historical aspects of the drama. Weir also provides a commentary soundtrack during the drama itself. Also included is A&E's biography of Elizabeth, and Jackson reading some of the Queen's more famous speeches. I would certainly recommend seeing the earlier Six Wives of Henry VIII before viewing this drama, simply for continuity sake and for getting the story in it's full perspective. Sadly, only a rather poor quality DVD of that series is available, but the VHS version has been around for over a decade. They certainly don't make dramas like this anymore, which is a great pity, but now it can be enjoyed over again on DVDMovie Review: Compelling viewing
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm English and I can vaguely remember this series on the BBC when I was a child. I've heard about it, how popular it was at the time, how it was shown all over Europe and made a star out of Glenda Jackson. I have an interest in the period and a fascination with Elizabeth I, who remains one of the best remembered and admired of all English rulers in England's long history. So, I bought this DVD, although no-one seemingly can tell me why this is available on DVD and VHS in the USA but only on VHS in England!
It was well worth importing. True, the limitations of 1970's BBC production values do irritate a bit at times, but the quality of the drama - the supremely intelligent dialogue, and above all Jackson's acting really make you forget this after a short time. The reason is of course is that this belongs to a tradition that we're not so used to seeing today - the theatrical. For this is a theatre production with a camera instead of a live audience, where the dialogue, and above all the acting are made to shine and where the background is essentially irrelevent. The costumes are, however, superlative.
I really can't praise this drama enough, it's completely spellbinding. The historical accuracy is excellent, but above anything else it's Glenda Jackson's performance which is the real standout here, and moreover once you read the historical accounts you realise how astonishingly accurate Jackson's performance is - she simply *is* Elizabeth. You cannot take your eyes off her when she's onscreen - her expression of face, eyes, her voice, they all convey a myriad of things all at once.
This really is essential viewing, not only as a marvellous drama but for Jackson's extraordinary portrait of this most extraordinary woman.
Movie Review: Can I give it 6 Stars?
Summary: 5 Stars
Elizabeth R, brings to the screen the story of Queen Elizabeth I, the woman responsible for transforming England into a major world power.
The setting is England in the 1550's, and King Edward rules the realm having succeeded his father King Henry VIII. Nevertheless, his health problems will lead to his untimely death and the ascension of Queen Mary to the throne in 1553, only to be followed by Queen Elizabeth in 1558; the rest is pretty much History...
Glenda Jackson, Ronald Hines, and the rest of the cast have truly outdone themselves with their performances, which are exceptional to say the least. All the actors, without exceptions, give it their 100% and it really shows (the chemistry is AMAZING)!
The clash between England and her adversaries (notably France and Spain) is as fascinating as the conflict between Protestantism and Catholicism.
In addition, the series does a GREAT job of presenting both the queen and the woman in Elizabeth.
The only setback is that Elizabeth R does not provide that much of a balanced examination; it is quite biased against Queen Mary (Elizabeth's half sister), and Mary, Queen of Scots (her cousin), both of whom are presented rather negatively.
The setting, the dialogues, the music and the costumes are all wonderful!
History, Politics, and Intrigue, are all about.
It is a BBC miniseries well worth watching, especially for those with a soft spot for History.
Movie Review: nothing else comes close
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a really fine series. I've watched it four or five times, and each time an interesting hidden nugget or two pops up. Jackson dominates the film like a titan. Her prowess is undeniable and unforgettable. She gets the importance of Elizabeth's fierce intellect, and it makes every moment spent with her transparent, heightened by using Elizabeth's own words and expression. I can't think of another portrayal of Elizabeth that comes close. The film conveys mediaeval court coarseness with confidence and beauty, and it pulses with Jackson's genius beginning to end. In the presence of her Elizabeth, you're pulled way beyond acting; a coruscating diversion, and one here recommended. Each episode's script surpasses the perfect one previous, one of the film's best features. Perennial BBC production values are front and center, and the cast is crackling. Robert Hardy takes an oddly unsettling turn as Dudley, but truth is, Glenda Jackson ignites and nothing else matters. It's a tour de force full of rewards. You'll find nothing else even registering in the region. Handsome kudos to BBC and the English theatre tradition, still unsurpassed. Check it out.