The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex poster & wallpaper

Alan Hale, Bette Davis, Donald Crisp

Elizabeth I falls in love with the Earl of Essex, but events turn him into a rebel and she has to order his execution.

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69% liked it

2,133 ratings

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71% liked it

7 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 46 min.

Directed by: Michael Curtiz

Release Date: January 1, 1939

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DVD Release Date: April 19, 2005

Stats: 92 reviews

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Havilland and Flynn The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex Davis and Flynn Davis and Flynn Davis and Flynn The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex Poster The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex Davis and Flynn Havilland and Flynn Davis and Flynn Davis and Flynn The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex Crisp and Flynn Errol Flynn
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Flixster Reviews (92)

  • phubbs1
    July 21, 2009
    phubbs1
    Hadn't seen this before and I was really surprised and pleased at the outcome, being a story based on romance and much talking I was fearful that I would be bored but this is very much in the same vein as 'Robin Hood' with its Technicolour vibrancy, lavish costumes and sets. When...( read more) I say lavish I mean beautiful and bold right down to the last detail, its almost exquisite in some scenes, every set is stunning and looks pretty faithful to what it may have been like. The costumes too are tremendous, everyman and woman is dressed in amazing period styles that make you wanna wear them haha
    Much of the drama unfolds on obvious sets, beautiful as they are they still look like sets hehe same with some location work....obviously Warner backlots with the odd walkabout in California state somewhere haha but you can forgive.

    As for acting its the usual stuff from Errol, kinda wooden and kinda basic but always looks good while doing it, though here he is outdone clearly by Davis as Elizabeth, powerful, forceful and most of all believeable as the tough female Queen, she was even very 'method' in this role too, shaving her hairline and eyebrows for the true Elizabethan look.
    Flynn and Davis did not get on well as I have read and the scene were Davis slaps Flynn across the face in the courtroom was actually a genuine slap and Flynn's reaction is quite real haha he was pissed bigtime haha classic moment. Davis storms away with this film though, Flynn is a mere speck to her thundering performance.
    Along the way we have Alan Hale again, this time against Flynn in Ireland, check the beautiful swamp sets for the battles in Ireland, and of course the lovely Olivia De Havilland as a lady in waiting Penelope Gray. Lastly enter the great Vincent Price as Sir Walter Raleigh, looking the part in his beautiful outfits and adding a unique feel to the part with his classic vocal tones.

    Its all Curtiz genius again as he produces yet another stunning epic technicolour masterpiece, nowhere near as much action as 'Robin Hood' but it actually looks MORE lavish than Hood if that's possible. Plenty of verbal but its not boring in any way, the dream like colours and look make you keep watching and like all Flynn films its not historically accurate so there is alittle fun to be had, yet its clearly one of his more sensible films with little or no swashbuckling and shooting.
  • moonrivers
    April 26, 2008
    moonrivers
    ms."i'm-a-big-hotsie-totsie-hollywood-actress" (and she was!) davis scorned poor swashbucklilng senor mister flynn as he was only a lowly boy adventurer while, after all, she was an world artiste but...(can she hear me? lemme know if she's comin', ok?) she was wrong. he suits h...( read more)is part as a travelling adventurer in service to the crown to a "T" and their chemistries give some actual human feeling to the plots and conspiracies integral to world beating, world-empire making afoot in the 15th century. and there's love too! awwww.
  • jam233
    August 27, 2009
    jam233
    I feel this is a wonderful and great film. Bette Davis is spectacular, Errol Flynn is wonderfully dashing, and with Olivia de Havilland as well it has to be good. Outstanding art direction and costumes.
  • giovanniusduce
    February 26, 2009
    giovanniusduce
    A very good historical period piece. Excellent performances by every star in the film. A lot of future stars are featured, and give impressive performances; as well. The costumes and epic battle scenes are quite impressive, and the musical score is truly inspired. Bette Davis ...( read more)is made up to resemble Elizabeth I with almost frightening accuracy. The plot is very well-written, even though it isn't quite historically accurate. All in all, it's one of the most impressive films of its genre.
  • sepio41
    November 6, 2008
    sepio41
    1939's version of elizabeth i and her torrid affair with the earl of essex is as fanciful as kapur's 1998 take on elizabeth's early life. but it's just as fun to watch with bette davis stamping, slashing and swatting her way through the role, flynn looking gorgeous and providing...( read more) subtle counterpoint to davis' tempest and olivia de havilland in solid support.
  • moosejaw34
    October 28, 2008
    moosejaw34
    So good-love the love
  • ruthlessbatty
    August 17, 2008
    ruthlessbatty
    A classic! Bette Davis as Queen Elizabeth I and Errol Flynn as Sir Walter Raleigh.
  • apolowaski08
    April 25, 2008
    apolowaski08
    I've not seen it yet but I know it is beautiful. Can anyone help me have it?
  • MECreviews
    March 18, 2008
    MECreviews
    I didn't like this film.

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The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex Trivia

The Private Lives of Elizabeth an... Trivia

  • In The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex What did Bette Dvis do to her face to make her look more like Elizabeth1  Answer »
  • Bette Davis, Olivia de Havilland, and Vincent Price all appear in this 1939 historical romance.   Answer »
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