The Virgin Queen (TV serial)

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File:Virginqueen left01.jpg
Anne-Marie Duff as Elizabeth I from the Virgin Queen

The Virgin Queen (which presented the life of England's Queen Elizabeth I from the time she was twenty to her death in 1603 at the age of sixty-nine) was a BBC/Power co-production directed by Coky Giedroyc in 2005. It was shown in the United States in late 2005 on PBS' Masterpiece Theatre. It was four hours (200 minutes) in length, and aired in two 100 minute episodes (episode one aired on Sunday, November 13th, episode two on Sunday, November 20th). It featured a cast of somewhat well known actors that received much critical acclaim. The superb acting, lavish costumes, stunning scenery, solid sets and haunting Celtic music/Enya style music (featuring songs by the Mediaeval Baebes) make it, arguably, the best of Masterpiece Theatre's 2005-2006 lineup. It debuted around the same time as a series called Elizabeth and Essex, starring Helen Mirren as Gloriana. Part of its success was due to its focus on her and her reign rather than just her reign. It was aired in three parts in the UK on BBC1 on January 22nd, and three subsequent sundays after that.

the Virgin Queen vs. Elizabeth R

This production was Masterpiece Theatre's second series covering the life of Elizabeth. the first aired in 1971 and is the much-loved Elizabeth R. When compared to the Elizabeth R's Glenda Jackson (who, to some people, gave the definitive portrayal of the queen), Anne-Marie Duff is on solid ground. Although her performance lacked some of the campiness and vulgarity that Glenda's had, Anne Marie's explored Elizabeth's emotions more completely. Elizabeth is described (by Masterpiece Theatre) as "vulnerable and imperious, passionate and unreachable", and Anne-Marie Duff fulfills this description wonderfully. One of the most stirring scenes is when Anne-Marie cries in hysterics that she will "have here but one mistress and no master!" She also works well with the director's style, which is evident in the Tilbury speech scene. She also illustrates the complete depth of her friendships with Dudley (in a scene in which she locks herself inside her chamber and puts "his last letter" inside her jewel case) and William Cecil (in a scene in which she feeds him and grieves for him when she is called to his deathbed).

The makeup of Elizabeth R was advanced for its time, but it is primitive in comparison to the makeup Anne-Marie Duff had. When the older Elizabeth is revealed in episode two, she looks like a Hilliard portrait. They even blackened her teeth. However, both Anne-Marie and Glenda Jackson were so involved in their roles that they consented to have their heads shaved. The costumes in both are impressive, but the Virgin Queen used visibly better fabrics and an array of impressive jewels.

The sets and scenery of the Virgin Queen surpass Elizabeth R's, as it features wide shots of the surrounding countryside and multiple realistic sets. There are some complaints by people that the action of Elizabeth R was confined to the same hallway set used in the Six Wives of Henry VIII (1971).

The Virgin Queen used the same formula as Elizabeth R, as it was a sequel (or sister-series) to a series about Elizabeth's father, Henry VIII. Elizabeth R had the Six Wives of Henry VIII, and the Virgin Queen had the 2004 Masterpiece Theatre production, Henry VIII (a similarly lavish production focusing of the character's personal qualities and psychology).

Themes

One of the themes of this movie was Elizabeth's role as a divine right monarch. Anne-Marie Duff said of Elizabeth: "Her sense of her own divine right is difficult for us to get hold of as human beings nowadays, but I think that's what is so appealing about her - that sense of entitlement and what it does to you." Ian Hart also discussed divine-right, a theme of the film, when he said: "Burghley was basically a very loyal man who's enamoured by the monarchy to such a degree it's almost religious - he thinks the Queen is placed by God, and so he continued throughout his entire life to serve her as best he could."

The series also addressed the question: how did Elizabeth's mother's death effect her? The very last scene features Robert Cecil writing to James I. He opens Elizabeth's ring, and notices a portrait of her mother "the great whore" as he says. Anne Boleyn had been beheaded when Elizabeth was still a child and her reputation had been blackened by two generations of hostile propaganda. Anne's death is held as one of the chief reasons for Elizabeth's later actions and the ring shows that she still adored her mother's memory - clearly, he series' answer was that Elizabeth was too profoundly affected by her mother's death that she was wary of any commitment to any human being. That is why she accurately remained a virgin in the film.

The Virgin Queen?

This series sought to please both sides of the argument about Elizabeth by never answering the question: was she or was she not a virgin? To please the purists, it never has her have sex with Robert Dudley, nor the Earl of Essex, and had several scenes in which Elizabeth says she will not marry. To please the others, it has Elizabeth dream of intercourse with Dudley and has several affectionate moments between the two. It also fails to mention that Elizabeth claimed she had never done anything indecent with Dudley when she was dying of smallpox, instead it only has her name him Lord Protector.

Historical accuracy

This series surprised many as it deviated little from historical truth. In fact, someone on the production team said "this regal portrait will be seeped in historical accuracy – passionate, emotional and full of the politics and social mores of the time." However, in some rare instances, the script changed details. Some of the notable inaccuracies are listed below.

