Glenda Jackson Reigns as Queen Elizabeth

A stellar cast carries the day in Elizabeth R, the highly regarded 1971 British miniseries shown on Masterpiece Theatre in the U.S. The compelling subject matter and the first-rate actors—led by Glenda Jackson in the title role--mask what is often a  slow-moving, occasionally creaky historical biography.

Elizabeth R charts the life of Queen Elizabeth I of England, from her days as a young woman through her 45-year reign as queen to her death in 1603. The six episodes, each with a running time of approximately 85 minutes, focus on: the events that lead to Elizabeth’s ascension to the throne; her close relationship with Robert Dudley (Robert Hardy); Elizabeth’s near-marriage to France’s Duke of Anjou (Michael Williams); the treason plot involving Mary, Queen of Scots (Vivian Pickles); the defeat of the Spanish Armada; and her complex relationship with the much-younger Earl of Essex (Robin Ellis).

The best episodes are those involving the men in Elizabeth’s life, specifically Dudley, the Duke of Anjou, and Essex.  Each of them love the Queen in their own way, but they are thwarted by rumor (Dudley), politics (Anjou), or greed (Essex). It helps immensely that these historical figures are portrayed by a trio of fine actors.

Robert Hardy as Dudley.

Robert Hardy, best known for playing veterinarian Siegfried Farnon in the TV series All Creatures Great and Small, captures the genuine affection that Dudley feels for his queen. He also makes it clear that Dudley is an ambitious man who faults fate for not having a seat on the throne. Married when childhood sweetheart Elizabeth becomes queen, Dudley's terminally-ill wife suffers an accidental death--or commits suicide--while he's at court. The timing leads to rumors that Dudley may have been involved with her demise. Those suspicions nix his chances of marrying Elizabeth, though they remain lifelong friends and he becomes a powerful royal adviser.

Michael William as the Duke of Anjou.

Michael Williams takes center stage in the third episode as the Duke of Anjou, brother to King Henry III of France. Williams, a veteran stage actor and long-time husband to Dame Judi Dench, brings much-needed humor to his role of the suitor that Elizabeth nicknamed "her frog." Eager to claim a position of similar authority to his brother, Williams' Anjou is a delightful mixture of lazy fop, petulant child, and charming wooer.

Robin Ellis as Essex.

Robin Ellis, best remembered as the handsome hero of the immensely popular Poldark, stars in the last episode as the doomed Essex. Ellis portrays Essex as a likable rascal, who is far too greedy and self-absorbed to appreciate the royal favors bestowed by Elizabeth. He repays her with insolence--at one point, she smacks his head and he partially withdraws his sword, an incident that actually occurred. Poldark fans will no doubt enjoy seeing Ellis in such a different role.

Jackson as the young Elizabeth.

Yet, while these three actors hold their own, it is Glenda Jackson that dominates Elizabeth R. She captures the intricate shadings of Elizabeth, as she ages from teenage princess to powerful ruler to an elderly woman who accepts her life, but not without remorse. She is gleeful when unlikely events fall into place and secures her the throne. She is filled with guilt and anger when her closest advisers convince her to execute her half-sister Mary. She is overcome with grief with she learns of Dudley's death. It's a remarkable performance and one that earned Jackson an Emmy. Ironically, she played Queen Elizabeth again in 1971 in the theatrical film Mary, Queen of Scots, which starred Vanessa Redgrave in the title role.

Elizabeth R won a total of five Emmys, including ones for outstanding drama series and costumes. Although it's easy to see why it was held in high esteem, the series is nonetheless inconsistent. The episode about the defeat of the Spanish Armada is flat, mostly because the show's budget required that the battle scenes not be shown (but described by a character after the fact). Although Jackson has a powerful scene near the end, the episode about the treasonous Babington Plot is so convoluted that it's often hard to follow the historical events.

Still, Elizabeth R remains a must-see for fans of historical drama. It is, based on my limited research, remarkably accurate...and the acting is often sublime.

10 Must-See Classic British TV Series (Part 3 of 3)

Our review of ten must-see classic British TV series from the 1960s and 1970s concludes with: All Creatures Great and Small; The First Churchills; The Forsyte Saga; and Rumpole of the Bailey. 

James checks out a new friend.

