Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Binding: VHS Tape EAN: 9786300159129 Format: Black & White, NTSC ISBN: 6300159124 Label: Hollywood Movie Classics Manufacturer: Hollywood Movie Classics Number Of Items: 1 Publisher: Hollywood Movie Classics Release Date: January 01, 1985 Running Time: 89 minutes Studio: Hollywood Movie Classics Theatrical Release Date: March 05, 1937 Sales Rank: 100556
Amazon.com essential video: Alexander Korda often enlisted Tinseltown talent to lend his British productions some Hollywood pizzazz. For this spirited historical film about the intrigues and counter-intrigues leading up to the Spanish Armada's assault against Queen Elizabeth's brave little island, William K. Howard directed and the cameraman was the great James Wong Howe. Still, it's the Russian French art director Lazare Meerson who takes top honors with his ethereal sets. The swashbuckling pales beside Captain Blood or The Prisoner of Zenda, but the diplomatic crosstalk and young Larry Olivier's James-Bond-in-a-ruff act are delicious. Vivien Leigh is Olivier's love interest (on screen and off), and royalty is royally served by Flora Robson's gusty Good Queen Bess (a role she reprised in The Sea Hawk) and Raymond Massey's wonderfully lugubrious Philip of Spain. Robert Newton plays another Spaniard, and if you don't blink you'll glimpse James Mason as the traitorous Hillary Vane. --Richard T. Jameson
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Of historical intererest
Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier were already in love during production of this film and it`s because of them this is still of interest. Flora Robson still excell(she was to meet Vivien as her servant ... Read More
Rating: - The Best Queen Bess
This is a period piece set at the time of the Spanish Armada which is little known to Americans. This is a shame since it is a fairly good one.
The action does not focus so much on the Armada ... Read More
Rating: - Very good movie!
My family enjoyed this picture very much. It was well written, and my Sister even recognized the uncredited James Mason in the film. The acting was superb (Flora Robson made a very regal Queen Elizabeth I). ... Read More
Rating: - A movie worth watching!
Definitely a wonderful movie, Fire over England, brings to the screen the story of a young English naval officer as he strives to uncover a plot, find the conspirators and warn the Queen of the imminent threat ... Read More
Rating: - Still the best screen Elizabeth!
This is one of the best-scripted of all cinematic costume dramas, even if that script does require the young Laurence Olivier to sing (sounding strangely like Noel Coward as he does). Vivien Leigh is perfect as ... Read More
- Of historical intererest
- The Best Queen Bess