Fire Over England (1937)

Director:

William K. Howard

Writers:

A.E.W. Mason (novel)
Clemence Dane (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

5 March 1937 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | History | Romance | War

Tagline:

. . . A truly brilliant producer brings you a thrilling tale of love and danger that will live in your memory as long as there is romance in your heart !

Plot:

Queen Elizabeth is running this show. The men in her court should be thinking about how to add to the...

Plot Keywords:

England | Spain | Queen | Court | Queen Elizabeth I

Cast

Flora Robson	...	Queen Elizabeth I of England
Raymond Massey	...	King Philip II of Spain
Leslie Banks	...	Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester
Laurence Olivier	...	Michael Ingolby
Vivien Leigh	...	Cynthia
Morton Selten	...	Lord Burleigh
Tamara Desni	...	Elena
Lyn Harding	...	Sir Richard Ingolby
George Thirlwell	...	Mr. Lawrence Gregory
Henry Oscar	...	Spanish Ambassador
Robert Rendel	...	Don Miguel (as Robert Rendell)
Robert Newton	...	Don Pedro
Donald Calthrop	...	Don Escobal
Charles Carson	...	Adm. Valdez
James Mason	...	Hillary Vane

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Wide Range Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:S | UK:U | USA:Approved

Filming Locations:

Denham Studios, Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

London Film Productions

Trivia:

It was while screening 'Fire Over England' that agent Myron Selznick saw Vivien Leigh and decided that she was Scarlet O'Hara. Coincidently she was in Hollywood to accompany her husband, 'Lawrence Olivier' who was making Wuthering Heights (1939) and Myron brought her down to the Gone with the Wind (1939) set, the Burning of Atlanta and introduced her to his brother David as his new Scarlet O'Hara.

Quotes:

Spanish Ambassador: If your majesty will not hear words, we must come to cannon and see if you will hear them.
Queen Elizabeth I of England: If you use threats of that kind, I will chase you out of my kingdom.
Spanish Ambassador: But, your grace. You MUST listen.
Queen Elizabeth I of England: Must? Little man, little man, must is NOT a word to use to princes. Our council shall confer with you. Meanwhile, go home and be quiet!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Blackadder Exclusive: The Whole Rotten Saga (2008) (TV)

Soundtrack:

The Spanish Lady's Love

Enjoyable Historical Drama With A Fine Cast

This enjoyable historical drama is particularly notable for the fine cast headed by Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh, and Raymond Massey. The period atmosphere works well, and the setting, against the background of the 16th century struggles between England and Spain, is an interesting one.

The story does a solid job of working the historical setting into a romance between Olivier's and Leigh's characters, setting up some interesting possibilities. Those two work well together - Leigh is a natural in her role, and it's an interesting change of pace for Olivier, from his Shakespeare roles and the like. Massey adds considerable interest and energy as the kind of heavy that he played so well – his very voice seems appropriate. Flora Robson is very well suited to the role of Queen Elizabeth. Tamara Desni and Leslie Banks also do well in their roles.

The plot creates good moments of drama, romance, and action, along with some good cat- and-mouse games between the characters. It builds to a good climax and, if it occasionally stretches plausibility, it easily holds your interest all the way through. Overall, it's pretty good and well worth seeing.