This period drama frames the tumultuous affair between Queen Elizabeth I and the man who would be King of England.

Queen Elizabeth

The Earl of Essex

Lady Penelope Gray

Francis Bacon

The Prince of Tyrone

Sir Walter Raleigh

Lord Burghley

Sir Robert Cecil

Sir Thomas Egerton

Mistress Margaret Radcliffe

Lord Knollys

Lord Mountjoy

Sir Edward Coke

Bit Part (uncredited)

Majordomo (uncredited)

Spectator Outside Whitehall Palace (uncredited)

Handmaiden (uncredited)

Capt. Armand of the Queen's Guard (uncredited)
Bette Davis; Errol Flynn some swash, buckle and a rousing Korngold score - what more could you want? This is a sumptuous costume drama based on the real life story of an elderly Queen Elizabeth's infatuation with the much younger and more reckless Earl of Essex. There is an engaging chemistry between them - though the script does rather drag at times; and the usual suspects in support - including Olivia de Havilland; Henry Stephenson, Henry Daniell & Donald Crisp keep the whole thing moving along nicely. This is also the first film in which I actually recall Vincent Price having a more substantial part in, too. Lots of theatrical licence taken with the actual turn of events, but hey - it is all good fun...
November 11, 1939

Queen Elizabeth

The Earl of Essex

Lady Penelope Gray

Francis Bacon

The Prince of Tyrone

Sir Walter Raleigh

Lord Burghley

Sir Robert Cecil

Sir Thomas Egerton

Mistress Margaret Radcliffe

Lord Knollys

Lord Mountjoy

Sir Edward Coke

Bit Part (uncredited)

Majordomo (uncredited)

Spectator Outside Whitehall Palace (uncredited)

Handmaiden (uncredited)

Capt. Armand of the Queen's Guard (uncredited)
Bette Davis; Errol Flynn some swash, buckle and a rousing Korngold score - what more could you want? This is a sumptuous costume drama based on the real life story of an elderly Queen Elizabeth's infatuation with the much younger and more reckless Earl of Essex. There is an engaging chemistry between them - though the script does rather drag at times; and the usual suspects in support - including Olivia de Havilland; Henry Stephenson, Henry Daniell & Donald Crisp keep the whole thing moving along nicely. This is also the first film in which I actually recall Vincent Price having a more substantial part in, too. Lots of theatrical licence taken with the actual turn of events, but hey - it is all good fun...
