Screened in tribute to Glenda Jackson (1936 - 2023)
“Under Charles Jarrott’s direction, it’s essentially a tableau serie, but it whizzes by like a murkier Peyton Place.”
Teenage wife to the king of France, Mary, Queen of Scots (Vanessa Redgrave), returns to Scotland after the death of her husband. But Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth Tudor (Glenda Jackson), fears that Mary and her Roman Catholic beliefs may prove to be a political threat, and sets about creating romantic dilemmas to distract her… Taking some liberties with historical fact to spice up the story, and nominated for 5 Oscars, the film provides a perfect showcase for Jackson and Redgrave to deliver juicy performances of contrasting styles (and they are ably supported by a cast that includes Timothy Dalton, Ian Holm, Patrick McGoohan, Nigel Davenport and Trevor Howard).
