A test screening on the other side of the pond. It's a Polygram film. It's called either ELIZABETH or THE VIRGIN QUEEN. And apparently, according to the Secret Squirrel, is quite a good show. Hmmmm
read on to find out about the cast and the film itself. Personally I love period films, and I am always on the look out for another great one. This ain't that yet, we'll have to hear from more and see it ourselves to make
that judgement. So here's the review...

I've never written to you before - in fact I've never seen a preview
of a film before. However, I recently got the chance and thought
you'd like to hear about it as it has a great cast and so is sure to get a
big marketing push when it comes out.

I went to see a new British film last night which I think is to be
called "Elizabeth" or "The Virgin Queen". It's a Polygram picture,
which is why (I think) it was being researched in Wimbledon, London
as
a "rough cut" as opposed to somewhere in the States where it seems
most of these things happen.

Last Saturday, I was stopped by a market research lady in Wimbledon
High St, who asked me my age (25) and if I had seen any of the
following films; Braveheart, Sense and Sensibility, The English
Patient, Trainspotting, Romeo & Juliet, Emma or Mrs Brown. I had.
All
of them. Her eyes lit up as I fitted into every one of her
stereotypical categories for viewing a British historical drama and
I
was invited to bring a guest to a viewing.

The cinema was packed full of young "intelligent" mid 20 types who
had
enjoyed the aforementioned films. An American introduced us to the
film which he said was a working rough cut with no titles or credits
and some colour difficulties. (I didn't notice any.) We were to stay
in our seats after the film to fill out a questionnaire.

The film is the story of Queen Elizabeth I of England who reigned
during the Sixteenth Century, of how she came to power and how she
fared during the first few years of her monarchy. She succeeded her
Catholic half-sister Mary to become a Protestant Queen at a time
when
England had only recently broken from Rome. (Elizabeth's father
Henry
VIII broke from the Catholic Church becasue the Pope refused to
allow
him to divorce one of his many wives. He did anyway.)

Thus one of the main thrusts of the story is of intrigue, plotting
and
betrayal as the Catholic nobles wish to replace her with a Catholic
monarch. The other main part of the story concerns Elizabeth's love
life. She loves Lord Robert of Dudley, but is courted by the King of
Spain and a powerful French duke.

The film has an excellent cast including Cate Blanchett as
Elizabeth,
Joseph Fiennes (Ralph's brother), Oscar winners Geoffrey Rush (from
"Shine") and Sir John Gielgud, Cannes Best Actress Kathy Burke and
Christopher Ecclestone (of "Shallow Grave" and "Jude").

The film is beautifully filmed, acted and costumed but is definitely
more earthy, bleak and authentic than some more recent popular
costume
dramas. Of the list of films above, it's probably closest to Mrs
Brown
- admittedly with a similar subject matter. There are a few laughs
in
the film and a few (British) celebrity cameos. The latter can be
quite
annoying as it spoils the flow of the film as the audience
recognises a
TV celebrity and a murmur and a few chuckles goes through the
cinema.

Apart from these cameos, the film is not a commercial one, and
although
I think it will be critically well received, I can't see it being as
commercially successful as the films above (which its makers
obviously
wish it to be bracketed with.)

I really enjoyed it, as did my girlfriend and it received a polite
round
of applause at the end. I would definitely recommend it to friends
and to
those who enjoyed the films above. If you don't like historical or
costume
dramas - I guess you wouldn't want to go and see it anyway.

Secret Squirrel