On the throne of England sits Queen Elizabeth I, a woman
both loved and hated by many. But one man reigns supreme in his deepest love
for Elizabeth and hers for him: Robert Devereux, the Earl of Essex. He returns
from the war in Spain with a hollow victory and the fire is sparked between him
and Elizabeth. However, their love/hate relationship is doomed as ambition, a
stronger love for England, and conniving ladies of gentlemen of court seek to
destroy them.
This is a beautiful period drama that depicts one of the best and
most passionate doomed romances ever, sitting well within the company of Romeo
and Juliet, Captain Smith and Pocahontas, and Christian and Satine! Filled with
stunning achievements in costumes, sets, and performance, The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex is a wonderful romantic
tragedy that should be in any diehard romantic’s collection!
On the throne of
England sits Queen Elizabeth I, a woman both loved and hated by many. But one
man reigns supreme in his deepest love for Elizabeth and hers for him: Robert
Devereux, the Earl of Essex. He returns from the war in Spain with a hollow
victory and the fire is sparked between him and Elizabeth. However, their
love/hate relationship is doomed as ambition, a stronger love for England, and
conniving ladies of gentlemen of court seek to destroy them.
There is something
striking and irresistible about period dramas. As the cinema has progressed,
the style has become more authentic in certain areas, but the grandeur and the
glamour has never wavered. There are passionate performances, ambitious and
inspiring screenplays, and elegant direction that all culminates in something
that proves near impossible to turn away from.
The costumes in this movie are
absolutely stunning, especially those worn by Elizabeth! The ladies always look
so striking whereas the men can’t be taken seriously in those short pantaloons
and coloured stockings. Nevertheless what’s admirable is that they act past
them and the ridiculousness of their attire just becomes trivial and of no
importance.
As gorgeous and charming and romantic as Errol Flynn is in the role
of Essex, the show undoubtedly belongs to Bette Davis who stars as Elizabeth I.
Her performance is wondrously grandiose and passionate, you can feel her very
emotions radiating in ripples and waves from the screen! And she carries
herself like a real queen with fabulous use of her body!
The chemistry between
the two romantic leads is absolutely delicious, particularly when they start
fighting: it’s like Burton and Taylor as Kate and Petruchio all over again!
Bette Davis apparently absolutely detested Flynn when she did this movie with
him and there’s a scene where she gives Essex a slap and she apparently really
went for it and slapped him right and good with the big rings and everything.
The look of shock and anger on Errol’s face might not even be acted but very
close to the truth. Despite her detestation of him, according to story, Bette
Davis was watching this movie years and years later and spoke to Olivia de
Havilland and said of Errol, “he really was good wasn’t he?” So there you go, a
love/hate relationship mirroring that of their characters right up to the very end!
Starring Olivia de Havilland, Donald Crisp, Alan Hale, Vincent Price, Henry
Stephenson, Henry Daniell, James Stephenson, Nanette Favares, Ralph Forbes,
Robert Warwick, and Leo G. Carroll, The
Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex is a beautiful period piece filled
with romance, passion, drama, tragedy, ambition, power, and comedy. The
chemistry between the two romantic leads really makes it shine and the script
between the two of them is beautiful and grandiose and wholly romantic! I
absolutely adored this movie!
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