Rating: R
Genre: Historical Film
Theatrical Release: 11/06/1998(USA)
Release Date: 09/18/2007
SubTitles: Espanol
Dubbed: English
Sound: DD5.1
Run Time: 124 Minutes
Flags: Violence, Sexual Situations
Distributor/Studio: Universal Studios

This British-made historical drama depicts the rise of young Elizabeth Tudor to Queen of England, a reign of intrigue and betrayals. In 1554, Queen Mary I (Kathy Burke) tries to restore Catholicism as England's single faith. With no heir to the crown, she maneuvers to keep her Protestant half-sister Elizabeth (Cate Blanchett) from succeeding her, but her efforts fail. With Mary dead, Elizabeth is proclaimed Queen of England in November 1558. Elizabeth relishes the return from exile of her childhood sweetheart, Lord Robert Dudley (Joseph Fiennes). Chief adviser Sir William Cecil (Richard Attenborough) urges the young Queen to forget personal matters and instead address the country's pressing problems. England is bankrupt, has no army, and is under serious threat from abroad. Elizabeth even has enemies within her own court, the most dangerous being the Duke of Norfolk (Christopher Eccleston). Hoping for an heir, Cecil suggests marriage candidates -- King Philip II of Spain or the French Duc d'Anjou (Vincent Cassel) -- to secure the realm. Elizabeth agrees to meet their ambassadors, but her true feelings are revealed when she meets Dudley for a secret tryst. French "warrior queen" Mary of Guise (Fanny Ardent) amasses troops at the Scottish border. Elizabeth bows to the pro-War lobby led by Norfolk, despite protests from her Master of Spies, the enigmatic Sir Francis Walsingham (Geoffrey Rush), but the decision to fight leads to a humiliating defeat. As dark clouds of court conspiracies gather, and the possibility of assassination looms, Elizabeth strikes out at her enemies and puts her trust in Walsingham. Shown at 1998 film fests (Venice, Toronto), this is the first English-language film of Indian director Shekhar Kapur, who shot on locations at Northumberland, Derbyshire, North Yorkshire, and at Shepperton Studios.

~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

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Cast:
Cate Blanchett - Elizabeth I
Geoffrey Rush - Sir Francis Walsingham
Christopher Eccleston - Duke of Norfolk
Joseph Fiennes - Robert Dudley
Richard Attenborough - Sir William Cecil
Fanny Ardant - Mary of Guise
Kathy Burke - Queen Mary of Tudor
Eric Cantona - Monsieur de Foix
James Frain - Alvaro de la Quadra
Vincent Cassel - Duc d'Anjou
Daniel Craig - John Ballard
John Gielgud - The Pope
Angus Deayton -
Edward Hardwicke -
Terence Rigby -
Amanda Ryan -
Kelly MacDonald -
Emily Mortimer -

Production:
Shekhar Kapur - Director
Tim Bevan Eric Fellner Alison Owen - Producer
Liza Chasin Debra Hayward - Co Producer
David Hirschfelder - Composer
Jill Bilcock Jill Bilbock - Editor
Michael Hirst - Screen Writer
Peter Howitt - Set Designer
Lucy Richardson - Art Director
Simone Ireland - Casting
Vanessa Pereira - Casting
Remi Adefarasin - Cinematographer
Alexandra Byrne - Costume Designer
Tommy Gromley - First Assistant Director
Mary Richards - Line Producer
John Myhre - Production Designer
Mark Taylor - Re-Recording Mixer
David A. Stephenson - Sound/Sound Designer
Michael Harris - Sound Recordist

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1998 Academy

1998 Chicago Film Critics Association

1998 American Society of Cinematographers

1998 Screen Actors Guild

1998 Broadcast Film Critics Association

1998 Toronto Film Critics Association

1998 Golden Globe

1998 National Board of Review