Glenda Jackson, Ronald Hines, Robert Hardy, Vivian Pickles
5/5A tour de force!
It may not be for everyone, but 'Elizabeth R' is still my favorite Elizabethan costume film...ever. At over 9 hours in length and spanning nearly 60 years, this series is unbelievable for the scope of its production and story-telling.
Granted production values have changed significantly in the last 30 years, and the series can come across as somewhat stage-like and contrived.
Still, dramatizing the major events of the reign of Elizabeth I is no small task, and each episode has been meticulously researched; drawing much of the dialogue from period sources (letters, speeches, etc)...So while the overall series may feel a tad theatrical it retains a sense of realism and integrity that many of the more modern versions lack.
I saw this series for the first time several years ago, and to be honest it took me while to get into it. Unfortunately the first episode, 'Lion's Cub', is also the weakest. At 35 Jackson is less than believable as the 14 year old Elizabeth, and consequently spends a good deal of the episode either gasping or giggling.
This is the only point in the series when I was really put off Jackson’s interpretation of historical events.
For example, When Cecil brings Elizabeth Queen Mary's Ring of State and declares her the new Queen, Elizabeth throws her hat in the air and shouts "This is the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes!" And then the giggling...
(This is a verse from the Psalms, which Elizabeth quoted in Latin...I very much doubt that she would have been so flippant while quoting from the Bible.)
Still, I'm glad the series begins a good deal earlier than most. For dramatic reasons most films start off with the events of 1554, when Elizabeth (aged 21) is imprisoned in the Tower and her life very much in danger.
Riveting stuff to be sure, but by starting in 1549 with the alleged affair with Thomas Seymour we learn a great deal more about Elizabeth's character: Her ability to adapt and to survive in the ever-changing world of Tudor politics.
Once Elizabeth begins to mature (both physically and as a statesman) Jackson is really in her element and the series becomes truly captivating...though it lacks the usual 'sex and swordplay' of most modern Elizabethan dramas.
For this reason I'll admit that the film may have the most appeal to the staunch lovers of history or to costume aficionados.
For the more casual viewer I recommend HBO's recent production of 'Elizabeth I.'
(Though in my opinion, while an excellent series, it still pales in comparison to the far superior 'Elizabeth R').
Either way, this series is defiantly worth seeing...but get through the first episode before you make any judgments. The film is an absolute must for fans of period movies in general, and Elizabethan films in particular.
It's the be all and end all: informative, entertaining, and very re-watchable.
DVD Worthy? Most Definitely.
Extras: Quite a few. There's a great historical commentary that runs over each episode which is very interesting and worth checking out. Plus a costume photo gallery, and a few interviews with historians and Glenda Jackson (in which she mostly discusses being an MP and how much she dislikes Margaret Thatcher). There's also a chinchy documentary/biography of Elizabeth I, which is pretty darn awful.
Costumes: Oh the costumes! Buy the DVD for the costumes alone...they are absolutely fantastic!
Elizabeth wears some truly stunning gowns, many of which are based on famous portraits of the Queen, most notably the Darnley, Armada, and Ditchley Portraits.
Some of the fabrics look a bit odd under the lights (a little too colourful, a little too shiny) but it's a small complaint considering the scope of the costuming...between the changing fashions and the extras, no other film has come close to the quality of this production.
It's wonderful to see the changing silhouettes, on both the men and the women as the series progresses.
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Costumes In Detail
*Additional Screen-Captures & Production Photos*
Costumes In Detail
*Additional Screen-Captures & Production Photos*
Elizabeth's Red Tudor Gown
Elizabeth's White Tudor Gown with Ermine
Elizabeth's Purple Gown & Black Fur Surcoat
Elizabeth's Gold Gown
Elizabeth's Pink Surcoat
Elizabeth's Green Surcoat & Gown
Elizabeth's Cream & Gold Italian Gown
Elizabeth's White & Blue Gown
Elizabeth's Black Gown (Sieve Portrait)
Elizabeth's Back, White & Gold Gown (Pheonix Portrait)
Elizabeth's White & Gold Gown (Darnley Portrait)
Elizabeth's Black Gown & Embroidered Sleeves (Fan Portrait)
Elizabeth's Red Gown
Elizabeth's Black & Gold Gown with Large Lace Ruff (Armada Portrait)
Elizabeth's Tilbury Gown
Elizabeth's Beige & Gold Gown
Elizabeth's Silver Gown
Elizabeth's White Gown (Ditchly Portrait)
Elizabeth's Other Gowns
Queen Mary I's Coronation Gown
Queen Mary I's Other Gowns
Mary Queen of Scots' Black Gown & Veil
Mary Queen of Scots' Other Gowns
Mary Sidney's Red Gown
Other Gowns and Outfits
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19 comments:
A lot of the pictures aren't showing up for me. :( Maybe my browser's just having hiccups, though.
