Elizabeth (film)

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Movie
German title Elizabeth
Original title Elizabeth
Country of production Great Britain
original language English , French
Publishing year 1998
length 124 minutes
Age rating FSK 12
Rod
Director Shekhar Kapur
script Michael Hirst
production Tim Bevan ,
Eric Fellner ,
Alison Owen
music David Hirschfelder
camera Remi Adefarasin
cut Jill Bilcock
occupation
synchronization
chronology

Successor  →
Elizabeth - The Golden Kingdom

Elizabeth is a British historical film by Shekhar Kapur from 1998 about Queen Elizabeth I. The biography focuses on the early years of the English monarch and the early days of her reign. The world premiere took place on September 8, 1998 at the Venice International Film Festival . Australian actress Cate Blanchett made her international breakthrough in the title role, for which she received her first Oscar nomination and several film awards. In 2007 a sequel about the later years of Elizabeth's reign was released under the title Elizabeth - The Golden Kingdom .

action

In England in 1554, the English King Henry VIII has been dead for seven years. The country is divided into Catholics and Protestants . Heinrich's eldest daughter Maria , a staunch Catholic, rules as queen. Since she is childless, the Catholics fear that Maria's young half-sister Elisabeth , a Protestant, will succeed her to the throne. To prevent this from happening, Elizabeth is arrested on charges of heresy , treason and conspiracy with Thomas Wyatt and locked in the Tower of London . After a dialogue with Maria, who tried in vain to wrest Elisabeth's promise to secure power for the Catholic faith in the country in the event of her accession to the throne, Elisabeth was placed under house arrest. When in 1558 a supposed pregnancy of Mary turns out to be a tumor and she dies from it, Elisabeth is appointed the new queen.

In the face of empty state coffers and external threats from France and Spain , Elisabeth is advised after her coronation by her loyal friend and advisor William Cecil to marry as soon as possible, to have an heir and thus to consolidate her power. Sir Francis Walsingham , who has returned from exile in France , will also be at her side as an advisor and head of a spy network. However, Elisabeth ignored the first marriage offers from the Spanish and French. She would rather continue to meet with Robert Dudley , the Earl of Leicester, with whom she has had a secret liaison for a long time.

When Marie de Guise strengthens her French troops in Scotland , Elisabeth's advisors, above all the power-hungry Duke of Norfolk , urge war. Elisabeth gives in reluctantly. In the following battle their troops are defeated. Thereupon the offer is made to her again to take the Duke of Anjou as husband, in order to guarantee peace with France. In view of her weakened political position, she finally agrees to meet Anjou and invites him to England. She also realizes that her people will never rest and that her throne will remain uncertain as long as the battles between Catholics and Protestants continue in her country. It succeeds in passing a religious law that unifies Anglican Protestantism and makes it the sole state religion. The Vatican then referred to Elizabeth as a “servant of godlessness” and responded with a decree from the Pope who deprived Elizabeth of the throne and assured every citizen who attempts to murder the queen that they would be accepted into the kingdom of heaven.

Elisabeth finally receives the Duke of Anjou, who with his frivolous and vulgar manner immediately meets with displeasure. At a royal festival followed by fireworks, an attack is carried out on Elisabeth. Back in her royal apartments, she learns from Cecil that Dudley is already married, which leads to the break with him. She also finally rejects Anjou, whom she meets in women's clothes at a private feast, as a husband. When one of her ladies-in-waiting wears a poisoned dress that was intended as a gift from the French for Elizabeth during a shepherd's hour with Dudley and dies in agony in it, Walsingham goes to Scotland to meet in secret with Marie de Guise and this one to fool a possible alliance. The next morning, de Guise is found murdered in her bed.

