Elizabeth I of the house of Tudor had one of the more noteworthy reigns in the history of Monarchy. Reigning from November 17, 1558 until her death March 24, 1603, her rule has been highlighted in TV and film. This recent film "Elizabeth the Golden Age" was a sequel to "Elizabeth". "Elizabeth" was an intriguingly dark, and reveling portrait of late 16th century England. This second film is a flop in comparison. As a bibliophile and novice historian, I walked out of the theater personally hurt.
What did they do to my Elizabeth?
My emotional response isn't to the main character or any character in particular. It’s all the characters in play with their situation and the era. Like a classical painting, the reign of Elizabeth I has a fantastic Deus Ex Machina to it. It fits wonderfully in a frame of artistic expression. Step back from the historical factoids; appreciate the elaborate art, music, & poetry, it was a remarkable time to be alive. It was an era of exploration across the globe and into the human consciousness.
These were real people with an unfettered passion for God, Queen, & country. It’s that passion and the terrific timeline that drives TV and Film.
But they got it Wrong.
Shekhar Kapur, you screwed-up.
Shekhar Kapur was the director of "Elizabeth the Golden Era", in this blog I aim to iron out the films portrayed history, and My understanding of what happened. I will also highlight the points he was trying to make, but turned into aesthetic fall-outs. To profile Elizabeth I we have to go back to the first movie. It portrayed her childhood as picturesque, when it was anything but.
Daughter of a King that declared her illegitimate, and executed her mother on charges of treason and witchcraft (miscarriages and failure to produce a male heir), banished from court, never to know her father King Henry VIII. She was raised by a series of care takers and tutors, charming them all, she displaying the wit and intelligence of a political prodigy. This painting at age 13 shows her page marking a book, noting her education and intelligence as a theme throughout all her portraits. She was 13 when King Henry VIII died, he was succeeded by her 9 yr old half brother Edward VI. She was moved within the ranks of the new house, and continued her education. She mastered 6 languages (later a 7th). There was a rumored relationship and seduction between young Elizabeth and Thomas Seymour, Edward VI's uncle from his mother’s side. He was arrested and executed for attempting to kidnap the king, perhaps to marry Elizabeth and claim the thrown himself. Elizabeth was proclaimed innocent from such a conspiracy, quoted on his execution day:
"Today died a man with much wit and not much judgment". The first movie had to hit the ground running and portrayed her as never desiring the crown. In truth even as a child she aimed to rule. Glossing over her turbulent childhood progressed the movie to her ascension to the thrown.
1553 Edward VI died from tuberculosis. Lady Jane Gray, Henry VIII grandniece, came to the thrown. John Dudly hastily arranged a marriage between her and the older of his two sons, Guiliford Dudley. The younger son, Robert Dudley, was rumored to have an intense relationship with Elizabeth I. This relationship was highlighted in the first movie, "He is a traitor like his father before him." Jane Gray was deposed within two weeks for Mary Tudor, Elizabeth’s Catholic half sister. This is where the first movie "Elizabeth" begins.
"Bloody Mary" persecuted heretic protestants, and urged Elizabeth to convert. Elizabeth delicately showed her allegiance to the concern of her people and her conscience. November 1558 Mary Tudor I died, possibly ovarian cancer, and there was rejoicing in the streets of London.
When news reached Elizabeth and pronounced Queen, she quotes Psalm 118:
"This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes".
She was crowned at 25 yrs old.
The film was marvelous, also directed by Shekhar Kapur.
Not every detail is historically accurate.
For example she never actually met Henri, Duke on Anjou and the marriage proposition came from his younger
brother. But the films' presentation of this plot thread is absolutely hilarious; it works itself seamless into the film and history. Suitors from all over Europe were asking her hand in marriage, wanting to be King of England. At the same time it is an opportunity to show the humor, wit, and personally of these Royal players. Even with these artistic liberties All of the Major historical events are there, the significance of each recorded fact is played with gripping suspense and drama. The casting of every single character, even the minor ones, stunningly resemble the historical portraits. The religious and political intrigue is portrayed with frightening substance. All in all it is a moving work of art, as Elizabeth journeys from young woman with the crown to The Virgin Queen, unquestioned ruler of England
What did they do to my Elizabeth?
My emotional response isn't to the main character or any character in particular. It’s all the characters in play with their situation and the era. Like a classical painting, the reign of Elizabeth I has a fantastic Deus Ex Machina to it. It fits wonderfully in a frame of artistic expression. Step back from the historical factoids; appreciate the elaborate art, music, & poetry, it was a remarkable time to be alive. It was an era of exploration across the globe and into the human consciousness.
