Elizabeth (1998)

A film of the early years of the reign of Elizabeth I of England and her difficult task of learning what is necessary to be a monarch.

Director:

Shekhar Kapur

Writer:

Michael Hirst

Stars:

Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Christopher Eccleston

Won 1 Oscar. Another 33 wins & 55 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Cate Blanchett	...	Elizabeth I
Geoffrey Rush	...	Sir Francis Walsingham
Christopher Eccleston	...	Duke of Norfolk
Joseph Fiennes	...	Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester
Richard Attenborough	...	Sir William Cecil
Fanny Ardant	...	Mary of Guise
Eric Cantona	...	Monsieur de Foix
Vincent Cassel	...	Duc d'Anjou
Kathy Burke	...	Queen Mary Tudor
Edward Hardwicke	...	Earl of Arundel
Emily Mortimer	...	Kat Ashley
John Gielgud	...	The Pope
Liz Giles	...	Female Martyr
Rod Culbertson	...	Master Ridley
Paul Fox	...	Male Martyr

Storyline

This film details the ascension to the throne and the early reign of Queen Elizabeth the First, as played by Cate Blanchett. The main focus is the endless attempts by her council to marry her off, the Catholic hatred of her and her romance with Lord Robert Dudley.

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Plot Keywords:

16th century | catholic | queen | british royal family | queen elizabeth i | 

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Taglines:

Declared illegitimate aged 3. Tried for treason aged 21. Crowned Queen aged 25.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and sexuality

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English French

Release Date:

19 February 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Elizabeth: The Virgin Queen

Filming Locations:

Warkworth Castle, Warkworth, Northumberland, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£166,174 (United Kingdom), 4 October 1998, Limited Release

Opening Weekend USA:

$275,131, 8 November 1998, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$30,082,699

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$82,150,642

Company Credits

Production Co:

PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Working Title Films, Channel Four Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

As well as both having Queen Elizabeth as a main characters in both movies, Shakespeare in Love (1998) also shared cast members Geoffrey Rush and Joseph Fiennes with this film. Interestingly enough, they were both nominated for Best Picture in 1999, and Shakespeare in Love was the victor.

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Goofs

In the film, Bishop Stephen Gardiner stands as a key figure in the pro-Catholic faction during Elizabeth's reign. In fact, he died in 1555 before Elizabeth ever ascended to the throne. The role Gardiner plays in religious politics here is likely a stand-in for the historical Bishop Edmund Bonner, the Catholic clergyman most at odds with Elizabeth's Protestant reforms, who died as her prisoner in the Tower of London in 1569.

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Quotes

Sussex: Princess Elizabeth. You are accused of conspiring with Sir Thomas Wyatt and others against Her Sovereign Majesty, and are arrested for treason. I have been commanded to take you hence from this place... to the Tower.

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Connections

Followed by Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)

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Soundtracks

Te Deum
Composed by Thomas Tallis
Performed by St. John's College Choir, Cambridge
Conducted by George Guest

User Reviews

A beautiful and intriguing film which captures the grace and barbarity of the era.

The acting is superb as is the choreography. A very da Vinci-like use of like and dark in comparing the young and innocent Elizabeth with the corrupt and conspiracy ridden "royal court". Very compelling and interesting as the new queen, who is thrust, almost against her wish, into power, learns the nature of the beast she must tame and then rule. It may not be a blockbuster of an event, but you just don't find this level of acting in Hollywood. Yet, taken as a whole, the story reminded me of the Godfather, yet it takes place some 450 years in the past.