Mary, Queen of Scots

I only just saw this movie for the very first time on one of my cable movie channels and have seen it several times over the past week. I love British movies and I was blown away by all the great actors and the locations and castles used for the filming. The two ladies performances are so strong and were framed by all the great male actors. Patrick McGoohan is awesome, and his steely look playing other roles has always inspired me. From his role as the Disney "Scarecrow" to the Prisoner. Just awesome. I was mesmerized by Nigel Davenport. Nigel had my attention the entire time he was on screen. Nigel, like Patrick, has an awesome look about him and how he carries himself. I will definitely buy the DVD of this movie and get my son to watch it.

This movie is great! A classic! This is a MUST see if traveling to Scotland. It may take a few liberties with history, but the story line is intact and accurate. The film takes the viewer from Mary as a teenager in France, through her turbulent reign in Scotland, to her death in England. Mary is unapologetic for her faith or her actions, sorry only that she is imprisoned and prevented from seeing her son, who is a pivotal person in the evolution of Great Britian. Redgrave is wonderful and Jackson does her role very well, despite reviews to the contrary. The scenery is lush and the set depicting of the era. This movie needs to be release on DVD as soon as possible.

It is VERY DIFFICULT to find on VHS ANYWHERE and is prohibitively expensive on e-bay.

Each film about Mary Stuart has,as heart, the duel between the queen of Scots and her cousin, Elisabeth. This movie is not an exception and the duel between Glenda Jackson and Vanessa Redgrave is just superb. But the great performance of each of them is only key to large, precise and seductive rebuild of the Elisabethan era. At the level of fine detail. The tension, the duties, the proofs, the words and the fear in colors of fury. All is in its scenes. And more. Because it is not only a beautiful film. First, for the work of the lead actresses, it is a memorable one.

Vanessa Redgrave portrays an excellent Queen of Scots in this film; Mary Stuart's frivolity, passion for life, religious devotion, and emotion-stirring conscience is perfectly captured by this talented actress. Similarly, the vanity, arrogance, and evil self-assuredness of the weakling Henry Lord Darnley shone through in Timothy Dalton's words and actions. But, without desecrating the skills displayed by Dalton and Redgrave, I was riveted by the scenes in the English Court. Glenda Jackson, as Elizabeth of England, has completely captured the hearts and imaginations of the audience as the best actress to ever play the Virgin Queen, and as I watched her manipulate her Catholic enemies and rise above the snares of danger that her fellow Queen blindly stumbled into, I was amazed at her complete understanding of the role. In my opinion, Elizabeth can be no easy character to portray, but Jackson clearly demonstrates a clear knowledge of the complicated workings of this Queen's mind. Also wonderfully brought to life are the struggles for approval amongst her leading ministers, William Cecil (played by Trevor Howard) and Robert Dudley (Daniel Massey). Cecil's endless determination to lead the Queen in best interests of the nation are admirable, and Dudley's endless devotion (though sometimes portrayed as ambition and avarice) is touching. Unfortunately, the script seems to rush through the complicated and fascinating tale of the Queen of Scots' harrowing 7 years on her Scotch throne. All in all, I recommend this movie to anyone interested in Mary, or, even if your tastes run more to Elizabeth than her impulsive cousin, I believe you will be more than satisfied.

of my favorite movies, especially for the time period! Vanessa Redgrave and Glenda Jackson are thrilling as rival queens in this movie. I felt badly for both of them, they seem to have been caught up in the intrigues of their time. I wish there were more movies like this!