May 26 movie: Elizabeth R. This is not actually a movie but a BBC miniseries starring Glenda Jackson. And wow, it's amazing! I had heard that this was the most historically accurate movie about Elizabeth I, and I wondered if it might be a little dry. But it really wasn't. On the contrary, it was gripping. I stayed up hours late because I couldn't possibly go to sleep until I had seen the whole thing. The drama of Elizabeth's life was amazing, and Glenda Jackson's acting was incredible.
I watched the first DVD, which includes the first two parts of the miniseries. Part I covers the death of Henry VIII to Elizabeth's ascension. Mainly it's about Elizabeth's survival during the reign of Mary Tudor. Part II is about the first few years of Elizabeth's reign, focusing on her relationship with Robert Dudley and efforts by her council and various ambassadors to convince her to marry. Mary Stuart also shows up but isn't yet a major force in the story.
The BBC didn't have the budget of a major Hollywood movie like Elizabeth (the one with Cate Blanchett), but the constumes were still wonderful. I so much want one of those gowns! The ones with the skirts that sweep straight down in a triangular shape, not the ones with the panniers. But I read those early corsets are very uncomfortable, they compress the ribs much more than 19th century corsets.
The DVD also included intermittent commentary by a historian whose name I forget. I started out listening to the commentary, but she too often spoke over scenes whose dialogue I wanted to hear. So I ended up turning it off. However, the additional context she provided was so interesting that I kind of wish I'd watched again with the commentary on. But I was anxious to send the disc back and get disc 2, which comprises parts III and IV of the miniseries. I can't wait to find out what happens next!
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