The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939)

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

James Stephenson

Sir Thomas Egerton

Nanette Fabray

Mistress Margaret Radcliffe

About The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex

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

Popularity

2.5

Release

Nov 11, 1939

Genres

Drama, History, Romance

Director: Michael Curtiz

Writer: Norman Reilly Raine, Aeneas MacKenzie

IMDb

Gallery

The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex poster

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Reviews (1)

CinemaSerf

Jun 22, 2022

8.0

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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