Elizabeth (film)

Elizabeth is a 1998 movie about the early reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England, written by Michael Hirst and directed by Shekhar Kapur. It stars Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Joseph Fiennes, Christopher Eccleston and Richard Attenborough.

Plot

The film begins with Elizabeth as heir to the throne of her sister, Mary (played by Kathy Burke). After her accession, the story mainly concerns the subversive activities of some of Elizabeth's Roman Catholic opponents, notably Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk (played by Christopher Eccleston) and the ongoing conflict with Scotland. The climax is the discovery by Sir Francis Walsingham (played by Geoffrey Rush) of the dramatized version of the Ridolfi plot (with elements of the Babington plot thrown in) and the mass executions of most of those involved in the plot. In the denouement, Elizabeth decides to remain unmarried, shunning her lover, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester (played by Joseph Fiennes). Vague acknowledgement is also made to the vast improvement in England's fortunes during Elizabeth's reign. Some of the historical details are questionable.

Related Topics:
Mary - Kathy Burke - Roman Catholic - Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk - Christopher Eccleston - Francis Walsingham - Geoffrey Rush - Ridolfi plot - Babington plot - Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester - Joseph Fiennes

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