Gunpowder, Treason & Plot (2004) (TV)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Gillies MacKinnon

Writer:

Jimmy McGovern (writer)

Release Date:

14 March 2004 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Mini series depicting the turbulent and bloody reigns of Scottish monarchs Mary, Queen of Scots and her son King James VI of Scotland who became King James I of England and foiled the Gunpowder Plot. |

Plot Keywords:

King | Gunpowder | Mary Queen Of Scots | England | Queen

Awards:

4 wins

Cast

Vulpe Adrian	...	Soldier
Carmen Ungureanu	...	Mary of Guise
Clémence Poésy	...	Mary, Queen of Scots
Tadeusz Pasternak	...	David Riccio
Maria Popistasu	...	Lady Marie
Catherine McCormack	...	Queen Elizabeth I
Steven Duffy	...	Lord James
Catalin Babliuc	...	Father Michael
Kevin McKidd	...	Bothwell
Emil Hostina	...	Bothwell's Lieutenant
Daniela Nardini	...	Lady Huntly
Radu Andrei Micu	...	Sir John Huntly
Iona Ruxandra Bratosin	...	Young Mary
Gary Lewis	...	John Knox
Garry Sweeney	...	Lord Gunn

Runtime:

205 min (3 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Bucharest, Romania

Company:

Raging Star Films

Quotes:

Bothwell: They know it was me. You must hang me, Mary.
Mary, Queen of Scots: What?
Bothwell: If you do not hang me, people will say we planned it together.
Mary, Queen of Scots: I cannot
Bothwell: You must Mary, for they will hang me anyway, they will hang me anyway!
Mary, Queen of Scots: I cannot!
Bothwell: Then you must marry me, for they will not hang the queen's husband.
[pause]
Bothwell: Marry me or hang me.
Mary, Queen of Scots: I'll marry you, I'll marry you.

Soundtrack:

Now is the Month of Maying

An Explosive Drama

Clemence Posey stars as the young and beautiful Mary, Queen of Scots in this thrilling tale of murder, deceit and religion. Upon the death of her mother the young Mary travels back to her homeland of Scotland from France after 13 years in exile. Discovering that her religion is considered evil Mary tries to allow Catholics and Protestants to worship in there own way unbeknown to her, her half brother Lord James is conspiring with Mary's rival, the Protestant Elizabeth 1st to plan Mary's downfall and replace her as King of Scotland.

When Mary marries the English, and powerful Lord Darnley, James begins to fear for his ambitions even more, when Mary becomes pregnant, and with the birth of her son, the future King James. Lord James realise his plans are destroyed.

With her marriage becoming tempestuous and violent Mary seeks solitude away from her violent husband in the arms of her faithful guard Bothwell, a move which was to become her downfall, for the sake of her son Mary places herself in the hands of her enemy and abdicates.

The series picks up again around 20 years later with James VI ruling Scotland and awaiting the death of the English Queen Elizabeth so he can claim her crown, when he does ascend to the throne all seems well, the people welcome him and except that they have a Protestant King, what he doesn't count on is a group of powerful Catholics, determined he will not destroy their faith and set to blowing up Parliament and the King. Learning of the plan James enlists the help of his adviser, the questionable Lord Cecill and his ill-fated spy Lady Margaret, to identify Guy Fawkes and his group and bring them to justice.