  • In the film, Elizabeth meets with Lettice Knollys after a long estrangement. In fact, Elizabeth snubbed Lettice, although Essex arranged the meeting.
  • Elizabeth died standing up in the movie. In reality, she was persuaded to lie on a pile of cushions. However, the production was correct in having her stick a finger in her mouth.

Despite these, the production surpasses many of its conterparts, as it includes many of the little details often overlooked in movies like Elizabeth (1998).

Story synopsis

(courtesy of the Masterpiece Theatre website)

The Virgin Queen is an intimate account of Elizabeth I's rule.

The tale begins when Elizabeth is a teenage princess imprisoned in the Tower of London by her half-sister Queen Mary, charged with conspiracy and treason. Scared but determined the young Elizabeth fights for her life and for what she believes, as the protestant daughter of Henry VIII, is rightfully hers -- England's throne.

After Mary's death, Elizabeth plunges into her role as queen, discovering the harsh realities of ruling a country divided by faith and under threat from abroad. Convinced of her feminine weakness, the all-male Privy Council clamors to advise their inexperienced queen. Yet, Elizabeth soon learns how to outwit her enemies and charm those who conspire to their own ends, showing all the strength and resolve of her father.

Under constant pressure to marry, the coquettish Elizabeth rejects a string of wealthy European suitors, openly preferring the burning affections of her childhood playmate, the athletic, handsome -- and married -- Robert Dudley. But when Dudley's wife, Amy, is found dead, Elizabeth banishes Dudley, realizing that the scandal surrounding them could rock the very stability of England.

Surrounded by intrigue, conspiracy, torture and murder, Elizabeth struggles to balance her personal feelings with the rigors of the monarchy. The increasing clamor from her court and country to secure the throne transform the young queen into a liberated woman increasingly adamant that she will not be forced into a political marriage.

The Virgin Queen explores the fears, concerns, distastes and loves of the woman behind the crown, her duty as a monarch always taking precedence over her personal cravings.

In Elizabeth's own immortal words: "I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king."

Behind the scenes

For the Virgin Queen, costume creation began a year in advance. The costume designers consulted a variety of sources, and decided on created costumes that use colors to indicate moods and progression of time.

The locations for filming were chosen for their accuracy as well as their location- the production team wanted to feature the full scope of England. The sand dunes near Bamburgh Castle was chosen for the Tilbury speech, whilst many castles and Tudor homes were chosen for interior/exterior shots. The impressive State Receiving Chamber was in Middle Temple Hall, London. The gardens at Chastleton House were used for Elizabeth's royal gardens.

Martin Phipps composed the score, which was one of the production's best features. He his famous for his work on North and South for the BBC.

It is estimated by imdb that the production cost £9 000 000.

Cast and credits

(courtesy of the Masterpiece Theatre website)

Cast

Elizabeth I- Anne-Marie Duff

Robert Dudley- Tom Hardy

Earl of Essex- Hans Matheson

William Cecil, Lord Burghley- Ian Hart

Earl of Sussex- Dexter Fletcher

Duke of Norfolk- Kevin McKidd

Robert Cecil- Daniel Evans

Queen Mary- Joanne Whalley

Lettice Knowles- Sienna Guillory

Francis Walsingham- Ben Daniels

Lord Chancellor Gardiner- Robert Pugh

Amy Dudley- Emilia Fox

King Phillip of Spain- Stanley Townsend

Kat Ashley- Tara Fitzgerald

Sir James Melville- Ewen Bremner

Mary Queen of Scots- Charlotte Winner

Sir Walter Raleigh- Derek Riddell

Charles Blount- Sebastian Armesto

Francis Bacon- Neil Stuke


Production Credits

Producer- Paul Rutman

Director- Coky Giedroyc

Writer- Paula Milne

Composer- Martin Phipps

Director of Photography- David Odd

Production Designer- Donal Wood

Film Editor-Joe Walker

Make Up Supervisor- Karen Hartley

Costume Designer- Amy Roberts

Casting Director- Nina Gold

Executive Producers- Justin Bode, Laura Mackie, Kate Harwood, Simon Curtis


Filming Locations

Alnwick Castle (Execution scenes)

Baddesley Clinton, Warwickshire (Dudley's home)

Chastleton House (Whitehall Palace interiors and gardens)

Chillingham Castle (Fotheringhay)

Labyrinthine Keep at Warkworth Castle (Tower of London)

London's Middle Temple (Receiving Chamber)

Lord Leycester Hospital (the Strand)

New College, Oxford University (Anointment room)

Raby Castle (Whitehall Palace)

DVD Release

The Virgin Queen will be released on DVD in late Feburary 2006. A preview of the series is available [1]. The soundtrack is available on CD as well, and is entitled Elizabeth I: the Virgin Queen.

See also

Sources

[Category:BBC television programmes|Virgin Queen, The]]

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