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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Glenda Jackson is majestic in the six-video miniseries from the BBC, Elizabeth R. Covering the entire reign of Elizabeth I, from her struggles with her half-sister Mary just before being crowned as queen to her death in 1603, the series profiles the life of the Virgin Queen in detail--and with historical accuracy--not possible in the as beautiful, but much shorter, theatrical release, Elizabeth. Religious conflicts, her struggle over the execution of her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots, battles with Spain, court politics, and of course her flirtations with Robert Dudley (portrayed as an almost-comical fop by Robert Hardy) and her decision to remain unmarried are just some of the highlights of this magnificently costumed and finely acted piece. Jackson skillfully captures the capricious moods and incredible intellect of the queen who defied the pope and the conventions of the time as a strong-willed woman, and characters from textbooks--Sir Francis Bacon, Sir Walter Raleigh, King Phillip II--come vividly to life. Elizabeth R (and for those not in the know, the "R" is for "Regina") is a splendid melding of history and entertainment, and as thorough as this series is, you will still long for more. --Jenny Brown
Product Description
Episodes: "The Lion's Cub," "The Marriage Game," "Shadow of the Sun," "Horrible Conspiracies," "The Enterprise of England," "Sweet England's Pride." This magnificent 6-volume collection recounts the epic life and times of the remarkable Elizabeth I in a cycle of 6 plays. Won multiple Emmy Awards.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
153 of 154 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a superb BBC miniseries, or "cycle of six plays", with extraordinary acting and most of all, a script that is a marvel, which uses original documents and the writings of Queen Elizabeth I as its source, making the story, so full of intrigue and drama, for the most part very accurate.
My favorites are the monologues, spoken with such power by Glenda Jackson, whose performance is a treasure. The cast that surrounds her is also wonderful, and often having a physical similarity to the historical character (with kudos to the make-up department).
There are so many reasons to buy this fantastic DVD package, which may seem expensive but is actually an excellent value. For historians this is a must, and anyone who appreciates great English theater will be delighted. The quality of the film is also exceptional, with an exceedingly clear picture and audio.
I bought it to prepare for a portrait of Queen Bess, and was enthralled by the detail of the costuming; what amazed me was how the fashion changed during the queen's forty-four year reign. It was a time rich with culture and style, with the emergence of Shakespeare and other great writers, and the queen loved clothes and jewelry, and surely set the trends.
The music by David Munro also adds to the atmosphere, and the sets have an authentic feel.
This is a brilliant production, and total running time is 540 minutes.
The DVD "extras" are terrific, are the entire content of the 4th disc, and should perhaps be viewed before the film, for full appreciation of the history. The "extras" are:
1: A lengthy interview with Glenda Jackson
2: An interview with historian Alison Weir
3: "Elizabeth I", an A&E documentary with commentary by various authors and historians, and marvelous imagery to illustrate it.
4, A: Glenda Jackson reads documents. B: Portrait Gallery (there is an error here, where the portrait of Robert Dudley is actually one of Sir Francis Drake). C: Historical Sites, including the queen's tomb, palaces, etc.
5: Behind the scenes, with a Who's Who of the cast.
My favorites are the monologues, spoken with such power by Glenda Jackson, whose performance is a treasure. The cast that surrounds her is also wonderful, and often having a physical similarity to the historical character (with kudos to the make-up department).
There are so many reasons to buy this fantastic DVD package, which may seem expensive but is actually an excellent value. For historians this is a must, and anyone who appreciates great English theater will be delighted. The quality of the film is also exceptional, with an exceedingly clear picture and audio.
I bought it to prepare for a portrait of Queen Bess, and was enthralled by the detail of the costuming; what amazed me was how the fashion changed during the queen's forty-four year reign. It was a time rich with culture and style, with the emergence of Shakespeare and other great writers, and the queen loved clothes and jewelry, and surely set the trends.
The music by David Munro also adds to the atmosphere, and the sets have an authentic feel.
This is a brilliant production, and total running time is 540 minutes.
