The Virgin Queen (1955)

Sir Walter Raleigh (Richard Todd) overcomes court intrigue to win favor with Queen Elizabeth I (Bette Davis) in order to get financing for a proposed voyage to the New World.

Director:

Henry Koster

Writers:

Harry Brown, Mindret Lord

Stars:

Bette Davis, Richard Todd, Joan Collins

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Bette Davis	...	Queen Elizabeth I
Richard Todd	...	Sir Walter Raleigh
Joan Collins	...	Beth Throgmorton
Jay Robinson	...	Chadwick
Herbert Marshall	...	Lord Leicester (Robert Dudley)
Dan O'Herlihy	...	Lord Derry
Robert Douglas	...	Sir Christopher Hatton
Romney Brent	...	French Ambassador
Leslie Parrish	...	Anne (as Marjorie Hellen)
Lisa Daniels	...	Mary

Storyline

Sir Walter Raleigh (Richard Todd) gains an audience with Queen Elizabeth I (Bette Davis) and soon wins her over to his way of thinking. He wants ships to sail and make a name for England. A young ward of the court, Beth Throgmorton (Dame Joan Collins), is strongly attracted to Raleigh and returns the attraction. But soon the Queen shows her desires and he bends in order to achieve his goal of ships. But still, he loves Beth.

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Plot Keywords:

queen elizabeth i | year 1581 | knight | elizabethan era | queen of england | 

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Taglines:

CinemaScope spectacularly spreads before you the velvet cape and violent age of Sir Walter Raleigh and The Virgin Queen.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

The second time that Bette Davis portrayed English monarch Queen Elizabeth I. The first being The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939).

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Goofs

At the concluding scene of the movie, Queen Elizabeth looks through her window with a telescope, an invention of 1608, five years after her death in 1603.

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Quotes

[the Queen enters as Raleigh is on his knees trying to pick up Beth Throgmorton's broken pearl necklace]
Queen Elizabeth I: [to Beth] Is this your pet swine? You've cast your pearls before him.

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: In 1581 all the roads of England led to London -- for better or worse.

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Connections

Referenced in Stars of the Silver Screen: Bette Davis (2011)

User Reviews

EXTREMELY under-rated tour-de-force for the Brilliant Bette

I cannot help but be disappointed by the reviews this movie has thusfar received in IMDb, but not surprised.

With respect to Glenda Jackson and Cate Blanchett, neither of those ladies can hold a patch on the brilliant Bette Davis, perhaps the greatest actress ever, as the immortal Queen Elizabeth I, perhaps the greatest monarch that England ever knew.

Whether or not the movie is weak history, the movie shines as a vehicle for La Davis. Richard Todd gives a decent performance, although I submit he has neither the acting chops nor the charisma of Errol Flynn. But he serves well in the role.

The costumes, cinematography and screenplay are bright and arresting. And like it or not, Bette Davis' brilliant, mannered, and astoundingly powerful depiction of Queen Elizabeth I has informed every ensuing depiction of the Virgin Queen

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 July 1955 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sir Walter Raleigh

Filming Locations:

Stage 8, 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,600,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Western Electric Recording) (magnetic prints) Stereo (Western Electric Recording) Mono (Western Electric Recording) (optical prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1