When Elisabeth sends Cecil into retirement - she just wants to follow her own advice - he warns her about her political enemies. With the help of Walsingham, however, Elisabeth can assert herself against her opponents. A conspiracy led by the Duke of Norfolk and backed by the Vatican to put Mary Stuart on the throne in her place is exposed and all those involved in the intrigue are executed. Only Dudley, who had teamed up with the Spanish ambassador and thus joined the Catholics, wants to spare her, so that she will always be reminded how close she was to danger. Determined never to be subject to a man and no longer to be blinded by emotions, Elisabeth has her hair cut and done according to the example of the Virgin Mary . Before her court, she announces that she is married to England and ascends to the throne as the virgin queen.

background

production

For the Indian director Shekhar Kapur , Elizabeth was the first English-language feature film. According to his own statement, the implementation of the material was less about historical facts than about the human side behind the facade of the English queen. "I had to make a decision: whether I wanted historical details or the emotions and the core of the story to prevail," says Kapur. The historical events, especially the many conspiracies against Elisabeth, were so complex that a historically correct representation within a two-hour film would have been too much at the expense of Elisabeth's character drawing.

Kapur originally envisaged actress Emily Watson for the lead role, but she declined the offer. In the meantime, Kate Winslet was also in discussion for the role of Elisabeth. Kapur finally picked Australian Cate Blanchett after seeing her in a trailer for the 1997 film Oscar and Lucinda . In the course of her preparation, Blanchett read original texts about the English monarch, but like Kapur concentrated more on the human aspect of her figure. "The movie is more metaphorical about what it means to be queen," said Blanchett.

John Myhre and Peter Howitt were responsible for the production design and the equipment for the film . Alexandra Byrne designed the costumes . Tim Bevan , Eric Fellner and Alison Owen appeared as producers . In addition to Bevan's daughter Daisy Bevan in the role of Arundel's daughter, Owen's children also appeared in small supporting roles in the film: Alfie Allen as Arundel's son and Sarah Owen and Lily Allen as ladies-in-waiting. Years later, Lily Allen became famous as a pop singer and Alfie Allen as the cast of Theon Greyjoy on the HBO series Game of Thrones .

Filming

Coronation portrait of Elizabeth I.

Filming began in early September 1997 and took place in England. The location of the battle between Elisabeth and Marie de Guise's troops was Alnwick Castle in Northumberland , where the scenes with the Protestant martyrs burning at the stake at the beginning of the film and Elizabeth's arrest were also made. Interior shots were filmed at nearby Chillingham Castle . Other locations in Northumberland included Bamburgh Castle , Warkworth Castle , which replaced the Tower of London dungeons in the film, and Aydon Castle , which was used for scenes with Walsingham and John Ballard. Bolton Castle in North Yorkshire served as the forecourt of the Tower of London , where the scene in which Elizabeth discovers the Duke of Anjou in women's clothes was also shot.

Durham Cathedral, the filming location of the royal court

Haddon Hall in Derbyshire was used as the stately home that Elisabeth grew up on in the film and where she has to serve her house arrest. Her coronation ceremony was staged in the place of Westminster Abbey in York Minster in York . The costume design, hair and make-up of Elisabeth and the camera setting of this scene were inspired by her traditional coronation portrait. The Thames Festival featured in the film was staged in the moat outside Raby Castle in Durham . The Durham Cathedral with its distinctive large pillars of the location for much of the interior shots that Elizabeth's royal court was show and the 1698 destroyed by fire Palace of Whitehall represent.

The in Tudor style built mansion Dorney Court near Maidenhead in Berkshire was in the film of the residence of the Earl of Arundel, where this and John Ballard are captured at the end of the film. The Landmark Arts Center in the London borough of Teddington , which was built in 1889 as a neo-Gothic church, served as the filming location for the celebrations after Elizabeth's coronation and for the final scene with Elizabeth as the virgin queen . Further recordings were made in Leeds Castle in Kent and Middle Temple in London as well as in Shepperton Studios .

Historical inaccuracies

The film is based on historical facts, but allows for a more dramatic narrative style of the plot deviations and artistic freedom in the design of the people and events, some of which were added or only took place years later. Clear deviations from the historical facts resulted in the presentation of William Cecil . In the film he appears as an old man when in reality he was only 13 years older than Elisabeth. In fact, he always had plans to marry the Queen, but these did not result in his being released. Cecil was Elizabeth's most important advisor until his death in 1598.