All Creatures Great and Small – James Herriot’s beloved autobiographical stories of life as a veterinarian in rural Britain were first filmed as the movies All Creatures Great and Small (1977) and It Shouldn’t Happen to a Vet (1977). Simon Ward and John Alderton played Herriot, respectively. When a television series was developed in 1978, the role of the inexperienced vet went to Christopher Timothy, with Robert Hardy playing his eccentric employer, Siegfried Farnum. Peter Davison played Siegfried’s brother, Tristan, who struggles to graduate from vet school. Carol Drinkwater played Helen, a local resident who eventually marries James. The first three seasons featured this cast and were based on Herriot’s stories. The episodes ranged from funny (Mrs. Pomfrey and Tricky Woo) to charming (the courtship between James and Helen), with a touch of seriousness (as when Siegfried discusses the impending war with sometime girlfriend Margery). After two “Christmas specials,” the series was revived in 1988 for four more seasons. The wonderful Carol Drinkwater was replaced as Helen and the stories were original (as opposed to those written by Herriot). I stopped watching after the fourth season…but dearly loved the first three seasons.

Susan Hampshire and John Neville as a future "power couple."

The First Churchills – Unless you’re a history a buff, you’re probably unfamiliar with Winston Churchill’s ancestors. If so, then you’re in for a treat—for John Churchill, the first Duke of Marlborough, and his wife Sarah were a fascinating couple. He was a great military leader and statesman who served five British rulers during the late 17^th century and early 18^th century. The strong-willed Sarah Churchill was a political strategist in her own right and, for several years, was a key unofficial advisor to Queen Anne. This well-done 12-part series begins with the first meeting between John and Sarah and ends shortly before his death. The early episodes are the best, as the later ones get a bit bogged down in John’s military exploits. Still, The First Churchills is a fascinating look into the political and social culture of Great Britain during one of its most tumultuous periods. John Neville and Susan Hampshire are marvelous as the Churchills; she evolves Sarah from a headstrong young woman to a powerful, sometimes bitter politician. The First Churchills was shown in Great Britain in 1969 and was the first-ever series shown on Masterpiece Theatre in 1971.

A Forsyte wedding.

The Forsyte Saga – James Galsworthy’s three novels about the Forsytes, a nouveau riche Victorian family, have been adapted for both film and television. Errol Flynn and Greer Garson starred in 1949’s That Forsyte Woman (derived from the first book, A Man of Property) and a popular 2002 adaptation of the trilogy appeared on Masterpiece Theatre. However, the most renowned version remains the 1967 26-episode series starring Eric Porter, Nyree Dawn Porter, Kenneth More, and Susan Hampshire. It included not only the three Forsyte novels, but also Galworthy’s later trilogy A Modern Comedy. When originally broadcast, the series was a huge hit in Britain and was picked up by local PBS stations in the U.S. In fact, its success in America is generally believed to have led to the creation of Masterpiece Theatre.

Leo McKern as Rumpole.

Rumpole of the Bailey – British barrister and author John Mortimer wrote Rumpole of the Bailey as an original play for the BBC anthology series Play for Today in 1975. It was popular enough to warrant discussion of a series, but it wasn’t until 1978 that the Rumpole of the Bailey TV series appeared on Thames Television (and later in the U.S. on Mystery!). Mortimer’s original choice to play the witty, scruffy, late middle-aged barrister was Michael Hordern. Instead, the producers chose Leo McKern—in a stroke of casting genius. McKern perfectly captured the complexities of Rumpole, from his willingness to defend anybody (“I never plead guilty”) to his relationship with his wife (whom Rumpole referred to as “she who must be obeyed”). McKern played Rumpole for seven seasons between 1978 and 1992.

If you missed Parts 1 and 2, click here for capsule reviews of Poldark, Upstairs Downstairs, Lord Peter Wimsey, The Pallisers, The Duchess of Duke Street and I, Claudius.

10 Must-See Classic British TV Series (Part 2 of 3)

Our review of classic British TV series from the 1960s and 1970s continues with: The Pallisers; I, Claudius; and The Duchess of Duke Street. If you missed Part 1 on Poldark, Upstairs Downstairs, and Lord Peter Wimsey, click here.

The arranged marriage between Plantagenet and Glencora.

The Pallisers- Anthony Trollope’s six Palliser novels portrayed the lifestyles and politics of the mid-to-late 19^th century. The fine 26-part, 1974 TV adaptation starred Philip Latham as Plantagenet Palliser and Susan Hamsphire as Lady Glencora. For those viewers familiar only with Hampshire’s later work, in lighthearted series such as Monarch of the Glen, The Pallisers will be a revelation. She provides a rich portrait of a privileged woman who grows from a lovesick teenage girl to a strong-willed, socially savvy woman dedicated to her family. Latham is equally compelling as the erudite Plantagenet, whose passion to improve the nation’s economy earns the disdain of more party-minded politicians (who refer to him as Plantypal). My favorite part of the series is the first-third, which focuses on the courtship between Glencora and Plantagenet. Yet, even when the focal point shifts to other characters, The Pallisers remains an engrossing drama that also works as an inside look at British politics. The strong supporting cast includes future stars such as Derek Jacobi, Jeremy Irons, and Anthony Andrews.

