The Virgin Queen (1955)
Movie Info
Having previously portrayed England's Queen Elizabeth I in 1939's The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex, Bette Davis reprises the role in the Technicolor-and-Cinescope costumer The Virgin Queen. Harry Brown and Mindret Lord's screenplay proposes that Elizabeth's relationship with adventurer Sir Walter Raleigh (Richard Todd) was somewhat more than cordial. Raleigh is depicted as a charming opportunist, who deliberate leads the Queen on in order to further his chances of heading an expedition to the New World. Complications ensue when Sir Walter falls in love with lady-in-waiting Beth Throgmorton (Joan Collins). Not to be believed for a single moment, The Virgin Queen works well on a swashbuckler level, with Davis outacting everyone in sight-even such veteran scene-stealers as Herbert Marshall, Dan O'Herlihy, and Jay "Caligula" Robinson.
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Cast
Bette Davis
as Queen Elizabeth I
as Queen Elizabeth I
Richard Todd
as Sir Walter Raleigh
as Sir Walter Raleigh
Joan Collins
as Beth Throgmorton
as Beth Throgmorton
Herbert Marshall
as Lord Leicester
as Lord Leicester
Jay Robinson
as Chadwick
as Chadwick
Dan O'Herlihy
as Lord Derry
as Lord Derry
Robert Douglas
as Sir Christopher Hatton
as Sir Christopher Hatton
Romney Brent
as French Ambassador
as French Ambassador
Leslie Parrish
as Anne
as Anne
Lisa Daniels
as Mary
as Mary
Lisa Davis
as Jane
as Jane
Barry Bernard
as Patch Eye
as Patch Eye
Robert Adler
as Postillion Rider
as Postillion Rider
Noel Drayton
as Tailor
as Tailor
Ian Murray
as Gentleman of the Bedchamber
as Gentleman of the Bedchamber
Margery Weston
as Dame Bragg
as Dame Bragg
Rod Taylor
as Cpl. Gwilym
as Cpl. Gwilym
David Thursby
as Landlord
as Landlord
Arthur E. Gould-Porter
as Randall the Ship Builder
as Randall the Ship Builder
John Costello
as Town Crier
as Town Crier
Nelson Leigh
as Physician
as Physician
Frank Baker
as Physician
as Physician
Ashley Cowan
as Sailor
as Sailor
Critic Reviews for The Virgin Queen
All Critics (1) | Fresh (0) | Rotten (1) | DVD (1)
Henry Koster's direction is competent, for him, but Franz Waxman's music is no substitute for Erick Wolfgang Korngold's classic score for Elizabeth and Essex.
March 31, 2008 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…
Audience Reviews for The Virgin Queen
Great swashbuckling with Bette Davis giving a forceful performance, and Harold Brown's screenplay providing several memorable segments. Richard Todd wisely gives Davis plenty of room, and she doesn't disappoint.
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Super Reviewer
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