In the film, Cecil, who later became Baron Burghley, confronts Elisabeth with the fact that Robert Dudley is married. In fact, Elisabeth knew about his marriage long ago and still showed herself with him publicly, which led to talk across Europe. Dudley's wife, Amy Robsart , was seriously ill (probably from breast cancer) but did not succumb to her condition, but died under mysterious circumstances - by falling off a stone staircase. Robert Dudley was suspected of murder and, although now a widower and free, was no longer an option because of the scandal as a husband for Elisabeth. Dudley also never participated in a conspiracy against Elizabeth. He was loyal to her until his death.

Elizabeth's cousin, the Duke of Norfolk , is portrayed as the leading Catholic figure in the film. In fact, he was a Protestant. His execution because of a conspiracy against Elizabeth is historically correct - he had plans to marry Maria Stuart , who at that time was already in English custody. However, the intrigue took place in 1572, 14 years after Elisabeth's accession to the throne. John Ballard , in turn, was the mastermind behind the Babington Conspiracy in 1586.

In the film, Marie de Guise spends a night of love with Sir Francis Walsingham and is then murdered by him. In truth, the French Queen of Scotland and mother of Mary Queen of Scots died of dropsy in Edinburgh Castle in 1560 . The Duke of Anjou was not, as shown in the film, de Guise's nephew. Although Elizabeth's marriage to him was actually considered for a short time and this was not until 1570 - Elisabeth was 37 at the time, Anjou 19 - a meeting between the two never took place. There is also no evidence of the Duke's fondness for women's clothing.

Film music

In addition to the music composed for the film by David Hirschfelder, you can also hear compositions from the Renaissance , Baroque and late 19th century in Elizabeth :

reception

publication

The world premiere of Elizabeth was celebrated on September 8, 1998 at the Venice International Film Festival . A screening at the Toronto International Film Festival followed on September 13, 1998 . The London premiere took place on October 2, 1998 . After the film was released in Italy, the USA, Australia and other European countries, the film was also released in German, Austrian and Swiss cinemas on October 29 and 30, 1998. While the film received an R rating from the MPAA in the USA and was therefore approved for ages 17 and over and in other countries, including Austria, for ages 16 and over, it was approved for ages 12 and over in Germany and Switzerland.

In the course of its release, the American Catholic League accused the film of being "anti-Catholic", and also referred to the film criticism of the New York Times . The film critics themselves sometimes pointed out historical inaccuracies, but the majority were positive about the film and praised the elaborate pictures and main actress Cate Blanchett. This subsequently received her first and one of a total of seven Oscar nominations for the film. Since Judi Dench was also nominated for an Oscar in Shakespeare in Love in the role of Elizabeth I (in the category Best Supporting Actress ), 1998 was the only year in which two actresses were nominated for the same role in two different films for an Oscar were. Only in the category Best Make-up was Kapur's film biography able to prevail against the competition. In the Best Picture category, it was defeated by the love film Shakespeare in Love , in which Geoffrey Rush and Joseph Fiennes also starred.

The historical drama, whose budget was $ 30 million, grossed around $ 82 million worldwide. In Germany, 629,145 viewers saw the film out of 131 copies. The German Film and Media Assessment (FBW) in Wiesbaden awarded it the title “Particularly valuable”. The reasoning stated, among other things: “The technical perfection of the cinematic design does not become independent, but creates an atmospheric density in which Elisabeth's gradual disembodiment and integration into the apparatus of power is exaggerated with unobtrusive symbolism. Seldom does a film manage to find such a clear ending to its narrative. "

The film's soundtrack was released by Decca Records in 1998 on a 15-composition CD. In May 1999 the film was first released on DVD in Germany . In 2010 it was released on Blu-ray .

