Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Vanessa Redgrave | ... | Mary, Queen of Scots | |
Glenda Jackson | ... | Queen Elizabeth | |
Patrick McGoohan | ... | James Stuart | |
Timothy Dalton | ... | Henry, Lord Darnley | |
Nigel Davenport | ... | Lord Bothwell | |
Trevor Howard | ... | William Cecil | |
Daniel Massey | ... | Robert Dudley | |
Ian Holm | ... | David Riccio | |
Andrew Keir | ... | Ruthven | |
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Tom Fleming | ... | Father Ballard |
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Katherine Kath | ... | Catherine De Medici |
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Beth Harris | ... | Mary Seton |
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Frances White | ... | Mary Fleming |
Bruce Purchase | ... | Morton | |
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Brian Coburn | ... | Huntly |
Mary Stuart, named Queen of Scotland when she was six days old, is the last Roman Catholic ruler of Scotland. Her cousin Elizabeth Tudor, Queen of England, and her arch adversary, has her imprisoned at age twenty-three. Nineteen years later, Mary is executed, removing the last threat to Elizabeth's throne. The two Queens' contrasting personalities make a dramatic counterpoint to history. Written by alfiehitchie
Even though Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I, Queen of England never met, this is a brilliant film. Vanessa Redgrave is perfect in the role of Mary. She is such a wonderful actress. She plays the Scottish Queen in all her arrogance and deviousness. She looks and sounds magnificent throughout. Glenda Jackson is magnificent as Elizabeth I. She is so powerful and such a clever actress. What a great loss it is that she became a politician. Her great scene with Redgrave must be one of the classics of acting between two great actresses. Timothy Dalton is great as the devious and weak fop Lord Darnley and Nigel Davenport is incredible as the rugged Earl of Bothwell. The casting gets better with Trevor Howard as William Cecil, Ian Holm as David Rizzio and Patrick McGoohan as the half-brother James Stuart. Katherine Kath is suitably odious as Queen Catherine de Medici and Vernon Dobtcheff is highly suitable as the Duke of Guise, Mary's manipulative Uncle. Robert Fox is absolutely right as John Knox. The script is very clever, the scenery magnificent and the costumes incredible.