The DVD "extras" are terrific, are the entire content of the 4th disc, and should perhaps be viewed before the film, for full appreciation of the history. The "extras" are:
1: A lengthy interview with Glenda Jackson
2: An interview with historian Alison Weir
3: "Elizabeth I", an A&E documentary with commentary by various authors and historians, and marvelous imagery to illustrate it.
4, A: Glenda Jackson reads documents. B: Portrait Gallery (there is an error here, where the portrait of Robert Dudley is actually one of Sir Francis Drake). C: Historical Sites, including the queen's tomb, palaces, etc.
5: Behind the scenes, with a Who's Who of the cast.
110 of 111 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape|Amazon Verified Purchase
This Masterpiece Theatre, six play series of the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England is magnificent. Written by six different playwrights, they are uniformly excellent. Glenda Jackson reigns supreme in the role of Elizabeth I.
While the production values are not high, that is because these plays were part of a televised series for which there were budgetary constraints. The shift from indoor sets to outdoor scenes is awkward, as it entails a switch from tape to film. The stage makeup is noticeable, as the lighting is harsh and glaring. Although the sets are a stark and dreary backdrop, the costumes are sumptuous and gorgeous. More important, the acting is, at all times, superlative.
Elizabeth I is played to perfection by Glenda Jackson. She has set the standard by which all others who seek to reprise this role will be judged, and she is the linchpin around which the entire six play series revolves. She begins the series playing Elizabeth as the young woman who would be queen, waiting upon the whims of her sister, the Queen Mary, and trying to survive the political intrigues and plots which surround her and threaten her very existence. The threat dissipates upon Mary's death, though it never disappears, and she becomes Queen of her beloved England.
As the series progresses, one sees her mature and resist the overtures and attentions of would be husbands, preferring, instead, to be married to England. One sees the development of her political and diplomatic acumen, as she sublimates her personal desires to become the greatest monarch, male or female, England has ever known, The Virgin Queen.
Each one of the plays has its own unique story to tell about Elizabeth and is a first rate drama that segues seamlessly into the next. The supporting cast is superb. All in all, this series provides a fully absorbing, historically accurate drama. It is through Ms. Jackson's insightful and commanding performance that one is able to understand why Elizabeth I was responsible for ushering in England's golden age.
While the production values are not high, that is because these plays were part of a televised series for which there were budgetary constraints. The shift from indoor sets to outdoor scenes is awkward, as it entails a switch from tape to film. The stage makeup is noticeable, as the lighting is harsh and glaring. Although the sets are a stark and dreary backdrop, the costumes are sumptuous and gorgeous. More important, the acting is, at all times, superlative.
Elizabeth I is played to perfection by Glenda Jackson. She has set the standard by which all others who seek to reprise this role will be judged, and she is the linchpin around which the entire six play series revolves. She begins the series playing Elizabeth as the young woman who would be queen, waiting upon the whims of her sister, the Queen Mary, and trying to survive the political intrigues and plots which surround her and threaten her very existence. The threat dissipates upon Mary's death, though it never disappears, and she becomes Queen of her beloved England.
As the series progresses, one sees her mature and resist the overtures and attentions of would be husbands, preferring, instead, to be married to England. One sees the development of her political and diplomatic acumen, as she sublimates her personal desires to become the greatest monarch, male or female, England has ever known, The Virgin Queen.
Each one of the plays has its own unique story to tell about Elizabeth and is a first rate drama that segues seamlessly into the next. The supporting cast is superb. All in all, this series provides a fully absorbing, historically accurate drama. It is through Ms. Jackson's insightful and commanding performance that one is able to understand why Elizabeth I was responsible for ushering in England's golden age.
62 of 66 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:VHS Tape
All right - there are flaws in this series. One wishes the BBC had the budget of that purple travesty, Blanchett's ELIZABETH. Then, too, there are unintentionally funny moments for the Tudor aficionado, as Gloriana conversationally employs remarks culled from speeches to Parliament she would not make for years. And I'm not crazy about Vivian Pickles as Mary of Scotland. Too shrill.