These were real people with an unfettered passion for God, Queen, & country. It’s that passion and the terrific timeline that drives TV and Film.
But they got it Wrong.
Shekhar Kapur, you screwed-up.
Shekhar Kapur was the director of "Elizabeth the Golden Era", in this blog I aim to iron out the films portrayed history, and My understanding of what happened. I will also highlight the points he was trying to make, but turned into aesthetic fall-outs. To profile Elizabeth I we have to go back to the first movie. It portrayed her childhood as picturesque, when it was anything but.
Daughter of a King that declared her illegitimate, and executed her mother on charges of treason and witchcraft (miscarriages and failure to produce a male heir), banished from court, never to know her father King Henry VIII. She was raised by a series of care takers and tutors, charming them all, she displaying the wit and intelligence of a political prodigy. This painting at age 13 shows her page marking a book, noting her education and intelligence as a theme throughout all her portraits. She was 13 when King Henry VIII died, he was succeeded by her 9 yr old half brother Edward VI. She was moved within the ranks of the new house, and continued her education. She mastered 6 languages (later a 7th). There was a rumored relationship and seduction between young Elizabeth and Thomas Seymour, Edward VI's uncle from his mother’s side. He was arrested and executed for attempting to kidnap the king, perhaps to marry Elizabeth and claim the thrown himself. Elizabeth was proclaimed innocent from such a conspiracy, quoted on his execution day:"Today died a man with much wit and not much judgment". The first movie had to hit the ground running and portrayed her as never desiring the crown. In truth even as a child she aimed to rule. Glossing over her turbulent childhood progressed the movie to her ascension to the thrown.
1553 Edward VI died from tuberculosis. Lady Jane Gray, Henry VIII grandniece, came to the thrown. John Dudly hastily arranged a marriage between her and the older of his two sons, Guiliford Dudley. The younger son, Robert Dudley, was rumored to have an intense relationship with Elizabeth I. This relationship was highlighted in the first movie, "He is a traitor like his father before him." Jane Gray was deposed within two weeks for Mary Tudor, Elizabeth’s Catholic half sister. This is where the first movie "Elizabeth" begins.
"Bloody Mary" persecuted heretic protestants, and urged Elizabeth to convert. Elizabeth delicately showed her allegiance to the concern of her people and her conscience. November 1558 Mary Tudor I died, possibly ovarian cancer, and there was rejoicing in the streets of London.
When news reached Elizabeth and pronounced Queen, she quotes Psalm 118:
"This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes".
She was crowned at 25 yrs old.
The film was marvelous, also directed by Shekhar Kapur.
Not every detail is historically accurate.
For example she never actually met Henri, Duke on Anjou and the marriage proposition came from his younger
brother. But the films' presentation of this plot thread is absolutely hilarious; it works itself seamless into the film and history. Suitors from all over Europe were asking her hand in marriage, wanting to be King of England. At the same time it is an opportunity to show the humor, wit, and personally of these Royal players. Even with these artistic liberties All of the Major historical events are there, the significance of each recorded fact is played with gripping suspense and drama. The casting of every single character, even the minor ones, stunningly resemble the historical portraits. The religious and political intrigue is portrayed with frightening substance. All in all it is a moving work of art, as Elizabeth journeys from young woman with the crown to The Virgin Queen, unquestioned ruler of England
In the second movie enters with suitors Still trying to court her. Shekhar is trying to thread this movie to right where we left off at the previous. In reality 30 years have past by. Elizabeth is in her 50's. Still fiery and in absolute control, but no longer to be courted.Then Elizabeth begins acting nutty, and commenting on her age, it flashes back to her youth in the previous movie. Shekhar is flipping right around and trys to give a sense of those years past. Shes paranoid, snappy.
Crowns only sit on troubled brows.
This lack of plotline coordination leaves the audience confused. From the start you feel these actors play acting history, you can't believe any of it from the start.
OK, Mary Queen of Scots from House Stewart was next in line and ploting with the Catholic underground to assassinate Elizabeth. Fine, on with the story. Mary of Scotland was executed for treason 1587, great now we have a sense of time. The conspiracy feels like a game of ping pong. we bounce from the Elizabeth's' court, to Marys' house arrest, to the Catholic underground back and forth so much with similar dialogue. And then at the climax, the divine right of Elizabeth's reign, shes suppose to survive the assassination plot, OK. The assassin pulls out a pistol that is 50 years ahead of the time! Ok the scene was still cool, you get that it was an act of god...Ok.
