Product Details

• Actors: Emilia Fox, Samantha Bond, Susan Jameson, Barbara Flynn, Diana Quick
• Directors: Edmund Coulthard, Patrick Reams, Marion Milne
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: ACORN MEDIA
• DVD Release Date: October 5, 2010
• Run Time: 398 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00342ANSA
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #54,100 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "The Queen" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

A dramatic portrait of one of the world’s most powerful women.

Elizabeth Windsor rose to the throne in 1952 and has been Queen of the United Kingdom ever since. She has reigned over turbulent times. Social upheavals, cash problems, civil unrest, and family woes have challenged her spirit, her principles, and her resolve.

This five-part British series blends dramatized scenes behind palace doors with documentary footage and new interviews with royal insiders. Five top British actresses portray the queen at pivotal moments in her reign from 1955 to 2005: Emilia Fox (Silent Witness), Samantha Bond (GoldenEye), Susan Jameson (New Tricks), Barbara Flynn (Cracker), and Diana Quick (Brideshead Revisited). Biographers, journalists, government officials, palace staff, and a former Archbishop of Canterbury share insights and memories from a half-century reign. Groundbreaking and provocative, The Queen reveals the monarch as you’ve never seen her before.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ENTERTAINING 5-stars from me--BUT WHAT DID THE QUEEN SAY?, August 6, 2010

By 

Harold Wolf "Doc" (Wells, IN United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Queen (DVD)

The Queen E at her best and worst. Wonderfully played by 5 different stars, representing 5 time periods. But 5-stars are awarded for:
* factual documentary
* educational narration
* entertaining dramatization
* fine mix of real archival footage
* period set/costuming plus beautiful footage of the real thing
Both a drama and documentary. Well done in 5 episodes, each 47 min. WITH SUBTITLES. Originally aired Nov/Dec 2009.
Bonus is limited to filmographies of the 5 female leads as "The Queen."

1 SISTERS--Feb.6, 1952 Geo VI dies and Elizabeth, 25 yrs old, becomes "The Queen", reigns yet today. Immediately, younger sister, Margaret, recognized the once equal status between she and Princess Elizabeth was gone. Queen E was embarrassed from Margaret's actions, including a relationship with married/then divorced palace employee, Peter Townsend. Queen (Emilia Fox) & Margaret (Katie McGrath) played convincingly.

2 US AND THEM--Monarchy lives seen on TV in 1969, but popularity dropped to a new low level, royal money was tight, & government leaders question monarchy need. The 1970s appears a time for change. Miners strike as the Queen gets a 100% raise. Princess Anne survives an attempted kidnapping. [I question the dramatization of the Queen & Prime Minister hand-washing dishes together.] Samantha Bond ('Lark Rise to Candleford'-awesome) is Queen; Abby Ford is excellent as Anne.

3 THE RIVALS--The 1986 Commonwealth Games begin a conflict between the Queen and PM Margaret Thatcher (Lesley Manville). South African apartheid becomes a major point of tension as are sanctions. A royal cat fight. Queen is played by Susan Jameson, a wonderful actress also known as the reader for at least 15 audio books of the works of Catherine Cookson. Wonderful stories, every one. Check out C. Cookson book adaptations on DVD, but I digress.

4 THE ENEMY WITHIN--Queen now has 40 yrs experience and her children become problems. Duke/Duchess of York, Andrew & Fergie (Luck Chalkley) make tabloid news, divorce. Not to be outdone, The Prince/Princess of Wales, Charles & Diana (Emily Hamilton), make their own 'news', with Camilla's help. A castle fire and royal separation close a BAD 1992. Barbara Flynn ('Cranford'-get DVD) is The Queen. Now see the "companion-like" DVD of Helen Mirren "The Queen" from 2006.

5 HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE CAMILLA?--Sis Margaret dies weeks prior to the Queen Mother. Should Camilla be allowed to attend the funeral of her lover's grandmother? A civil wedding, April 9, 2005. Did the queen bow to a potential future queen? Joanna Van Gyseghem is Camilla. Diana Quick (Brideshead) the final queen. Is the real Queen E spitting royal nails behind royal draperies over this? Jolly bloody right-on!

FUN 20th/21st century monarch history from the inside looking out. This DVD explains a lot.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very worthwhile, January 5, 2011

By 

Rushmore (CHICAGO, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Queen (DVD)

I am going through a British phase lately. (We are watching the Inspector Lewis series and contemplating dropping the $300+ for Inspector Morse.) I watched The Queen in its entirety on New Year's Day. The blending of documentary footage and dramatic recreation is quite effective. The actors playing the Royals were, thankfully, chosen for their acting ability rather than a striking resemblance to the real people they portray. All segments were quite compelling and provide great insight on the times and the people. My favorite was the first segment dealing with Princess Margaret's affair and potential marriage to Peter Townsend. The emotion is so raw, in spite of the famed British upper lip. It was clearly so difficult for the young Elizabeth to cope with the pressures of the monarchy at the same time wanting her sister to find happiness. Elizabeth and Margaret were obviously close growing up, even though they had such different personalities. After watching the first installment, there was no question I would sit through the whole thing there and then.

Elizabeth is a remarkable woman and this DVD does her justice. Well conceived, well acted, highly recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wasn't what I expected - much more!, January 4, 2011

By 

jj4276 "jj4276" - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Queen (DVD)

This documentary wasn't what I expected. However, it was much more. I did not expect the high levels of personal recollections from people close to the royal family. This wound up being completely mesmerizing for me, and I watched the whole thing in one sitting. I felt like I really learned a lot. I especially enjoyed the piece on her relationship with Margaret Thatcher.