The Virgin Queen

The Virgin Queen marks Bette Davis's second go around as Elizabeth I of England. The first and better known film was done in 1939, The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex. The action in that film takes place at almost the very end of her regime in 1602. Bette Davis who was 31 at the time was made up to look the 66 that Elizabeth was then.

This film takes place 15 years earlier, but Bette is now 47, a lot closer in age to the real Elizabeth then. The film is a fictional account of the arrival of Sir Walter Raleigh at her court and what transpired therein.

Raleigh is played by Richard Todd, the Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex, Raleigh was played by Vincent Price. These are two quite different Raleighs, Todd is here, self described as blunt speaking plain soldier who wants Elizabeth to give him a ship to explore the new world. By 1602, Price's Raleigh has become every bit the flattering courtier that he as Todd so despised.

All royal courts are places of intrigue by their very nature, Elizabeth's even more so. First of all she was a woman who did like young handsome men around her. In her early days it was Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester played here by Herbert Marshall. Later on it was Christopher Hatton who is played by Robert Douglas. Then it was Raleigh and last the Earl of Essex, the protagonist in the earlier Davis Elizabethan role. These guys fought for her favor and she kind of enjoyed pitting them against each other. In addition she had the Cecils, uncle William and nephew Robert also serving here. There was no romantic attachment there and Francis Walsingham as well with no romance involved. Each one of these people had their good and bad qualities and served Elizabeth well in his own way.

Also she was known as The Virgin Queen because she was unmarried though I doubt strongly she physically kept her virginity. She was the last of the line of Tudors, the succession was very much up in the air. The threat of civil war, like the War of the Roses in the previous century. None of these guys knew who would wind up succeeding her, they all had to be on nimble feet to make the right jump. A wrong decision could cost somebody his head.

This is the background of what Raleigh was dealing with in Elizabeth's court. It's not true however that Christopher Hatton was the villain as shown here. He was battling for his survival like everybody else.

What is true is that Raleigh while Elizabeth was drawn to him, was in turn drawn to Bess Throckmorton one of her ladies in waiting. He did secretly marry her and got her pregnant as the film states. And Elizabeth I got her dander up as she was wont to do.

I'm sorry the Cecils and Walsingham were not included in this film. They were both very much on the scene, it's the biggest inaccuracy of the film.

It's not good history, but fair enough entertainment. Note the presence here of both a young Joan Collins as Ms. Throckmorton and Dan O'Herlihy as Raleigh's Irish sidekick. Both do good jobs in their parts.

Elizabeth I is nearly always portrayed as stern and unemotional which is probably attributable to the early performances by Dame Flora Robson who set the Elizabeth blueprint. This performance by Bette Davis retains the blueprint but introduces a dark wit to the character. An example is when a scheming ambassador compliments her on her beautiful palace. She replies it was her fathers and that "I will tell him when I see him".

An ambitious adventurer named Walter Raleigh arrives at her court. He only wants three ships to sail and discover gold and the other treasures of the Americas. She takes an instant liking to the handsome Raleigh and the film revolves around her plotting to keep him at her side. She famously refused to marry because she believed in putting country first and here she manipulates Raleigh towards a private relationship that would not diminish her power as Queen in a man's world.

The colorful costumes look a bit party rental but there is plenty of historical accuracy apart from the myth of the "coat over the puddle". The performance from Richard Todd is good but there is little chemistry between him and his wife played by Joan Collins. She delivers her lines so hastily in a modern London accent as if she is about to get on a bus.

The Bette Davis interpretation of Elizabeth and the political machinations at her court are the focus points of the film. There are no dodgy Spanish Armadas or swashbuckling Errol Flynn types detracting from the storytelling or the excellent portrayal of Elizabeth.

Historic drama about The Virgin Queen which focuses on the stormy relationship between the aging Queen and Sir Walter Raleigh . A talky slice of history with Bette Davis as stubborn Queen , whose love affair , jealousy with Raleigh led to his downfall . Well played by Davis who stole the acting honors at a resolute , strong , glamour-skimping characterisation , to give the illusion of baldness, Bette shaved her head two inches in front to show a high forehead under Elizabeth's red wigs, and addition , also performed by swashbuckling champ Richard Tood as an obstinate Raleigh . Elizabeth had learnt her political lessons in the years of intrigue before she became Queen, she was a brilliant stateswoman, managing a succession of parliaments so that she was loved as well as obeyed. Elizabeth I managed to set Great Britain to ruling and gloryfy amidst public and private confusion and she sets in motion a merciless plan to protect her people and preserve her throne . This good historic drama recreates the wars , loves ,turmoil and struggle for power . It explores her last period : from her days of old age when is besieged by court intrigues and political machination as Qeen of France Catalina of Medicis , her fear as a potential victim from Irish people ; into her years of triumph ; and her last, enigmatic relationship with her young protégé , Raleigh . Walter overcomes court intrigue from Sir Christopher Hatton (Robert Douglas) to win favor with the Queen in order to get financing for a proposed voyage to the New World . As Raleigh wants ships to sail and make a name for England and being helped by Robert Dudley , Lord Leicester (Herbert Marshall) . A young ward of the court, Beth Throgmorton (Joan Collins who is the secret object of Raleigh's true affections) , is strongly attracted to Raleigh and goes back the attraction . Elizabeth I's love for William Raleigh threatens to destroy her kingdom . The Virgin Queen managed to restore England glory and power amidst private and public turmoil .

