Elizabeth (film)
Elizabeth | |
---|---|
![]() Original film poster | |
Directed by | Shekhar Kapur |
Written by | Michael Hirst |
Produced by | Tim Bevan Eric Fellner Alison Owen |
Starring | Cate Blanchett Geoffrey Rush Christopher Eccleston Joseph Fiennes John Gielgud Richard Attenborough Kenny Doughty |
Cinematography | Remi Adefarasin |
Edited by | Jill Bilcock |
Music by | David Hirschfelder |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | Gramercy Pictures |
Release dates |
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Running time | 126 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Languages | English French |
Budget | $30 million |
Box office | $82,150,642 |
Elizabeth is a 1998 biographical film written by Michael Hirst, directed by Shekhar Kapur, and starring Cate Blanchett in the title role of Queen Elizabeth I of England, alongside Geoffrey Rush, Christopher Eccleston, Joseph Fiennes, Sir John Gielgud, Daniel Craig, Fanny Ardant and Richard Attenborough. This 1998 film is loosely based on the early years of Elizabeth's reign. In 2007, Blanchett and Rush reprised their roles in the sequel, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, covering the later part of her reign.
The film brought Australian actress Blanchett to international attention. She won several awards for her portrayal of Elizabeth, notably a BAFTA and a Golden Globe in 1998, while the film was also named the 1998 BAFTA Best British Film. Elizabeth was nominated in 7 categories in the 71st Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actress, receiving the prize for Best Makeup.
The film sees a young Elizabeth elevated to the throne on the death of her half-sister Mary I, who had imprisoned her. Her reign over the divided and bankrupt realm is perceived as weak and under threat of invasion by Early Modern France or Habsburg Spain. For the future stability and security of the crown she is urged by advisor William Cecil (Attenborough) to marry, and has suitors in the Catholic Philip II of Spain and the French Henri, Duc d'Anjou. She instead embarks on an affair with the wholly unsuitable Robert Dudley (Fiennes).
Elizabeth must counter threats from within such as the powerful 4th Duke of Norfolk (Eccleston), and from the armies of Mary of Guise (Ardant) garrisoned in Scotland. She also faces plots from Rome directed by Pope Pius V (Gielgud). Assisted by her 'spymaster' Francis Walsingham (Rush), she puts down the threats both internal and external, ruthlessly executing the plotters. Elizabeth eventually ends her affair and resolves to marry nobody except England. The film ends with Elizabeth assuming the persona of the 'Virgin Queen', and saying: "I am married to England", initiating England's Golden Age.
Plot
In 1558, the Roman Catholic Queen Mary (Kathy Burke) dies of a cancerous tumour in her uterus, leaving her Protestant half-sister Elizabeth (Cate Blanchett) 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 Henry, Duc d'Anjou (Vincent Cassel), the future King Henry III of France, whom she rejects, and urged by William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley (Richard Attenborough) to marry, which, as he states, would secure her throne. Instead, she has a secret affair with her childhood sweetheart, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester (Joseph Fiennes). The affair is, however, no secret from Cecil, who makes it clear that a monarch has no private life. Elizabeth deals with various threats to her reign, including Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk (Christopher Eccleston); her Catholic cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots, who conspires to have her murdered; Mary's mother, Mary of Guise (Fanny Ardant), who brings French troops into Scotland to attack Elizabeth's forces when they invade.
Elizabeth permanently banishes Dudley from her private presence when she finds out that he is married. Elizabeth feels that such relations could give a man too much power over her. Moreover, cutting off her relations with Dudley is part of the process by which she becomes increasingly tough and assertive, in one scene she carefully prepares and rehearses the speech she would deliver to a recalcitrant Parliament and force through her religious reforms, the Act of Uniformity. She also becomes capable of occasional ruthless behaviour as in unflinchingly ordering the execution of those who she considers dangerous to her rule. After Elizabeth's advisor Francis Walsingham (Geoffrey Rush) discovers Norfolk and De La Quadra plotting with King Philip, she orders their arrest and execution. Mary of Guise is assassinated by Walsingham, who acted on unofficial orders from Elizabeth. All this is a considerable change from the warm-hearted, rather romantic girl which Elizabeth was in the early parts of the film; remaining such would have been incompatible with being a queen who actually ruled and dominated the men around her, and her transformation is a major theme of the film. The film ends with Elizabeth having her hair cut by Kat Ashley (Emily Mortimer) and assuming the vanilla-faced and gowned persona of the 'Virgin Queen', and initiating England's Golden Age. She sits down on her throne, and the screen cuts to black.
