Warner Brothers went all out on this opulent production of "The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex," a 1939 film starring Bette Davis, Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Donald Crisp, Nanette Fabray, Alan Hale, Vincent Price, and Henry Daniell. The film is the story of the volatile love affair between Elizabeth and the Earl of Essex and how court politics and ambition thwarted it.
Other reviewers have talked about the behind the scenes aspects. I personally believe that Davis planned on being the only "star" on the premises, and this is a primary reason she didn't want Flynn. At this point, his contract stated that his character had to be named or referred to in the film's title. I'm sure for a woman as professional as Davis, working with the flamboyant Flynn was a nightmare, but I also believe there was a little more to it than that. He could make demands on Warner, too. In wanting Laurence Olivier, she was certainly correct - he would have been magnificent and the film's stature over the years would have grown as it would have seemed less like a Warner Brothers Production with the usual suspects. The fact is, at the time, he wasn't a star yet, which I think played into Davis' plans very well.
Davis is criticized for being over the top; I think she's excellent, playing both a vulnerable older woman and a great queen with emotion and dignity. She's a little mannered, as she always was, but that's what makes her Bette Davis. Her tenderness with the de Havilland and Fabray characters also shows another side to Elizabeth. It is a wonderful portrait of a woman torn between love and duty. It probably was a role she felt close to - she was not considered any great beauty by Hollywood standards, and like many celebrities, she walked the line between her personal and professional life and it often zig-zagged.
One can certainly see how Elizabeth would have been in love with the Essex of Errol Flynn. He was at the peak of his looks in this film - and he wasn't there long due to his lifestyle, so this is to be appreciated. It's not an in-depth portrayal, but he has the romantic fervor and the charm necessary, not to mention a beautiful speaking voice. The romance does come off as an odd one. Possibly with a deeper performance, one could have understood more readily what attracted Essex to the Queen. Here, Flynn as Essex seems too superficial to have really appreciated her.
Olivia de Havilland has a small role given her own stardom - as suggested, this was perhaps Warner's way of humbling her after "Gone with the Wind." He might also have wanted to keep her working since she was under contract. Nevertheless, she is very beautiful and gives a sincere performance. The rest of the cast is top-notch, with veterans like Crisp, Daniell, Price and Hale.
"The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex" is a gorgeous film to look at. The costumes are glorious and the color, muted by today's standards, looks great. It's a good movie - but I would like to see a film of Davis, Flynn, Jack Warner and director Curtiz when they thought the cameras weren't rolling.
Other reviewers have talked about the behind the scenes aspects. I personally believe that Davis planned on being the only "star" on the premises, and this is a primary reason she didn't want Flynn. At this point, his contract stated that his character had to be named or referred to in the film's title. I'm sure for a woman as professional as Davis, working with the flamboyant Flynn was a nightmare, but I also believe there was a little more to it than that. He could make demands on Warner, too. In wanting Laurence Olivier, she was certainly correct - he would have been magnificent and the film's stature over the years would have grown as it would have seemed less like a Warner Brothers Production with the usual suspects. The fact is, at the time, he wasn't a star yet, which I think played into Davis' plans very well.
Davis is criticized for being over the top; I think she's excellent, playing both a vulnerable older woman and a great queen with emotion and dignity. She's a little mannered, as she always was, but that's what makes her Bette Davis. Her tenderness with the de Havilland and Fabray characters also shows another side to Elizabeth. It is a wonderful portrait of a woman torn between love and duty. It probably was a role she felt close to - she was not considered any great beauty by Hollywood standards, and like many celebrities, she walked the line between her personal and professional life and it often zig-zagged.
One can certainly see how Elizabeth would have been in love with the Essex of Errol Flynn. He was at the peak of his looks in this film - and he wasn't there long due to his lifestyle, so this is to be appreciated. It's not an in-depth portrayal, but he has the romantic fervor and the charm necessary, not to mention a beautiful speaking voice. The romance does come off as an odd one. Possibly with a deeper performance, one could have understood more readily what attracted Essex to the Queen. Here, Flynn as Essex seems too superficial to have really appreciated her.
Olivia de Havilland has a small role given her own stardom - as suggested, this was perhaps Warner's way of humbling her after "Gone with the Wind." He might also have wanted to keep her working since she was under contract. Nevertheless, she is very beautiful and gives a sincere performance. The rest of the cast is top-notch, with veterans like Crisp, Daniell, Price and Hale.
"The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex" is a gorgeous film to look at. The costumes are glorious and the color, muted by today's standards, looks great. It's a good movie - but I would like to see a film of Davis, Flynn, Jack Warner and director Curtiz when they thought the cameras weren't rolling.