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Elizabeth (film)

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Elizabeth
File:Elizabeth A.jpg
original film poster
Directed byShekhar Kapur
Written byMichael Hirst
Produced byTim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Alison Owen
StarringCate Blanchett,
Geoffrey Rush,
Christopher Eccleston,
Joseph Fiennes
Richard Attenborough
Fanny Ardant
Eric Cantona
Vincent Cassel
Kathy Burke
Daniel Craig
CinematographyRemi Adefarasin
Music byDavid Hirschfelder
Distributed byPolygram
Gramercy Pictures
Release dates
6 November, 1998
Running time
124 min.
LanguagesEnglish, French, Latin
Budget$25,000,000 (estimated)
This article is about the 1998 film. For its 2007 sequel, see Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Elizabeth is an Academy Award winning 1998 film loosely based on the early reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England. The film was written by Michael Hirst and directed by Shekhar Kapur. It stars Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Joseph Fiennes, Christopher Eccleston, and Richard Attenborough. It was the final film of acclaimed British actor Sir John Gielgud. It also stars a 12 year old Lily Allen as a lady in waiting and Manchester United legend Eric Cantona as a French lord and future 007 star Daniel Craig as a member of the Vatican who is heavily involved in the film's central plot.

A sequel, Elizabeth: The Golden Age was released by Focus Features on October 12th, 2007.

Synopsis

In 1558, the Roman Catholic Mary I of England dies of a cancerous tumor in her uterus, leaving her Protestant half sister Elizabeth as Queen. Elizabeth had previously been jailed for a supposed conspiracy to murder Mary, but has now been freed for her coronation. The film shows Elizabeth being courted by suitors (including Henri, Duc d'Anjou et de Bourbon, the future King Henry III of France, whom she rejects.) Instead, she makes love with her childhood sweetheart, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester.

Elizabeth deals with various threats to her reign, including The Duke of Norfolk, a Catholic in her court who conspires to have her murdered, and the effective ruler of Scotland, Mary of Guise, who allies with France to attack England's forces. At the end of the film, Norfolk is executed for his conspiracy and Mary is assassinated by Elizabeth's advisor, Francis Walsingham.

Dudley is permanently banished by Elizabeth when she finds out that he is married. The film ends with Elizabeth assuming the persona of 'The Virgin Queen', and initiating England's Golden Age.

Historical inaccuracies

The film takes many liberties with history. Among them:

  • The real Robert Dudley did not betray Elizabeth, and remained a loyal subject until his death.
  • In the film, Elizabeth I, much to her shock, finds out from Sir Cecil that Robert Dudley is married, whereas in reality Elizabeth was well aware that Dudley was married, since she attended his wedding. [While it is true that Elizabeth I knew that Robert Dudley was married to his first wife Amy Robsart (and she did indeed attend their wedding), she did not know about his second marriage to her cousin, Lettice Knollys, and was furious when she discovered the truth.]
  • In the film, Elizabeth I is courted by Henri, Duke of Anjou. The two never met in reality, as the actual proposal was for her marriage to Francois, his younger brother. Francois came to England and the proposal became a very serious prospect, although it was never fulfilled.
  • William Cecil was not even 40 years old when Elizabeth began her reign, contrary to his cinematic portrayal as elderly. He was not retired by the young queen, either. He remained one of her most trusted advisors until his death, shortly before hers.
  • No evidence exists to support the claim that Walsingham was involved in the death of Mary of Guise.
  • In the film, and as emphasized on the cover, Elizabeth has bright blue eyes (the natural colour of Cate Blanchett), however, Elizabeth is well known for having the deep amber brown eyes of her mother and the brightly red coloured hair of her father.

Locations

Some filming for Elizabeth occurred at Bolton Castle, Alnwick Castle, York Minster and Durham Cathedral.

Cast

This portrait "The Coronation of Elizabeth" was used as the basis for the photography and costume of Cate Blanchett during the coronation scene in the film. This is a copy of a now lost original, this copy attrib. Nicholas Hilliard

Awards

Note:Awards won are in bold lettering.

  • Academy Awards:
  • Best Makeup (Jenny Shircore)
  • Best Actress Nomination (Cate Blanchett)
  • Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (John Myhre and Peter Howitt)
  • Best Cinematography (Remi Adefarasin)
  • Best Costume Design (Alexandra Byrne)
  • Best Music - Original Dramatic Score (David Hirschfelder)
  • Best Picture
  • BAFTA Awards:
  • Best Actress (Cate Blanchett)
  • Best British Film
  • Best Cinematography (Remi Adefarasin)
  • Best Makeup & Hair (Jenny Shircore)
  • Best Supporting Actor (Geoffrey Rush)
  • Best Costume Design (Alexandra Byrne)
  • Best Director (Shekhar Kapur)
  • Best Editing (Jill Bilcock)
  • Best Film
  • Best Production Design (John Myhre)
  • Best Screenplay - Original (Michael Hirst)
  • Golden Globe Awards:
  • Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama (Cate Blanchett)
  • Best Director (Shekhar Kapur)
  • Best Motion Picture - Drama
Preceded by Alexanda Korda Award for Best British Film
1998 		Succeeded by
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