Cast
- Cate Blanchett as Elizabeth I of England
- Geoffrey Rush as Francis Walsingham
- Joseph Fiennes as Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester
- Richard Attenborough as William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley
- Christopher Eccleston as Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk
- Kathy Burke as Mary I of England
- Fanny Ardant as Mary of Guise
- Vincent Cassel as Henry III of France
- Emily Mortimer as Kat Ashley
- Kelly Macdonald as Isabel Knollys
- John Gielgud as Pope Pius V
- Daniel Craig as John Ballard
- James Frain as Álvaro de la Quadra
- George Yiasoumi as Philip II of Spain
- Edward Hardwicke as Henry FitzAlan, 19th Earl of Arundel
- Kenny Doughty as Thomas Elyot
- Terence Rigby as Bishop Stephen Gardiner
- Angus Deayton as Waad, Chancellor of the Exchequer
- Eric Cantona as Monsieur de Foix
- Alfie Allen as Arundel's Son
Production
The costuming and shot composition of the coronation scene is based on Elizabeth's coronation portrait.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Elizabeth_I_in_coronation_robes.jpg/200px-Elizabeth_I_in_coronation_robes.jpg)
Cate Blanchett was chosen to play Elizabeth after Kapur saw a trailer of Oscar and Lucinda.[citation needed]
According to the director's commentary, Kapur mentioned that the role of the Pope (played by Sir John Gielgud) was originally offered to, and accepted by, Marlon Brando. However, plans changed when Kapur noted that many on set would probably be concerned that Brando would be sharing the set with them for two days. Later, when Gielgud had taken the role, Kapur at one point suggested (in vain) that the Pope's accent should be Italian; he added that every British actor within earshot was horrified that any director was asking Sir John Gielgud to speak in an accent that "wasn't John Gielgud".[citation needed]
A large proportion of the indoor filming, representing the royal palace, was conducted in various corners of Durham Cathedral—its unique nave pillars are clearly identifiable as such.[citation needed]
Reception
The film was received well by critics and the public, it holds an 81% 'fresh' rating on film aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes based on 59 film critic reviews. The site's consensus was: "No mere historical drama, Elizabeth is a rich, suspenseful journey into the heart of British Royal politics, and features a typically outstanding performance from Cate Blanchett."[1]
Filming locations
- Alnwick Castle, Alnwick, Northumberland, England, UK (Princess Elizabeth is arrested with her followers)
- Auckland, New Zealand
- Aydon Castle, Corbridge, Northumberland, England, UK
- Bamburgh Castle, Bamburgh, Northumberland, England, UK
- Bolton Castle, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, England, UK
- Durham Cathedral, Durham, County Durham, England, UK
- Haddon Hall, Bakewell, Derbyshire, England, UK
- Harrisburg, Australia
- Leeds Castle, Kent, England, UK
- Middle Temple, Temple, Holborn, London, England, UK
- Raby Castle, Durham, County Durham, England, UK (river pageant)
- York Minster, York, North Yorkshire, England, UK
Accusations of anti-Catholicism
The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights accused the film of anti-Catholicism, stating that the film gives the "impression that the religious strife was all the doing of the Catholic Church", noting that the review in The New York Times considered it "resolutely anti-Catholic" complete with a "scheming pope" and repeating the charge made in the Buffalo News that "every single Catholic in the film is dark, cruel and devious".[3]
Soundtrack
Release
Elizabeth premiered in September 1998 at the Venice Film Festival and was also shown at the Toronto International Film Festival.[4] It premiered in London on 2 October 1998 and it premiered in the United States on 13 October 1998.[4] It opened in the United Kingdom on 23 October 1998[4] and opened in limited release in the United States in nine cinemas on 6 November 1998, grossing $275,131.[5] Its widest release in the United States and Canada was in 624 cinemas,[5] and its largest weekend gross throughout its run in cinemas in the US and Canada was $3.9 million in 516 cinemas,[5] ranking No.9 at the box office.[6] Elizabeth went on to gross $30 million in the United States and Canada, and a total of $82.1 million worldwide.[7]
Awards
Wins
- 71st Academy Awards: Best Makeup (Jenny Shircore)[8]
