Product Details

• Actors: David Janssen
• Format: Black & White, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: A&E Home Video
• VHS Release Date: July 27, 1999
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000006QHS
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #182,052 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

She restored her people’s faith in the monarchy and led her nation to its greatest period of prosperity and accomplishment. Queen Elizabeth I is one of the most storied rulers in human history. The daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, she studiously avoided involvement in the intrigues after Henry's death, assuming the throne only after the death of her sister Mary. But once in power, she used her education, innate shrewdness and diplomatic skill to lead her nation to glory. BIOGRAPHY revisits the life of this fabled monarch through the commentary of Elizabethan experts and period art, artifacts and accounts. Discover how she stabilized the economy, won the love and support of her people, and played an endless string of royal suitors to her political advantage. From her childhood away from the court to the defeat of the Spanish Armada and the emergence of England as the world's pre-eminent power, this is the fascinating story of Elizabeth I.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not long enough!!, July 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Biography - Elizabeth I: Virgin Queen [VHS] (VHS Tape)

After being pleasantly surprised with the A&E biography of her notorious father, Henry VIII, I decided to view the companion biography of Elizabeth I. What I cannot understand is that they devoted around two hours to Henry's biography and only around one hour to Elizabeth's; this coming from the fact that her reign and life were far more illustrious than the Henry's. I just don't know how you sum of the 45 year reign and 69 year old life of England's greatest monarch in about an hour's time.

For a much better biography, if you have the time and you want to know more, view "Elizabeth R" starring Glenda Jackson. This made for television mini series on different episodes of her life is far superior. If you don't really care that much, but you want her entire life summed up in three sentences, than view this A&E biography.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Very biased account of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, March 13, 2002

By 

Christina M. Myers "Christina" (Washington D.C.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Biography - Elizabeth I: Virgin Queen [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Although there were some good moments in this biography, I was disappointed by the negative light in which it portrayed the Queen. Queen Elizabeth is certainly not without faults, but one of the "historians" who narrated this biography asserted that Queen Elizabeth did nothing to advance the role of England in the world. He asserts that the wealth and status of England after her reign was in spite of her, not because of her. Furthermore, this particular historian, asserts his strong belief that Queen Elizabeth had a duty to her country to marry and produce an heir to the thrown. In my opinion, this belief is what colors his view of the great Queen. His lack of understanding of Queen Elizabeth's difficult decision to remain unmarried is a disappointing display of his masoginistic attitude towards the role of women in leadership. The History Channel does a much better biography on Queen Elizabeth. If this is any indication as to the quality of the work done by A&E, I will not be eager to buy other biographies.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It needed more descriptions of how she wielded power, May 23, 2002

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Biography - Elizabeth I: Virgin Queen [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Only a few decades ago, in western society women were considered the weaker sex, considered incapable of managing anything larger than a household. However, that has not been true down through history, as some very capable women directly ruled countries. Elizabeth I of England was one such woman, and during her reign, England usurped Spain as the supreme maritime power in the world. Early in the century, the Spanish king ruled over Spain, the low countries and nearly all of the new world, holdings that required a powerful navy. However, the epic defeat of the Spanish armada that attacked England changed the balance of naval power towards England, a position that it did not relinquish for four centuries. This change took place while Elizabeth occupied the throne and the country was forever changed. Unfortunately, very little of the power struggles between nations is mentioned.
From the tape, you learn her origins as a child of King Henry the Eighth, considered illegitimate early in life, pushed aside and often on the verge of being banished or executed as a potential rival for the throne. It was here where she learned her skills as a court diplomat, taking great care to avoid offending those looking for a reason to eliminate her. Yet she survived and finally gained the throne, which she held for over four decades. These skills served her well while she ruled, as she played many different factions off with a combination of charm and cunning.
She was a vivacious woman, very physically active and also an involved ruler, considering herself to be appointed by God to her position as ruler of England. Not one to allow her orders to be questioned, she would have someone executed if they betrayed her, although she did so with great reluctance. Unfortunately for England and her legacy, she ultimately fell victim to the occupational disease that all long-term monarchs suffered from. Namely, a fear of change that grew as she got older. This led her to avoid making some major decisions that left the country in a poorer state than it could have been. She waited until she was literally on her deathbed to state who she wanted to succeed her.
Queen Elizabeth the first of England is a role model of how powerful women have existed throughout history, capable of leading countries in peace and in war. Choosing to remain single, she balanced many different forces throughout her life. From this tape, I learned many things about her that I did not know, most of which were personal. If that is what you are interested in, then you will enjoy the tape. If you prefer more information about how she practiced the art of statecraft, then you need to look elsewhere.