After wowing the audience with Women in Love in the cinemas. Glenda Jackson took television by storm as Queen Elizabeth in Elizabeth R.
The first episode finds young Elizabeth in peril after the attempted assassination of her younger half brother King Edward VI.
With her older Catholic half sister Queen Mary I on the throne after Edward's untimely death due to illness.
Elizabeth is viewed by suspicion by supporters of Mary and a figurehead for protestants. Especially as Mary married Philip of Spain.
The first episode is a question of whether Elizabeth is an innocent caught in a crossfire. Or is she behind the insurrection and plan to reverse the Catholicism that Mary has reintroduced.
The script means Elizabeth keeps her cards close to her chest as she professes her loyalty to her half sister. Jackson shows a younger and more vulnerable Elizabeth.
Shown 50 years ago, it is interesting contrast a prestige drama from 1971 to Wolf Hall shown in 2015.
Elizabeth R had location filming in places such as Penshurst Place. The rest though is studio bound on video in some overlit BBC studios. Until the director realised that in the windswept tower scenes where clerics have been locked up. Turn down the brightness and increase the sound of the gusting wind.
Wolf Hall was all shot in film with interior scenes lit by candles to give it a dark gloomy feel.
The first episode finds young Elizabeth in peril after the attempted assassination of her younger half brother King Edward VI.
With her older Catholic half sister Queen Mary I on the throne after Edward's untimely death due to illness.
Elizabeth is viewed by suspicion by supporters of Mary and a figurehead for protestants. Especially as Mary married Philip of Spain.
The first episode is a question of whether Elizabeth is an innocent caught in a crossfire. Or is she behind the insurrection and plan to reverse the Catholicism that Mary has reintroduced.
The script means Elizabeth keeps her cards close to her chest as she professes her loyalty to her half sister. Jackson shows a younger and more vulnerable Elizabeth.
Shown 50 years ago, it is interesting contrast a prestige drama from 1971 to Wolf Hall shown in 2015.
Elizabeth R had location filming in places such as Penshurst Place. The rest though is studio bound on video in some overlit BBC studios. Until the director realised that in the windswept tower scenes where clerics have been locked up. Turn down the brightness and increase the sound of the gusting wind.
Wolf Hall was all shot in film with interior scenes lit by candles to give it a dark gloomy feel.