Reviews

"The opulent, lavish equipment, camera and music as well as an impressive ensemble of actors result in a successful total work of art", praised the lexicon of international film . "Modern spirit in old costumes" was the positive conclusion of the film magazine Cinema . The television magazine Prisma described Elizabeth as "a period film that seems overloaded for long stretches", which, however, is "a feast for the eyes" due to its elaborate appearance in terms of equipment, costumes and mask. Outstanding are "the extremely dark images of the suppression of scheming assassinations".

Volker Marquardt from Spiegel found the film and its subject - “the incompatibility of love and reason” - “very modern”. He is also of "astonishingly formal unity". Marquardt also drew comparisons with Josef von Sternberg's historical drama Die Scharlachrote Kaiserin , in which Marlene Dietrich played Katharina the Great and, like Elisabeth, was confronted with numerous conspiracies. "Unlike the scarlet empress, Elizabeth does not use her erotic attraction, but her inviolability." According to Kerstin Decker from Tagesspiegel , Elizabeth is "the best [historical film] that has been shown in the cinema for a long time". It was a good choice that an Australian had slipped into the role of the English regent and an Indian took over the direction. "There couldn't have been better." While Cate Blanchett gave her role "the translucent and vulnerable of youth and at the same time an almost bony strength", Joseph Fiennes appeared as Robert Dudley "a little pale". The director, on the other hand, managed to “dreamily strike the balance between human fate and historical events”.

Richard Williams of the Guardian found Kapur's film “impressively beautiful”, “incredibly resonant” and “always entertaining”. If Shakespeare had made a film about "his queen", it might be exactly as Kapur directed it. In view of the fact that Elizabeth I has already been played by numerous actresses, including Sarah Bernhardt , Glenda Jackson , Flora Robson , Bette Davis and Jean Simmons , Blanchett stands out in that she is "a thoroughly convincing representation" of the young Elisabeth and hers eventful and long-suffering ascent to power. In some scenes it is downright "electrifying". Geoffrey Rush, in turn, gave the character of Sir Francis Walsingham "a cool, dangerous and alert aura" in a "memorable performance". According to Williams, one can only hope that the makers of the film are already planning a sequel.

"The virgin queen's crown now belongs to Blanchett," announced the Independent's Matthew Sweet . While especially the political storyline gives Blanchett the opportunity to shine as an actor, the romantic part is "less convincing". The remaining line-up with Kathy Burke, Christopher Eccleston and Geoffrey Rush is "huge". Kapur's directing attested Sweet "a generous, diabolical energy tempered by a sensitivity to the potential silliness of a film tucked into tights by a legion of British actors." The film also switches from horrific to comic scenes with ease. Unfortunately, the script with its boring dialogues cannot keep up with “the lush monumental images”, such as in the last scene of the film, which is “of a visual splendor” that “is seldom seen in British cinema”. The Time Out Film Guide stated that the film does not take history very seriously, but still offers “an impressive portrait” of the young Elisabeth.

Janet Maslin wrote in the New York Times that "Kapur's lively, flamboyant approach [suits] young Elizabeth". Cate Blanchett gives her role "spirit, beauty and substance", which otherwise could also have been "meaningless". David Rooney from Variety described the film, which was bursting with intrigue, conspiracies, violence, sex, betrayal and murder and manslaughter, as an "outstanding historical soap opera", the typical clichés of British costume films with their "daring, often modern" implementation " cleverly ”. Cate Blanchett shows "with grace, poise and intelligence" how far ahead of her time Elizabeth I was. Rooney also praised the supporting actors and especially the visual style. In Patrice Chéreau's historical film Die Bartholomäusnacht , which was shaped by religious tensions , he saw a model for the film, to which a bit of The Godfather was added, which is particularly evident in the " Coppola- esque" cut of those scenes in which Elisabeth's enemies one after the others are turned off.

James Berardinelli of ReelViews said the film gave viewers "a pretty good overview of the character and life of the 16th century monarch." Although it was not convincing in detail, it was still “a successful historical drama”, which was mainly due to “the excellent portrayal of Cate Blanchett”, which “breathed life into the highly revered historical figure”. The supporting actors are also "first class". Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave Elizabeth 4½ out of five stars and certified the film as "full of rich, saturated colors and emotions". Ebert also commented critically that the film shortens and changes the historical facts "at its own discretion", which, however, is typical of English historical dramas. The performance of the leading actress was really successful.

