The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
by Michael Curtiz, Chuck Jones
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Alan Hale, Bette Davis, Donald Crisp, Errol Flynn, Olivia de HavillandDirector: Chuck Jones, Michael Curtiz
Brand: Warner Brothers
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); French (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dubbed, DVD-Video, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 106 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-04-19
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Movie Reviews of The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
Movie Review: 1939 Bette Davis' Professionalism Prevails Over Flynn's Personality
Summary: 5 Stars
I couldn't disagree more "epinions" critic's commentary. Here's why Davis' (1939) performance of a historically film favorite Queen, Elizabeth I, is one of her best. 1st, Davis was 31yo & portrays a much older HRH. 2nd, Davis contends with an extremely sexist & notoriously uncooperative leading 'man' personality who never claimed to be a great actor: 30yo arrogating, egotistical stud, Errol Flynn (who also never won a major acting award & received 2 "Sour Apple" slam-awards for "Least Cooperative Actor," of 1943 & 1948). That Flynn even completed this movie is a credit to Davis being professional enough to tolerate him. 3rd, while filming on the set, Flynn physically assaulted Davis knocking her to the ground; yet, during the movie she played the HRH as if she's having a blast with Essex. 4th, Davis changed her voice to a cockney accent as if effortlessly. 5th, Davis had already been nominated for 3 & won 2 Oscars before & close to the time she was playing this Queen. So, Davis delivers a performance that makes audiences believe she's madly in-love with a real jerk (but lovable one).
It's not evident in her voice, mannerisms, or famous turquoise eyes that Davis knows the man with whom she's playing lovers is only a well-known personality, not a great actor. To date, I've never seen any other act like Davis' where she's tremulously expressing the tension & emotion of an HRH. Mastery of her eating mannerism is the kind of detail Davis intended to project, for example. Flynn's hollowness must have been like watching a fly in ointment.
He doesn't have to act to be a shallow, dashing, politically stupid Essex! Utterly reliant upon what was considered being handsome to gain access to social status, like the Earl, Flynn too misunderstood with whom, power wise, he was dealing until the end. To Essex & Flynn, any woman is a body, an object, that will acquiesce to the charms & looks of a man; upon demand. Disgruntled competitors of the court, for Essex & Flynn, are jealous viers for the affections of Elizabeth, or rather, their object--a 'something' they possess because they can. Naive Essex is too busy womanizing to be wary of how treacherous Cecil & Raleigh are becoming; clueless too of Elizabeth's political wherewithall.
Credit is due a tight script that provides its characters space to speak from their passions. Davis' HRH is cunningly intelligent. This Queen lacks 1 loyal equal of an ally. She's surrounded by power-hungry swarms of leeches. Her iron will to represent living, breathing, ordinary people provides the impetus to avoid & prevent others from starting wars. Though her stealth rule is assailed by the court's men who underestimate the equal power of women, Elizabeth I uses that common error to command respect, admiration & profound public loyalty from ordinary people--the majority of whom are women.
The aging HRH consistently seeks out a companion of impartial counsel from her court of self-servicing advisors. Hers is a lonely reign without any equal which embodies impartial loyalty to England's masses. Penelope (de Havilland) might have been closer to the Queen had she not envied her so. Essex's foolish dismissal of her serves Penelope like rocket fuel to destroy their relationship. It's too late when Penelope turns loyal to the HRH.
Credit the script again for many intimate exchanges between the HRH & Earl. Through them the Queen learns what are the Earl's true ambitions. As the script would have it, Elizabeth I not only sought truth but also drew it out of people. That saving grace is why she reigned long & so well.
Summary of The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
Bette Davis and Errol Flynn made The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex fascinatingly public striking sparks in this lavish Technicolor tale of the ill-fated love between the aging Elizabeth I and the dashing Earl of Essex. Thoroughly unglamorous here - eyes and hairline shaved face painted chalky white - double Academy AwardO winner* Davis exudes such intelligence energy and ardor that her romance with the decades-younger Essex (Flynn at the peak of his remarkable good looks and athletic verve) is completely believable. Based on Maxwell Anderson's play Elizabeth the Queen and directed by Michael Curtiz this nominee for five OscarsO** takes liberties with historical accuracy but none with dramatic impact. Long may these tempestuous titled lovers reign!Running Time: 106 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre:?TELEVISION/CLASSIC UPC:?012569522824Action & Adventure DVD Video
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