Elizabeth

Elizabeth

“You were Norfolk. The dead have no titles. You were the most powerful man in England and you could have been greater still. But you had not the courage to be loyal, only the conviction of your own vanity.” – Sir Francis Walsingham (“Elizabeth” – 1998)

After a turbulent time which almost resulted in her death, Elizabeth (Cate Blanchett) is crowned Queen of England at the passing of her sister Queen Mary (Kathy Burke). But there are still plenty of plots, intrigue and opposition that Elizabeth must face if her reign is to be a long and successful one. While you’re watching “Elizabeth” here are a few things to look for.

Bright and Shiny Things

Queen Mary’s guards arrive to escort Elizabeth to the Tower of London. Watch the necklace that’s around Robert Dudley’s (Joseph Fiennes) neck. In the front shot of him, when he’s standing beside Elizabeth, we can see he’s wearing a necklace. When he turns (and we see a back shot), we can still see the necklace on the back of his neck. But when he tells Elizabeth “do not be afraid of them”, it’s suddenly gone.

That Might Be Sharp!

Sir Francis Walsingham (Geoffrey Rush) is having dinner with Mary of Guise (Fanny Ardant). During their conversation, Mary picks up a small knife and is holding it in her hands. Watch closely! The knife’s handle alternates from being in her right hand, to her left hand and then back to her right!

Don’t Blink!

We see a dead Mary of Guise in her bed with her eyes open. The Duc d’Anjou (Vincent Cassel), Mary’s nephew, is inconsolable. During the close-up of Mary’s face, not only do we see the Duc d’Anjou put his head on her chest, but at that very moment, we also see her eyes close!

History Timeline!

Elizabeth’s “Act of Uniformity” was passed in 1559. However, in the film, Sir Francis Walsingham tells the six detained Bishops that the act passed by five votes. In reality it passed by three.

Elizabeth became Queen of England in November 1558 (at the age of 25) and reigned until her death in March 1603. At the end of the movie it was noted that Queen Elizabeth reigned for another 40 years, supposedly making the film set around the early 1560s. But the Ridolfi plot (which was the conspiracy to overthrow her) and her excommunication by the Pope (played by John Gielgud in the film) didn’t occur until 1570.

People, Places And Things

Did you know…

While Elizabeth did stay in the Tower of London, she didn’t spend her house arrest at Hatfield as Queen Mary says in the movie. She was actually sent to Woodstock Palace.

Bishop Gardiner (played by Terence Rigby in the film) was shown as one of the conspirators to overthrow the Queen in “Elizabeth” and was subsequently executed. But the real Bishop Gardiner died from an illness in October 1555 a few years before Elizabeth ascended the throne.

Robert Dudley, the 1^st Earl of Leicester, wasn’t ostracized by the Queen for being part of the plot to overthrow her as depicted in the movie. Tensions did arise, however, when his wife, Amy, mysteriously died in 1560.

Sir Francis Walsingham was actually born in 1532, making him only a year older than the Queen.

Catherine Ashley a.k.a. “Kat” (portrayed by Emily Mortimer in the movie) wasn’t the same age as Elizabeth. She became the future Queen’s governess when Elizabeth was four years old and was in her mid 50s to early 60s when she passed away in 1565.

Sir William Cecil (portrayed by Richard Attenborough) wasn’t retired by the Queen as shown in the film. He actually remained in the Queen’s service and held several positions in the government during her reign.

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