That said, this is an extraordinary, magnetic, all-around brilliant piece of work. After many, many viewings, I still marvel that Glenda Jackson is not herself a scholar, so perfectly does she capture the queen we know through Neale and Camden. I carp over misplaced dialogue, but how thrilling that such research went into the project, that the writers sought to convey Elizabeth's heart and soul through her own words!
My favorite episode remains 'The Enterprise of England'. Somehow, the duel between Philip and Elizabeth, his character and concerns, her sentiments regarding him and the power he represents, the scope of England's fear and effort, are all set in human terms and flow with the grace of excellent narrative. My favorite illustration of the effort that went into this production: the actor portraying Francis Walsingham. He is a mirror-image of the best surviving portrait we have of that fascinating man. And does a superb job, too.
The whole production is a treasure. Historians have noted that the elderly Elizabeth tapped her foot in time to the music she could no longer dance to; notice this subtlety beneath the dialogue in the last part. Elizabeth wrote 'his last letter' upon Dudley's final note to her; this is fact. Watch Jackson perform this simple act, and see what this actress does with it.
This was television at its absolute best. It still is.
That said, this is an extraordinary, magnetic, all-around brilliant piece of work. After many, many viewings, I still marvel that Glenda Jackson is not herself a scholar, so perfectly does she capture the queen we know through Neale and Camden. I carp over misplaced dialogue, but how thrilling that such research went into the project, that the writers sought to convey Elizabeth's heart and soul through her own words!
My favorite episode remains 'The Enterprise of England'. Somehow, the duel between Philip and Elizabeth, his character and concerns, her sentiments regarding him and the power he represents, the scope of England's fear and effort, are all set in human terms and flow with the grace of excellent narrative. My favorite illustration of the effort that went into this production: the actor portraying Francis Walsingham. He is a mirror-image of the best surviving portrait we have of that fascinating man. And does a superb job, too.
The whole production is a treasure. Historians have noted that the elderly Elizabeth tapped her foot in time to the music she could no longer dance to; notice this subtlety beneath the dialogue in the last part. Elizabeth wrote 'his last letter' upon Dudley's final note to her; this is fact. Watch Jackson perform this simple act, and see what this actress does with it.
This was television at its absolute best. It still is.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent biography
This biography of Queen Elizabeth I, a made for TV miniseries, is composed of six 90-minute shows, each on its own tape. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Kurt A. Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars
History buffs love this
True, it's a rather fictional rendition, but that doesn't affect the great BBC acting which glitters through the older production standards (sometimes scratchy audio, etc.). Read more
Published 2 months ago by Robin J. Lange
5.0 out of 5 stars
elizabeth r
this is a must have item for all who enjoy this genre. the bonus disk was also great. all very relevant.
Published 3 months ago by john r
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of The Great BBC Series!
In 1971, Glenda Jackson, fresh off an Oscar win for Women In Love took up BBC television to play the great queen Elizabeth I. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Lynn Ellingwood
5.0 out of 5 stars
Glenda Jackson
Gets it perfect. She has the essence of Elizabeth I perfect. Young, old, failing. She gets it all right the first time
Published 3 months ago by Mryna Edington
3.0 out of 5 stars
Did not perform as advertised
I have LONG wanted this set - and especially searched to see that it was closed captioned - it said it was on your site - and on the package itself - but alas - no closed... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Sara -Elisebeth Finley
5.0 out of 5 stars
Elizabeth R
Fantastic production that captures the historic Elizabeth and shows the Queen in her brilliance politically and diplomatically. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Arthur Steinmetz
5.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting
Movie arrived fairly quickly and in pristine condition. While I was a bit disappointed in the overall movie, I must say it was beautifully filmed and the acting was very good too. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Sandra Kern
3.0 out of 5 stars
disappointing
The problem is with the script that is stiff and parsimonious.
What holds this series together is the wonderful Glenda Jackson whose scope was stifled. Read more
What holds this series together is the wonderful Glenda Jackson whose scope was stifled. Read more
Published 7 months ago by .fgd
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic-and unavailable.....
This BBC masterpiece was once available on Amazon Prime Instant, I can serve as proof having watched an episode. I also own it and highly recommend it. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Eurobaby
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