The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
A brilliant historical drama of the war between passion and power.
Bette Davis and Errol Flynn made The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex fascinatingly public, striking sparks with this lavish Technicolor tale of the ill-fated love between the aging Elizabeth I and the dashing Earl of Essex. Thoroughly unglamorous here - eyes and hairline shaved, face painted chalky white - double Academy Award winner Davis exudes such intelligence, energy and ardor that her romance with the decades - younger Essex (Flynn at the peak of his remarkable good looks and athletic verve) is completely believable. Based on Maxwell Anderson's play Elizabeth the Queen and directed by Michael Curtiz, this nominee for five Oscars takes liberties with historical accuracy, but none with dramatic impact. Long may these tempestuous, titled lovers reign!
Member Reviews
The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex - TheWiz
This is a tale most of us know very well. For those who are just discovering The Elizabethian Age, there may be better more hip choices to watch from Hollywood. This version may seem dated to them. Also, we received the colourized version and the black and white would have been in better sync with the film's flow. If you are a Bette Davis buff, then you'll appreciate the intensity of which she acted out each and every role she ever played. For instance, when she slaps Errol in the face - she slapped him for real which didn't sit well with him. May be ho-hum for many as this film is 'past-date'.An Epic Love Story.. - fairweather
An interesting romantic adaption to the tale of Queen Elizabeth and the Earl of Essex, this story starring movie greats Errol Flynn and Bette Davis is a treat. The acting is superb and though quarrels and the tragedy of war intrude, the chemistry and acting is superb. Errol Flynn's depiction of the Earl of Essex beautifully mixes the love of the Queen with his ambition to share her throne. And Bette Davis is a perfect foil to his portrayal, both a woman and a leader of a nation who must consider her country and throne above her own wishes. The tragic "love agony" depicted in the film makes this a great movie and reminds me of the young actress Hayley Mills when she portrays a twin in "The Parent Trap" and says that all great love stories have a "beautiful agony" in them. This is certainly a great illustration of one. Recommended.
From The Parent Trap:
Then why have they stayed
separated all these years?
Because that's how true love
creates its beautiful agony.
All splendid lovers
have just dreadful times.
Uh... Peleus and Melisande,
Daphnis and Chloe.
History's just jammed
with stories of lovers
parted by some silly thing.
*SPOILER* (Don't read this if you don't wish to know the ending)
The ending is tragic and not a happily ever after ending because it follows the true story of history and the destinies of each of the persons the actors portray, but superbly done. I shall always think of Errol Flynn's portrayal of the Earl of Essex as illuminating the Earl's character when I see it in the pages of a book or on film.Drame Historique - jacques_martin
La lutte d'une reine entre l'amour de son pays et de son peuple et l'amour qu'elle éprouve pour le comte d'Essex. Erroll Flynn joue le rôle du jeune comte; il en a l'élégance, la distinction et la personnalité. C'est son pays qui l'emportera dans le coeur tourmenté de cette femme et elle enverra à l'échafaud celui qu'elle aime malgré tout.
Member Reviews
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The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex - TheWiz
This is a tale most of us know very well. For those who are just discovering The Elizabethian Age, there may be better more hip choices to watch from Hollywood. This version may seem dated to them. Also, we received the colourized version and the black and ...An Epic Love Story.. - fairweather
An interesting romantic adaption to the tale of Queen Elizabeth and the Earl of Essex, this story starring movie greats Errol Flynn and Bette Davis is a treat. The acting is superb and though quarrels and the tragedy of war intrude, the chemistry and acting ...Drame Historique - jacques_martin
La lutte d'une reine entre l'amour de son pays et de son peuple et l'amour qu'elle éprouve pour le comte d'Essex. Erroll Flynn joue le rôle du jeune comte; il en a l'élégance, la distinction et la personnalité. C'est son pays qui l'emportera dans le coeur ...