Search - Elizabeth [Special Edition] on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Violence, Sexual Situations Movie Release: 1998 DVD Release: 05/25/1999 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Edition: Dual Layered Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 4 mins Studio: Polygram USA Video Members Wishing: 28 Genres: Historical Film, Biopic [feature], Historical Epic, Feminist Film See Also: Elizabeth [Special Edition], Elizabeth [Widescreen], Elizabeth [HD DVD], Elizabeth [Widescreen] [Limited Edition]

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

Cate Blanchett - Elizabeth I
Geoffrey Rush - Sir Francis Walsingham
Christopher Eccleston - Duke of Norfolk
Joseph Fiennes - Robert Dudley
Richard Attenborough - Sir William Cecil

Cate Blanchett won a Golden Globe award for her portrayal of Elizabeth I, Queen of England and daughter of notorious Henry VIII. While the historic accuracy of this portrayal may be questioned, the production values, sets, and costuming are lush. Seeing the great detail in the costumes is a delight. Shot in Northumberland, Derbyshire, and North Yorkshire, the photography is as lush and beautiful as the costumes. An all-star cast featuring John Gielgud and Richard Attenborough helps round out this film that was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. Elizabeth is offered in remastered 1.85:1 widescreen. The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is presented in English only, with subtitles in Spanish and French, and closed-captioning in English. Along with the great detail in the widescreen format, there are several extra features to enjoy. Polygram included director's commentary, the theatrical trailer and teaser, bios of the cast and crew, a photo gallery, an "Elizabeth Featurette," and a documentary on the making of the film. All the extras are as top-notch as the film. With so many extra features, be prepared for a long evening of viewing. ~ Sherril Steele-Carlin, All Movie Guide