This film is a fictional retelling of actual British historical events. Get that, fiction.
Many reviewers seem to forget that fact in their protestations (pardon the pun) about this film.
There are many other facets that I found of interest and deserve revaluation of the film.
1) The music score of John Barry, the composer behind many James Bond films pre-1987 delivers the goods with this score perfectly capturing the atmosphere of the period and the country's involved (England, Scotland and France).
2) The location photography perfectly captures the historical period and actual locations. I am talking about the Northumberland coast and Alnwick and Bamburgh Castles.
3) The performances of the cast. Vanessa Redgrave as Mary. Glenda Jackson as Elizabeth the first and an array of supporting acting talent such as Patrick McGoohan and a young, blonde Timothy Dalton.
There are a couple of historical inaccuracies I keep reading but they don't spoil the film rather added as artistic effect.
I am intrigued if the real monarchs shown were as interesting as the Redgrave and Jackson characters?
As a footnote I have to mention Timothy Dalton as a young English Lord (Darnley) who marries Mary and is depicted as a bisexual, blonde and is eventually brutally murdered. To think he appeared in this film 15 years or so before being cast as action hero James Bond.
The film has been lensed again but this version deserves greater praise than it gets.
Many reviewers seem to forget that fact in their protestations (pardon the pun) about this film.
There are many other facets that I found of interest and deserve revaluation of the film.
1) The music score of John Barry, the composer behind many James Bond films pre-1987 delivers the goods with this score perfectly capturing the atmosphere of the period and the country's involved (England, Scotland and France).
2) The location photography perfectly captures the historical period and actual locations. I am talking about the Northumberland coast and Alnwick and Bamburgh Castles.
3) The performances of the cast. Vanessa Redgrave as Mary. Glenda Jackson as Elizabeth the first and an array of supporting acting talent such as Patrick McGoohan and a young, blonde Timothy Dalton.
There are a couple of historical inaccuracies I keep reading but they don't spoil the film rather added as artistic effect.
I am intrigued if the real monarchs shown were as interesting as the Redgrave and Jackson characters?
As a footnote I have to mention Timothy Dalton as a young English Lord (Darnley) who marries Mary and is depicted as a bisexual, blonde and is eventually brutally murdered. To think he appeared in this film 15 years or so before being cast as action hero James Bond.
The film has been lensed again but this version deserves greater praise than it gets.