Awards (selection)

Awarded numerous prizes: Cate Blanchett (2007)
BAFTA winner Geoffrey Rush (2011)
A costume designed by Alexandra Byrne for Cate Blanchett at the Australian Center for the Moving Image
Oscar 1999

Won:

Nominated:

Golden Globe Awards 1999

Won:

Nominated:

British Academy Film Awards 1999

Won:

Nominated:

Venice International Film Festival 1999
  • Max Factor Award (Jenny Shircore)
Bodil
  • Nominated for Best Non-American Film
Boston Society of Film Critics
Chicago Film Critics Association
Chlotrudis Award
Critics' Choice Movie Award
Empire Award
  • Best Actress (Cate Blanchett)
London Critics' Circle Film Award
National Board of Review
National Society of Film Critics
Online Film Critics Society Award
Satellite Award
Screen Actors Guild Award
Toronto Film Critics Association Award
  • Best Actress (Cate Blanchett)

German version

The German dubbed version was made at Interopa Film in Berlin . Elke Seiler wrote the dialogue book and Hagen Mueller-Stahl directed the dialogue .

role actor Voice actor
Elizabeth I. Cate Blanchett Arianne Borbach
Sir Francis Walsingham Geoffrey Rush Ernst Meincke
Duke of Norfolk Christopher Eccleston Bernd Vollbrecht
Robert Dudley Joseph Fiennes Frank Schaff
William Cecil Richard Attenborough Gerhard Paul
Marie de Guise Fanny Ardant Anita Lochner
Duke of Anjou Vincent Cassel Patrice Luc Doumeyrou
Monsieur de Foix Eric Cantona Stefan Gossler
Queen Maria I. Kathy Burke Kerstin Sanders-Dornseif
Count of Arundel Edward Hardwicke Lothar Blumhagen
Pope Pius V. John Gielgud Eric Vaessen
John Ballard Daniel Craig Peter Reinhardt
Alvaro de la Quadra James Frain Tom Vogt
Earl of Sussex Jamie Foreman Helmut Gauss
Kat Ashley Emily Mortimer Judith Brandt
Bishop Gardiner Terence Rigby Jürgen Thormann
Isabel Knollys Kelly Macdonald Marie Bierstedt
Lettice Howard Amanda Ryan Uschi Hugo
Sir Thomas Elyot Kenny Doughty Kim Hasper
martyr Liz Giles Regine Albrecht

