Virgin Queen [VHS]

Virgin Queen [VHS]
by Henry Koster

Virgin Queen [VHS]

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Product details

Actor: Bette Davis, Herbert Marshall, Jay Robinson, Joan Collins, Richard Todd
Director: Henry Koster
Cinematographer: Charles G. Clarke
Editor: Robert L. Simpson
Producer: Charles Brackett
Writer: Harry Brown
Writer: Mildred Lord
Edition: VHS Tape
Audio: English (Original Language), Analog
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
Running Time: 92 minutes
Release Date: 1998-01-01
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Publisher: 20th Century Fox
Studio: 20th Century Fox

VHS Movie Reviews of Virgin Queen [VHS]

Movie Review: The film typifies Davis' compelling moves as her proud and cunning performance...
Summary: 3 Stars

On his return to England in 1581, after fighting honorably and victoriously in the Irish War, Walter Raleigh (Richard Todd) makes his way to Lord Leicester (Herbert Marshall), a confidant of Queen Elizabeth (Bette Davis).

Lord Leicester is so impressed with his good looking and self-confidence, that he arranges for him an introduction at Court...

Raleigh, hoping to gain the queen's attention so he can interest her in sponsoring his ambition to sail to the New World and return with great loots, orders a costly blue cape he cannot afford...By laying it over a mud puddle in her path as she crosses the palace courtyard, Raleigh got what he deeply desires...

Formerly presented to her and openly inspired with a foolish and excessive passion, Queen Elizabeth appoints him as Captain of the Guard against the advice of Chadwick (Jay Robinson), a counselor whose dislike of Raleigh is unrestricted...

Once in the Palace, and close to the queen, Raleigh falls in love with one of her beautiful attendants, Beth Throgmorton (Joan Collins), who feels she is competing with the queen for Raleigh's kindness...

In a position to have entire faith in the queen, Raleigh tells her of his hope of being sent to the New World to seek fortunes... Indulgent at first, Elizabeth finally considers his offer and promises him one ship for his expedition... On the eve of his departure, Elizabeth knights Raleigh in her bed-chamber ignoring that, while awaiting her decision, he has married Beth in a secret ceremony...

It all makes for a pretty interesting historical motion picture not to be missed...

Movie Review: You can tell Bette is loving this!
Summary: 4 Stars

Sir Walter Raleigh (Richard Todd) woos the decaying Queen Elizabeth I (Bette Davis) in order to acheive his dreams of sailing to the Americas. But when he falls in love with her handmaiden, Beth (Joan Collins), the Queen becomes possesive and imprisons the lovers, perhaps seperating them forever.

Bette reprises one of her favorite roles as the powerful Queen Elizabeth, and she is loving every minute of it. Unlucky in love, the Queen is the complete antithesis of the lovely and young Beth. Joan Collins always claimed that Bette Davis was the inspiration for her character Alexis on "Dynasty."

This is a fun film, especially on a rainy Sunday.

Movie Review: Davis plays Queen Elizabeth I for a second time
Summary: 5 Stars

This is Davis' second film in which she plays Queen Elizabeth I of England. Personally, I thought 1939's "Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex" was better, but it is hard to compare the two since this film takes place 15 years earlier in history than "Private Lives" and has Davis essentially playing Elizabeth at the age - 47 - that Davis actually is. The earlier film had Davis at 31 playing Queen Elizabeth in her sixties. Here Richard Todd plays Sir Walter Raleigh, who, like Essex in the earlier film, is a younger man who trades on Elizabeth's love for him to gain some personal glory. Richard Todd plays Raleigh effectively, but there is just no topping the charisma of Flynn's performance in the earlier movie.

The special features include a "Making Of" featurette, some trailers, and a photo gallery. This film is being released separately and as part of Fox' Bette Davis Centenary Collection.

Movie Review: a regal Bette Davis in lavish costume drama
Summary: 4 Stars

In 1939, Bette Davis provided one of her greatest performances as Queen Elizabeth the 1st in the Technicolor MGM drama "The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex". She sacrificed for the role, to the extent of shaving her eyebrows plus two inches from her hairline to resemble the aged monarch. So when Twentieth Century Fox went forward with THE VIRGIN QUEEN sixteen years later, it made sense for Bette Davis to once again ascend the throne. Though it does pale dramatically when compared to the earlier film, Bette Davis' regal performance keeps it on a smooth path.

Queen Elizabeth (Bette Davis) falls in love with the younger Sir Walter Raleigh (Richard Todd), despite the scheming of a catty rival (Joan Collins). Though historically, THE VIRGIN QUEEN often plays fast and loose with the truth; Joan Collins (a Fox contract player of the period) creates some fireworks as the "Other Woman"--and her scenes with Davis are fun. Richard Todd and Bette Davis also have an enjoyable rapport, despite Henry Koster's often pedestrian direction.

If you enjoyed "The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex", you will most certainly appreciate THE VIRGIN QUEEN. How often does an actor get the chance to revisit a role and get to use their newfound maturity and insight to create a deeper characterisation the second time around?

Highly-recommended for Bette Davis fans.

Movie Review: Bette Davis-the Queen
Summary: 3 Stars

Bette Davis is at her best in this one, as the Queen of England, wooing Sir Walter Raleigh. As always, she lives up to the part, making it her own. I'm not so sure this is based, entirely, on fact. The ending seems alittle off. But it is interesting to watch Bette Davis in full form.

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