Elizabeth R 

When Elizabeth Tudor comes to the throne, her (male) advisers know she has to marry. Doesn't she? Thus starts a decades-long political/ matrimonial game, during an age of high passions and high achievement.

Stars:

Glenda Jackson, Ronald Hines, Robert Hardy

Won 5 Primetime Emmys. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Glenda Jackson	...	Queen Elizabeth I 6 episodes, 1971
Ronald Hines	...	William Cecil (Lord Burghley) 5 episodes, 1971
Robert Hardy	...	Robert Dudley (Earl of Leicester) 3 episodes, 1971
Stephen Murray	...	Walsingham 3 episodes, 1971
John Shrapnel	...	Earl of Sussex 3 episodes, 1971
Angela Thorne	...	Lettice Knollys, Lady Leicester 3 episodes, 1971
Robin Ellis	...	Robert Devereaux (Earl of Essex) 2 episodes, 1971
Peter Jeffrey	...	King Philip II of Spain 2 episodes, 1971
Rachel Kempson	...	Kat Ashley 2 episodes, 1971
Vivian Pickles	...	Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots / ... 2 episodes, 1971
Peter Howell	...	Lord Howard 2 episodes, 1971

Storyline

When Elizabeth Tudor comes to the throne, her (male) advisers know she has to marry. Doesn't she? Thus starts a decades-long political/ matrimonial game, during an age of high passions and high achievement.

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Plot Keywords:

queen elizabeth i | tv mini series | queen of england | monarchy | queen elizabeth i character | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Glenda Jackson would later reprise her role as Queen Elizabeth I in Mary, Queen of Scots (1971). Coincidentally, Rachel Kempson's daughter Vanessa Redgrave played the title character in that production.

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Goofs

The courtyard in Elizabeth's palace contains an aviary with several Australian white cockatoos, long before any European had landed in Australia.

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Quotes

Sir Amyas Paulet: You have been brought Fotheringay to be examined by certain lords, and you are required to make answer to the grave charges that you did conspire to displace our sovereign lady Elizabeth of England, and to ruin her kingdom by the shedding of blood.
Mary Queen Scots: Does Bess acknowledge me as true kin and rightful heir to her throne?
Sir Amyas Paulet: No, ma'am. She does not.
Mary Queen Scots: Then she has no claim on me. I am no subject, Paulet, but a queen. I owe England nothing.
Sir Amyas Paulet: You would be wise, madam, to confess your grievous faults and crimes ...
[...]

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Connections

Featured in The World According to Smith & Jones: The Tudors (1987)

User Reviews

Accurate history coupled with superb dramatization

I recently viewed this series again as part of my research for a play I am writing about Christopher Marlowe. I am pleased to say that serious historical sources - primary sources - were consulted by all six writers. Detail after detail in all of the episodes are supported with source material. Elizabeth lived such a rich and fascinating life that the facts provide more drama than a lazy writer could ever belch out of his imagination. Sound, lively history. One of the five best programs ever on television.

Details

Official Sites:

PBS [United States]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 February 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

Elizabeth R

Filming Locations:

Parham Park, Storrington, West Sussex, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min (6 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1