Saturday, May 13, 2006

The Virgin Queen (1955)

Synopsis: The film is centered on the relationship between Walter Raleigh and Elizabeth I. Raleigh wants the queen to build him some ships so he can sail to the New World for gold, but the queen has other plans. 
Appraisal: This is a rather enjoyable "historical" (the quotes mean that I am not aware of the historical accuracy of the film) drama, that portrays Elizabeth as a sexually frustrated woman. I was annoyed by the inexplicable behavior of lady Raleigh after the secret wedding, when there was nothing in her husband's behavior to justify it. This was clearly an artificial conflict tossed in for conflict's sake alone. Otherwise, the film has competent scripting and dialogue, an excellent leading female performance and good acting overall, and high production values. 
Rating: 58

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