Elizabeth R

7.4
19711h 25m

This historical mini-series documents the reign of Elizabeth I with each episode focusing on one dramatic period in the lengthy reign of the Virgin Queen, including her ascension to the throne, her various marital intrigues, her problems with her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots, and the threatened invasion of the Spanish Armada.

Production

Logo for Masterpiece
Logo for BBC

Seasons

6 Episodes • Premiered 1971

Still image for Elizabeth R season 1 episode 1: The Lion's Cub

1. The Lion's Cub

5.0

A young Elizabeth lives in dangerous times, leading the Protestant rebellion against her Catholic half-sister Mary, and challenging her claim to the throne.

Still image for Elizabeth R season 1 episode 2: The Marriage Game

2. The Marriage Game

5.0

The unmarried young Queen is encouraged to find a suitable husband so that she can produce an heir, but she finds that very few suitors interest her.

Still image for Elizabeth R season 1 episode 3: Shadow in the Sun

3. Shadow in the Sun

2.3

Elizabeth meets an interesting suitor, the Duke of Anjou, much to the Puritans' disapproval. Now Elizabeth must decide whether to follow her head or her heart.

Still image for Elizabeth R season 1 episode 4: Horrible Conspiracies

4. Horrible Conspiracies

5.0

Queen Elizabeth finds her position increasingly threatened by Mary, Queen of Scots and her loyal supporters. Will Elizabeth have to execute Mary in order to remain Queen?

Still image for Elizabeth R season 1 episode 5: The Enterprise of England

5. The Enterprise of England

5.0

With the threat of war against Spain suddenly imminent, Elizabeth must place her faith in the strength of the Navy, led by Sir Francis Drake.

Still image for Elizabeth R season 1 episode 6: Sweet England's Pride

6. Sweet England's Pride

5.0

An elderly Queen Elizabeth instructs the Earl of Essex to quell the threat of an Irish uprising, but will she have to deal with a rebellion of her own?

Cast

Photo of Glenda Jackson

Glenda Jackson

Queen Elizabeth I

More Like This

Reviews

G

CinemaSerf

8/10

Depicting the life of Elizabeth Tudor, this six part drama series takes us as she evolves from the terrified Princess living under constant threat of death to the famed Virgin Queen who ruled England for 45 years. Glenda Jackson is superb in the title role with a supporting cast from amongst the finest English stage and television actors - notably Ronald Hines, Stephen Murray, John Shrapnel and Robert Hardy. The script is tight, the direction focused and the performances convey all the peril, malevolence, greed, perniciousness and ambition of the 16th Century English court. It rarely ventures out of the studio, but the quality of the production has held up well in the almost 50 years since it was made by the BBC.

You've reached the end.