The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex

"Elizabeth I's love for the Earl of Essex threatens to destroy her kingdom."

1939 1h 46m EN

😐

6.3

MID

★6.3TMDB · 101

DramaHistoryRomance

Synopsis

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This period drama frames the tumultuous affair between Queen Elizabeth I and the man who would be King of England.

“Elizabeth I's love for the Earl of Essex threatens to destroy her kingdom.”

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Cast

Bette Davis
Queen Elizabeth
Errol Flynn
The Earl of Essex
Olivia de Havilland
Lady Penelope Gray
Donald Crisp
Francis Bacon
Alan Hale
The Prince of Tyrone
Vincent Price
Sir Walter Raleigh
Henry Stephenson
Lord Burghley
Henry Daniell
Sir Robert Cecil

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Michael Curtiz
Writers: Norman Reilly Raine, Aeneas MacKenzie
Languages: English, Italian
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

87 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Italian.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Michael Curtiz, shot by Sol Polito. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Original score by Erich Wolfgang Korngold. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Owen Marks shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Bette Davis and Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Elizabeth I's love for the Earl of Essex threatens to destroy her kingdom.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0031826 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Michael Curtiz directs. Sol Polito behind the camera. Erich Wolfgang Korngold scores. Owen Marks cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English, Italian.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

187 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, Italian.
3Directed by Michael Curtiz, shot by Sol Polito. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Erich Wolfgang Korngold. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Owen Marks shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Bette Davis and Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "Elizabeth I's love for the Earl of Essex threatens to destroy her kingdom.".
8IMDB entry: tt0031826 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Sol Polito
Original score: Erich Wolfgang Korngold
Editing: Owen Marks
Costume design: Orry-Kelly
Makeup / hair: Perc Westmore
Runtime: 106 min · 1h 46m
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939)

Also by

Michael Curtiz

Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2022-06-22
★ 8/10
Bette Davis; Errol Flynn some swash, buckle and a rousing Korngold score - what more could you want? This is a sumptuous costume drama based on the real life story of an elderly Queen Elizabeth's infatuation with the much younger and more reckless Earl of Essex. There is an engaging chemistry between them - though the script does rather drag at times; and the usual suspects in support - including Olivia de Havilland; Henry Stephenson, Henry Daniell & Donald Crisp keep the whole thing moving along nicely. This is also the first film in which I actually recall Vincent Price having a more substantial part in, too. Lots of theatrical licence taken with the actual turn of events, but hey - it is all good fun...

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