Enter Sir Walter Raleigh, again great casting. Clive Owen was a big IF when I saw the preview, but the the guy does look and act like the Nobel rascal.He gets a lot of screen time, and they played up his pirate ties. In truth he suppressed a rebellion and earned some 40,000 acres in Ireland. He readily took up his knighthood and court life. Hardly an outlaw. Found Virginia, Potatos, recited poetry, all nice accurate details. They missed the one where a servant saw him smoking a tobacco pipe and threw a buck of water on him. Smoking being a new novelty.
The film fails to lead up to the Spanish launching its armada. It seems to be all talk and gossip until the last minute crunch of war preparation. Raleigh asked to return to the New World, Elizabeth orders him to stay. The film seems to lead you that she wants him close as a emotional lap dog of sorts, In truth she was demanding every capable sailor to stay put in England, The Spanish will invade any moment now.
The drama completely eclipsed Elizabeth's' tactical forethought.
Again I was let down by the actual battle. I wanted to see hull splintering cannon balls let fly. Volleys of musket fire. Tactical maneuvers being crafted, and risks being calculated.
No, we get a hasty panic of mobilized defences, Some big wigs below deck say were losing were losing were losing. And in a desperate attempt, set one ship on fire and ram it into the enemy formation. The winds pick-up an Cate basks in her divine right as ruler while modeling a cotton commercial on an Irish cliff side, all with in an hour.
Let me straighten out my understanding of what happened.
First the tactical goal of the encounter. The Spanish wanted to destroy or drive away English warships from the channel, securing it for safe passage for army barges. The English just needed to keep ships from landing. The Spanish tactic was to use heavy Gallons loaded with Marines to board and capture ships. These Marines would also be used as the initial landing force. The English depended on their sailors wits and skill with cannons, thanks to Henry the VIII obsession with modern weapons. Their smaller ships were faster, and they kept the mobility advantage by staying up wind. The English knew the enemy strength was boarding with marines, and kept their distance. Also having to fire into the wind, armada ships would heel (tip) exposing below the waterline sections of their hull as targets.
The Spanish had to sail into the English defence formations. Their men taking too long to reload, the English could sail with several small formation groups into weapons range, fire a volley and sail out of range as the Spanish would reload. The Spanish also did not have standardization of their equipment, shot would often not fit the cannon.
Over a week there was only two engagements with the Spanish losing only two ships. Fearful of rocky shores and hidden sandbanks the Spanish armada went north wanting to engage in open seas.
The English had a the homefield advantage of being ably to sail where the Spanish had no idea if it was safe.
The English had a the homefield advantage of being ably to sail where the Spanish had no idea if it was safe.
With no friendly harbors this far north the Spanish set anchor and spent the night in a tight defencive formation.
At midnight the English sent fireships. Now in the movie portrayed this as a last desperate effort. In actually it was a staple of naval tactics, old or heavily damaged ships were set on fire and set adrift toward the enemy. The movie shows Raleigh steering the ship until the last minute and jumping off. The movie got it wrong again; the idea of a skeleton crew piloting the ship until the last minute is suicide. If the choppy waters didn't drown you the hypothermia would kill you. The movie shows the entire Spanish armada caught ablaze, lighting up the night sky. In reality the Spanish were well aware of this tactic. Two ships were intercepted and simply towed away, and many ships ditched anchor and avoided the collisions, only one Spanish ship was lost.
They did have to scatter and may have made a navigation error trying get back in formation, again English homefield. With the battle taking longer than expected and a whole invasion force to feed below deck, the Spanish were running low on supplies and had to head back. They thought going around Scotland and Ireland would be safer than turning back into the English defensive formations, not knowing the English were out of ammunition to re-engage.
An unusually strong storm system developed in the northeast Atlantic. Climatologists suspect this was the Gulf stream coupled with the late 1500s' accumulation of polar ice off the coast of Greenland. England believed it was the hand of God; it devastated the Spanish armada. Having earlier ditched anchors, the ships had no way to prevent being smashed against the rocky shores of west Ireland. The storm has since been called The Protestant Wind.
You can pick apart this military victory and the political aftermath until you call it a tactical draw, but that doesn't matter. What matters is the English were out numbered, out gunned, and condemned to Hell by the Pope himself. What matters is that Elizabeth did ride her horse to the defensive lines waiting on shore and said:
"I have come amongst you as you see, at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved in the midst and heat of the battle to live or die amongst you all, to lay down for my God and for my kingdom, and for my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust. I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too."
"I have come amongst you as you see, at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved in the midst and heat of the battle to live or die amongst you all, to lay down for my God and for my kingdom, and for my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust. I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too."