continuation

In 2007, a sequel to the film about the later reign of the English Queen and her clashes with Mary Queen of Scots and the Spanish Armada was released under the title Elizabeth - The Golden Kingdom . Cate Blanchett and Geoffrey Rush repeated their roles and Shekhar Kapur took over the direction again. Producers Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, screenwriter Michael Hirst, cameraman Remi Adefarasin, editor Jill Bilcock, costume designer Alexandra Byrne and make-up artist Jenny Shircore were also used again.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Certificate of Release to Elizabeth . Voluntary self-regulation of the film industry , March 2008 (PDF; test number: 80 781-a DVD).
  2. ↑ David Rooney: Elizabeth . In: Variety , September 9, 1998.
  3. ↑ "I had to make a choice: whether I wanted the details of history or the emotions and essence of history to prevail." Shekhar Kapur quoted. after Rosanna de Lisle: Shekhar Kapur - The original Elizabethan . In: The Independent , September 27, 1998.
  4. ↑ a b Rosanna de Lisle: Shekhar Kapur - The original Elizabethan . In: The Independent , September 27, 1998.
  5. ^ Army Archerd: 'Jackie' thesp sez she's no 'Elizabeth' . In: Variety , February 17, 1999.
  6. ↑ Rosanna de Lisle: Her Brilliant Career . In: The Independent , March 29, 1998.
  7. ↑ "The film is more a metaphorical thing about what it means to be queen." Cate Blanchett quoted. after Rosanna de Lisle: Shekhar Kapur - The original Elizabethan . In: The Independent , September 27, 1998.
  8. ↑ a b c cf. movie-locations.com
  9. ^ A b Carole Levin: Elizabeth: Romantic Film Heroine or Sixteenth-Century Queen? . In: Perspectives on History , April 1, 1999.
  10. ↑ a b c Alex von Tunzelmann: Elizabeth I Rules Over Time and Space . In: The Guardian , September 21, 2011.
  11. ↑ cf. imdb.com
  12. ^ "Elizabeth" Is "Resolutely Anti-Catholic" at catholicleague.org, January 27, 1999.
  13. ↑ cf. boxofficemojo.com
  14. ↑ cf. insidekino.com
  15. ↑ cf. fbw-filmb Bewertung.com
  16. ↑ Elizabeth. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed February 19, 2020 .Template: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used 
  17. ↑ cf. cinema.de
  18. ↑ cf. prisma.de
  19. ↑ Volker Marquardt: "Elizabeth" - The Effects of Power . In: Der Spiegel , October 26, 1998.
  20. ↑ Kerstin Decker : The life of an icon . In: Der Tagesspiegel , October 29, 1998.
  21. ↑ “ Elizabeth is […] imposingly beautiful, persuasively resonant, unfailingly entertaining. [...] Blanchett's triumph is to create a thoroughly convincing depiction of the journey from canoodling girlhood to the threshold of an imperial monarchy [...]. Sir Francis Walsingham [… is] given a cool, dangerous and watchful presence in Geoffrey Rush's memorable portrayal. [...] Blanchett is nothing short of electrifying. " Richard Williams : Liz the Lionheart . In: The Guardian , October 2, 1998.
  22. ↑ “The Virgin Queen's crown now belongs to Blanchett. […] But the romantic element is tackled less convincingly […]. The supporting cast is tremendous. […] Kapur's direction has a lavish, sinister energy, tempered by a sensitivity to the potential silliness of a film which puts a legion of British character actors into tights. […] But unfortunately, Michael Hirst's script […] lags a long way behind […] the film's luscious monumentalist pictures […]. The final scene of the film, for instance, has a visual magnificence rarely seen in British cinema. " Matthew Sweet: Elizabeth the Magnificent . In: The Independent , October 4, 1998.
  23. ↑ "The film plays fast and loose with history but creates a sweeping portrait." Time Out Film Guide , cf. timeout.com
  24. ↑ “Mr. Kapur's lusty, flamboyant approach does suit the young Elizabeth […]. Ms. Blanchett […] brings spirit, beauty and substance to what otherwise might have been turned into a vacuous role. " Janet Maslin : Amour and High Dudgeon in a Castle of One's Own . In: The New York Times , November 6, 1998.
  25. ^ " Elizabeth is superior historical soap opera that shrewdly sidesteps all the cliches of British costume drama with its bold, often modern approach. [...] Blanchett conveys with grace, poise and intelligence that Elizabeth was a wily, decisive, advanced thinker [...]. Visually, the pic is a superb achievement. " David Rooney: Elizabeth . In: Variety , September 9, 1998.
  26. ^ " Elizabeth offers a reasonably accurate overview of the 16th century monarch's character and life. When it comes to specifics, however, the film is sorely lacking. […] Overall, however, this is a fine historical melodrama […]. One of the primary reasons Elizabeth works is because of the superlative performance of Cate Blanchett. [...] she breathes life into the revered historical figure. [...] The supporting cast is top notch. " James Berardinelli , cf. reelviews.net
  27. ↑ “ Elizabeth is [...] steeped in rich, saturated colors and emotions. [...] The movie, indeed, compresses and rewrites history at its own convenience, which is the rule anyway with English historical romances. What it gets right is the performance by Cate Blanchett. " Roger Ebert : Elizabeth . In: Chicago Sun-Times , November 20, 1998.
  28. ↑ Elizabeth. In: synchronkartei.de. German synchronous index , accessed on March 27, 2020 .