re:Historical Accuracy

[Paul Johnston <Paul@cchat.com>]

Is the Movie "Elizabeth" historically accurate? God's teeth, NO! In the
first few minutes of the movie, Elizabeth, portrayed as some little brainless
girl,  is enthusiastically going "at it" with Robert Dudley, Earl
of Leicester. The chances of her having had an affair with anyone is less
than nil. She was certainly NOT brainless. She was brought up to be very
serious, understood her responsibilities and, face it, too many people
were privy to her personal business..An affair(as we understand it today)
would have been broadcasted in a very short time.  While there were
rumors and innuendoes and even leaving Dudley at the altar later in her
life there simply is no proof that she ever went all the way with the Earl
of Leicester, a man she knew since childhood, and of whose marital status
she was certainly aware of. Then there's the nonsense of Mary of Guise
going into battle...this bit of complete mishmash is supposed to be Mary,
Queen of Scots, I suppose. Mary of Guise was Mary Queen of Scots mother,
who wasn't alive by this movie's time anyhow. Elizabeth never met Mary(the
one real bit of completely incorrect enactment in the BBC's 6-part
version of Elizabeth's life), although there was quite a bit of correspondence
between them.  Then there's William Cecil, who was Elizabeth's contemporary
in age at this time, and not an old man as is portrayed. And on and on..
I was so incensed after viewing this badly written soap opera I left the
theater practically frothing at the mouth. The scriptwriter, director,
producer and anyone else responsible for this reprehensible load of rubbish
should have been drawn and quartered but not before having to sit through
their movie several dozen times. Braveheart was almost accurate compared
to the travesty of "Elizabeth". While there are many excellent sources
to discover the real Elizabeth Tudor, Hollywood is not one of them.
Lady Anastasia dello Scudo Rosso

Poster: "Steve Schell" <sschell@hepc.com>

Good lords and ladies,

For those somewhat more familiar with Elizabethan England than I...

Is last years movie "Elizabeth" historically accurate? (from a "teaching
history perspective")

Most humble thanks,
Steven