Elizabethizing

[deborahjross]

Dave and I have been watching movies/miniseries on the life/times of Elizabeth I. Since Dave is practically allergic to ordinary television programming (in this house, we have never had cable, and there's no reception otherwise), it is a rare and special treat to find something we can watch together.

We began with the Glenda Jackson miniseries, and have just finished the Helen Mirren version. "Shipping Today" from Netflix is THE PRIVATE LIVES OF ELIZABETH AND ESSEX, with Bette Davis and Errol Flynn (1939), which should provide an interesting contrast. Helen Mirren's Essex was played by Hugh Dancy (of DANIEL DERONDA and THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB). After that, a 2-parter with Cate Blanchett, a 2005 Masterpiece Theater version with Ann-Marie Duff and also HENRY VIII with Ray Winstone (remember him as Will Scarlett in ROBIN OF SHERWOOD?), Helena Bonham Carter and a bunch of other cool people.

It's fascinating to see how different writers/directors/actors can look at the same set of historical records and come up with such different interpretations. Also to see what points they do agree on.

Comments

Another movie for the queue

[davetrow.livejournal.com]

Charles Laughton in The Private Life of Henry VIII. More scenery chewing! (And, IIRR, a terrible miscasting.)

Re: Another movie for the queue

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

Oh well, once we get started on Henry, there's no end to mischief!

Added to movie queue...

We have to stop meeting like this, you know ;>

[meirwen.livejournal.com]

If you do backtrack into Good King Hal country you may want to spend some time researching The Tudors, the series from Showtime. If your beloved is "allergic" it most TV, that may be one to skip. As a re-enactor, I have moments when I'm inclined to, as a costuming friend of mine phrased it "put my own eye out with a pencil to erase the memory," and the student of history cringes more than usual at it. On the other hand, my usually brilliant brother-in-law loves it: 16th century soap opera at it's finest.

BTW, please let me know what you think of the second Cate Blancett--I haven't seen it yet.

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

OOh, good. More places to play! Actually, we are doing fine with historical inaccuracy. Dave runs into his study and emerges with the relevant volumes of ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITTANICA, so we discuss and compare. His objection to commercial TV is more along the lines of consumer manipulation, violence, and addiction-potential -- he'd much rather read a book.

We had a grand time with the Davis/Flynn THE PRIVATE LIVES OF ELIZABETH AND ESSEX, but were glad we'd seen the more accurate versions first.