I certainly haven't studied Elizabeth, but I know a decent amount about Bible history. Isn't it possible that Elizabeth would've had access to an English Bible? Tyndale had been working on one as far back as the 1300s, I think. And I though Elizabeth was pretty widely read and very well educated. Just wondering. :D
Hey Nuranar!
Are the photos not showing up on the page, or do you get error messages when you click on them?
I just switched over to Blogger-Beta...so it's possible some of the files were corrupted in the move.
Which group of photos are you having trouble with?
As to the Bible, certainly Elizabeth would have had access to the Bible in English for most of her life (except for the period of her sister Mary’s reign).
I think it was Wycliffe who was translating the Bible in the 1300s, Tyndale was writing his version from about 1520 to his death in the 1530s.
The Great Bible, the first authorized English Bible, was published in 1539 and commissioned by Henry VIII.
Edward VI had commissioned the English Prayer book and the official King James Bible would appear in 1611 (heavily influenced by Tyndale), only 8 years after Elizabeth's death...
During her reign Elizabeth authorized the printing of the Bishop’s Bible (which replaced the Great Bible) in 1568.
If you're referring to the quote from the Psalms, I can only say that contemporary sources seem to indicate she quoted it in Latin (which she would have been fluent in…perhaps for solemnity’s sake).
But yah...it seems wierd to me too..
Whoops, they're all up now! I guess it was just the browswer. *blush*
And duh! of course Wycliffe! It's been a while since I studied this, obviously. Good point about contemporary sources - that's exactly what I was wondering. Is there any adaptation of her life which does have the verse quoted in Latin?
And I agree that quoting it flippantly is out of place, no matter what the language. It doesn't suit the occasion, and it doesn't suit the material.
It may have been that the pictures hadn't all been transferred over to the new server yet...
But as far as I know there aren't any film versions with the Latin quote.
'Elizabeth R' being the most historically based would have been the one (if any) to use the 'original' quote. So I was really disappointed that the whole scene was handled poorly in general.
But the rest of the series is really really good.
But a quick note on Wycliffe, Tyndale et al...
If you're interested in Bible history, or history in general I highly recommend 'The Adventure of English' by Melvyn Bragg. It was made into a Mini Series in 2002 (unfortunately not available on DVD...at least not in North America) but you can get the Audio book at Audible.com.
It's a wonderful look at how the English language evolved...much of the structure coming from the early written forms of the English Bibles.
You can by the book...but it’s much better to listen too (to get a real sense of how the language has changed).
Well, I'm glad if that's the only bobble of the series. Better than having lots of tiny little problems, I think. And I'm thrilled to see the pictures. Isn't it funny how the lighting style can date a film so exactly?
Thanks for the other recommendation, too. Bible history is really fascinating!
Hi!!!! I'm a really reinassance history's (especially Elizabethan and Tudor's) lover, so you haven't idea of how you make me happy with your hard work!!!!Thank you very much!!! In fact just now I'm warking to a comic based on Elizabeth I's life, in particular, before she became queen, when she was still a princess, and this is very useful for me. So I only wanted to thank you again. ^_^
Bye bye!!
Fiammetta (and sorry for my English!! I don't now if It's correct ^_^")
Designed by the legendary Janet Arnold
No, she didn't.
Jean Hunnisett, who, as you may know, is a costume thespian well compareable to Mrs. Arnold, designed and made the costumes. However, Mrs. Arnold, willing to help her friend Jean out when she ran out of time for some accessoires, made two ruffs for Elizabeth R. Janet Arnold is not mentioned in the credits for that work, though; but Jean Hunnisett is as the costume designer. She can also be seen in some of the costume stills on the DVD.
You could be interested in reading my essay on the 'Phoenix' gown from this series, which I was allowed to study at the Museum of London. You can find my page about it here:
http://www.naergilien.info/research/london1/Phoenix/index.htm
- feel free to link to it if you want to :-)
Hi Sabine,
Thanks for the correction! I'll have to amend that.