- BAFTA Awards: Alexander Korda Awards for Best British Film (Alison Owen, Tim Bevan), Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music (David Hirschfelder), Best Cinematography (Remi Adefarasin), Best Makeup/Hair (Jenny Shircore), Best Supporting Actor (Geoffrey Rush), Best Actress (Cate Blanchett)[9]
- Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards: Best Actress (Cate Blanchett), Breakthrough Artist (Joseph Fiennes)[10]
- Chicago Film Critics Association Awards: Best Actress (Cate Blanchett)[11]
- 4th Empire Awards: Best Actress (Cate Blanchett)[12]
- Golden Globe Awards: Best Actress – Motion Picture – Drama (Cate Blanchett)[13]
- Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards: Most Promising Actress (Cate Blanchett)[12]
- London Critics Circle Film Awards: Actress of the Year (Cate Blanchett), British Producer of the Year (Alison Owen, Tim Bevan)[12]
- National Board of Review: Best Director (Shekhar Kapur)[14]
- Online Film Critics Society Awards: Best Actress (Cate Blanchett)[15]
- Satellite Awards: Best Costume Design (Alexandra Byrne), Best Actress – Drama (Cate Blanchett)[12]
- Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards: Best Actress (Cate Blanchett)[12]
- Toronto Film Critics Association Awards: Best Actress (Cate Blanchett)[12]
- Venice Film Festival: Max Factor Award (Jenny Shircore)[12]
Nominations
- Academy Awards: Best Actress (Cate Blanchett), Best Art Direction (John Myhre), Best Cinematography (Remi Adefarasin), Best Costume Design (Alexandra Byrne), Best Original Score (David Hirschfelder), Best Picture (Alison Owen, Eric Fellner, Tim Bevan)[16]
- BAFTAs: Best Costume Design (Alexandra Byrne), Best Editing (Jill Bilcock), Best Picture (Alison Owen, Eric Fellner, Tim Bevan), Best Art Direction (John Myhre), Best Original Screenplay (Michael Hirst), David Lean Award for Direction (Shekhar Kapur)[17]
- Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards: Best Film[18]
- Chicago Film Critics Association Awards: Best Cinematography (Remi Adefarasin), Best Original Score (David Hirschfelder)[19]
- Golden Globe Awards: Best Director (Shekhar Kapur), Best Motion Picture – Drama[20]
- Satellite Awards: Best Director (Shekhar Kapur), Best Motion Picture – Drama (Alison Owen, Eric Fellner, Tim Bevan), Best Art Direction (John Myhre)[21]
References
- ^ "Elizabeth". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0127536/locations
- ^ Elizabeth is "resolutely anti-Catholic" Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, January–February 1999
- ^ a b c "Elizabeth (1998) – Release dates". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 15 October 2007.
- ^ a b c "Elizabeth (1998) – Weekend Box Office". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 15 October 2007.
- ^ Weekend Box Office - November 27-29, 1998. Box Office Mojo. (8 July 2011). Retrieved on 8 August 2011.
- ^ "Elizabeth (1998)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 15 October 2007.
- ^ "The 1999 Oscar Winners - RopeofSilicon.com Award Show Central". Ropeofsilicon.com. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ "Awards Database - The BAFTA site". Bafta. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ "The BFCA Critics' Choice Awards :: 1998". Bfca.org. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ "Chicago Film Critics Awards - 1998-07". Chicagofilmcritics.org. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g Awards IMDb
- ^ "The 1999 Golden Globe Award Winners - RopeofSilicon.com Award Show Central". Ropeofsilicon.com. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ "National Board of Review of Motion Pictures :: Awards". Nbrmp.org. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ "Online Film Critics Society". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ Academy Awards, USA IMDb
- ^ "Awards Database - The BAFTA site". Bafta. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
- ^ Film Critics Awards IMDb
- ^ [1]
- ^ Golden Globes IMDb
- ^ Satellite Awards IMDb
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/34px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png)
- 1998 films
- Use dmy dates from July 2011
- British films
- British biographical films
- British drama films
- British epic films
- English-language films
- 1990s drama films
- Best Drama Picture Golden Globe winners
- Films about Elizabeth I of England
- Feminist films
- Films critical of Roman Catholicism and Catholics
- Films directed by Shekhar Kapur
- Films featuring a Best Drama Actress Golden Globe winning performance
- Films set in Tudor England
- Films that won the Academy Award for Best Makeup
- Working Title Films films
- Gramercy Pictures films
- Film scores by David Hirschfelder