This period drama frames the tumultuous affair between Queen Elizabeth and William Raleigh , dealing with a depiction of the love/hate among them . Bette is top-notch in the title role of this passable drama focusing on the life of known Queen . In this her second acting as Elizabeth and considered to be ever better than hist first in ¨The private lives of Elizabeth and Essex¨ by Michael Curtiz . Seeking the most authenticity , Bette shaved the front of her head and eyebrows and insisted on ugly bags under her eyes , she later complained that they never grew back properly and that ever after she had to draw them in with an eyebrow pencil. The stalwart Richard Todd plays rightly as Sir Raleigh , while Joan Collins gives a mediocre acting as the lady-in-waiting with whom he falls in love . However , the film relies heavily on the relationship between Elizabeth/Raleigh and Beth Throgmorton/Raleigh , resulting to be slightly tiring . Colorful cinematography in CinemaScope by Charles Clarke as well as magnificent production design , both of them add a spectacular ambient to the ancient atmosphere but it does help to know some history in order to keep the plot and plotters straight . Furthermore , an evocative and sensitive musical score by Franz Waxman . The motion picture was professionally directed by Henry Koster , an expert on super-productions and epic biographies , such as he proved in ¨Desiree¨, ¨The Virgin Queen¨, ¨A man called Peter¨, The story of Ruth¨ , ¨The Naked Maja¨ and of course ¨The Robe¨ , his greatest success.

Other films about this historical character are the followings : The classical rendition titled ¨The private lives of Elizabeth and Essex¨ (1939) by Michael Curtiz with Bette Davis and Errol Flynn dealing with her life through her great love affair Essex ; ¨Elizabeth¨ by Shakahar Kapur with Cate Blanchett , Geoffrey Rush , Joseph Fiennes , a story full sweep of Queen's life . And for television : ¨Elizabeth R¨ (1972) by Herbert Wise with Glenda Jackson and Peter Jeffreys ; ¨Elizabeth the Queen¨(1968) by George Schaefer with Judith Anderson and Charlton Heston ; finally TV series ¨Elizabeth¨(2005) by Tom Hooper with Anna Marie Duff , Sienna Guillory and Ian Hart , and ¨Elizabeth I¨ TV miniseries with Helen Mirren , Hugh Dancy and Jeremy Irons .

Bette Davis is again "The Virgin Queen" in this 1955 film, and this time, her attention is on Sir Walter Raleigh. Earlier, in a more interesting film, "The Story of Elizabeth and Essex," she was the younger Elizabeth and the Earl of Essex was Errol Flynn. "The Virgin Queen" is sumptuous in its production, done in color, and the costumes deservedly won an Oscar. Here Elizabeth is older and becomes fascinated with Walter Raleigh (Richard Todd) when he comes to her court to request three ships to sail to the new world in search of treasure on behalf of England. She puts him in charge of the palace guard; he in turn falls for a lady-in-waiting, Lady Elizabeth Throckmorton (Joan Collins) and secretly marries her. The queen grants him one ship, but while he's preparing it, he finds out that Elizabeth Throckmorton is pregnant with his child. Unfortunately, Elizabeth finds out too and has him placed under arrest.

This is a mildly interesting film and historically not very accurate, though it is true that Sir Walter married Beth Throckmorton secretly, she became pregnant, and he was arrested. The real story is simplified in the film. It makes for not very exciting viewing, though the acting is strong and the cast excellent - besides the stars mentioned, Herbert Marshall is Lord Leicester and Dan O'Herlihy is Lord Derry.

Bette Davis does a marvelous job as Elizabeth, a tough, feisty, demanding and sometimes angry woman. Nobody could look as bad as Davis when she felt it was necessary for the role - she allowed four inches to be shaved from her hairline (Elizabeth had lost her hair due to fever) and wears what can only be called a fright wig. Hollywood stars back then would dress down, muss their hair, maybe cut back on the makeup, but Bette set the bar quite high for acting generations to come when it came to distorting her appearance. She is very effective in the role - as someone pointed out, she's a Yankee playing a British queen, and you never doubt that she is one. Richard Todd handles the language beautifully, but while he may have more depth than someone like Flynn, he doesn't exhibit the necessary charisma and charm. Joan Collins is young, beautiful, and does a good job as Elizabeth Throckmorton.

Worth seeing for the elegance of production and for that fabulous force of nature, Bette Davis.

This one should have been a lot better, considering the pedigree of its cast and the professionals behind the camera, including the always reliable Franz Waxman, contributing a score that must have sounded wonderful when those theaters equipped with stereophonic sound systems played this costumer during its first release.

But director Henry Koster's touch is particularly pedestrian in this one. (Note how he stages the legendary scene when Sir Walter Raleigh spreads his cape across a muddy patch for Queen Elizabeth to glide over it without soiling her royal hem. Tossed off as if it weren't worth showing!) And the script seems to be regurgitating all those well-worn cliches about a love and sex-starved Queen Elizabeth I surrounded by male courtiers who have only their various personal ambitions to keep them apparently interested in her feminine needs.

Bette does her best (and even supposedly consented to shaving herself bald for the role!) and Richard Todd and a young and lovely Joan Collins convince as a couple willing to risk the frustrated Queen's wrath to consummate their love. And it's always a pleasure to see actors like Dan O'Herlihy and Herbert Marshall in support, despite how woefully little is made of their talents.

Beware the VHS version, a "formatted" desecration of the original 2.55:1 CinemaScope ratio. For no other reason this handsomely mounted production deserves to be given the widescreen DVD treatment.