I don't remember where I got that information from, but I must have seen her name associated with the production and got things messed up in my head.
(I thought it was Imbd, but now they only mention Elizabeth Waller as the designer).
I guess I probably should have just watched the cedits...
EDIT: Okay, right, I did see it on Imbd, but it was in the comments section, where someone must have confused Arnold and Hunnisett.
I LOVE Elizabeth R I have it & I'm addicted!!!
The costumes are AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wish they had showed more of the Black gown with the sparkling sleeves (same dress on the cover)
Fantastic screen caps. Thanks for creating and posting them.
Um - just a slight comment. Elizabeth Waller was credited as the Costume Designer on this series. Jean Hunnisett did the work.
Hi Jen, Considering how long this dvd has been available(and the age of the series anyway) I am ashamed to admit that I have only just bought it and watched it. Tut tut! and I am supposed to be an avid Elizabeth 1 fan too. But.... WOW! I was very impressed and yet again, your review has hit the nail on the head- a well deserved 5/5.
Of course it was typical of it's time, being all stagey and theatrical, with all that shouting when they speak, as if entertaining a live audience, but it's merits outweigh it's minor faults. It is probably a 'love it or hate it' job, and a modern audience brought up on Cate Blanchett's version of Elizabeth would probably be put off by the contrived look. Casual viewers usually want something easier on the eye and the mind, and want plenty of visual effects, not too many characters to complicate things, nice costumes (not too worried if they're accurate or not), a bit of love interest and not be overdosed on the politics of the time. If this is what you want then Elizabeth R is not for you.
If you were really pulled in by David Starkey's beginners guide to the life and times of Elizabeth 1 and you want to know more IN DETAIL then watch Elizabeth R. So what if it is a bit 'dated' and theatrical, this is what makes the realism mark it out way above the others. Unfortunately, many other retellings of Elizabeth's life sacrifice the facts for the visual effects.
My only criticism is that the first episode was a bit bizarre, with Elizabeth's flashback's to the Seymour affair with the effect of seeing it through her eyes (hand-held camera-ish) and all that giggling too. I agree with you about the scene where she receives the news that she is queen. In view of the fact that Glenda Jackson made her portrayal of Elizabeth an art form and was perfectly capable of pulling any scene off to perfection whatever emotion was required, I am surprised that this scene was such a let-down. Also, episode one can be confusing for the novice viewer who is desperately trying to grasp the events of the time, for it was hurried and there were so many different characters breezing in and out, incidentlly all looking exactely the same as one another ( ie: beards, clothes etc), and some appeared unannounced, so that even I found myself bemused at times, thinking 'who on earth is this now?'
To be honest, once you have managed to get through the first episode, things seem to settle down, as Elizabeth's little 'family unit' of advisors and ladies stay reasonably consistent (just as she liked it) and are pretty much part of the furniture with the exception of the odd new suitor, foreign ambassador, or death of a much-loved servant to rock the boat a bit.
Overall I loved it and if you want in-depth politics,accurate dialogue, speeches, conversations, not to mention unbelievably authentic costumes, then this is for you!
My favourite episode was Mary Stuart's conspiracies against Elizabeth. Like most of the other episodes, I admired the way this drama tended to concentrate on one particular subject and devoted the whole of the episode to it, rather than the usual hodge-podge habit of flitting from one subject matter to another, which has no particular relevance, and time-wise is completely wrong.
This episode demonstrated Mary's side of things and it was interesting to see the hostile dynamics of her relationship with Amyes Paulet, her gaoler.
The execution scene was unexpectedly shocking, without the dramatic background music and usual slow motion stuff going on(as in The Golden Age). The complete silence throughout this scene and the attention to detail was effective, although it did omit Mary's battle of will against the Protestant rambling of the Dean of Peterborough with her own Latin prayer. And the close-up of the headless corpse - hmmm, was'nt expecting that for a drama of the 70's. Now of course it's quite tame (especially compared to the blood and gore of Helen Mirren's Elizabeth 1)
For example, When Cecil brings Elizabeth Queen Mary's Ring of State and declares her the new Queen, Elizabeth throws her hat in the air and shouts "This is the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes!" And then the giggling...
It's one of my favorite moments in the entire series. I loved how Jackson expressed Elizabeth's emotions of that moment, behind the words.
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