Derek Jacobi as Claudius.

I, Claudius – Speaking of politics, such a career could be a short-lived one in early Rome, as shown in this popular 13-part TV adaptation of Robert Graves’ Claudius novels. Spanning roughly 23 BC through 54 AD, I, Claudius is an “autobiography” of the Roman emperor Claudius and shows his gradual rise to power amid his relatives’ political intrigues, family tragedies, and assassinations. As in Graves’ novels, Claudius’ limp and stammer cause treacherous opponents to underestimate his intelligence and will to survive. Derek Jacobi (as Claudius) and Siân Phillips (as the ruthless Livia) head an outstanding cast featuring John Hurt, Brian Blessed, Patrick Stewart, and George Baker. Although I, Claudius won several awards from the British Academy of Film & Television Arts, it lost the 1978 Emmy for Outstanding Limited Series to Holocaust. 

The Duchess of Duke Street – The life of Rosa Lewis, rumored to have been a mistress to King Edward VII circa the late 1890s, provided the inspiration for this fictionalized dramatic series. The incomparable Gemma Jones stars as Louisa Leyton, a middle-class woman who aspires to be the greatest cook in London. Taking a chef’s assistant position with a noble family, she achieves her goal. Her culinary delights—and looks—catch the eye of the Prince of Wales, which leads to a “special arrangement.” When the prince becomes king, the affair ends, but his generosity enables Louisa to open a hotel that becomes the setting for the bulk of the series.  With plots that focused on both the hotel’s staff and its typically affluent guests, The Duchess of Duke Street owed some of its success to the earlier Upstairs, Downstairs (producer John Hawkesworth worked on both). However, it was more of a star vehicle and, with Gemma Jones in the lead, that made for absorbing television for two seasons.

10 Must-See Classic British TV Series (Part 1 of 3)

All this month, the Cafe will pay tribute to classic British televison of the late 1960s and 1970s. We could easily devote six months to this endeavor, because it was such  a rich period for British TV. Some of the series we'll be highlighting were shown on U.S. commercial networks, many appeared on PBS, and a handful could be seen only on local stations in America. Some of our posts will focus on certain genres (e.g., those snappy spy series) and others will highlight specific series. That said, we'll start this month showering some Yankee love on ten classic British series that everyone should see! So, here's the first installment in our three-part series on must-see British shows.

Poldark – Set in late 18^th century Cornwall, Winston Graham’s sweeping historical drama centers on the Poldark and Warleggan families. The opening episode establishes a gripping premise. Captain Ross Poldark (Robin Ellis), supposedly killed during the American Revolution, returns to his home to find his father dead, his estate in ruins, massive debts, and his fiancée about to marry his cousin. While Ross’s story dominates the early part of the series, Poldark evolves into an ensemble saga populated by rich characters portrayed by a first-rate cast (e.g., Ellis, Angharad Rees, Ralph Bates, Jill Townsend, etc.). Graham’s script also comments on the social injustices and political ploys of the period. The breath-taking Cornish cliffs and beaches are an added bonus. Poldark ran for 29 episodes over 1975-77 and covered the first seven Poldark novels (all that had been written to that date). Both seasons are available on DVD from Acorn Media. Different producers mounted a new Poldark in 1996, based on an eighth novel, but it featured a different cast and never found a following.

Upstairs, Downstairs –  As part of the 35^th anniversary of PBS’s Masterpiece Theatre in 2006, viewers chose Upstairs, Downstairs as their favorite series (my choice, Poldark, was seventh). The series spanned 27 years in the lives of the Bellamy family and their servants at 165 Eaton Place in the Belgravia district of London. Starting in 1903, the series addressed political unrest in Europe, the suffragette movement, World War I, the stock market crash, and even the sinking of the Titanic (which plays a small, but very significant, part on the plotline). However, the majority of the drama focused on the relationships among and between the Bellamy family and their servants. The superb cast is anchored by:  Gordon Jackson as Hudson (the Scottish butler and senior staff member); Jean Marsh as Rose (the parlor maid and later a lady’s maid); and David Langdon as Richard Bellamy (the head of the family); and Angela Baddeley as Mrs. Bridges (the cook). Upstairs, Downstairs won numerous awards in Great Britain and the U.S., where it earned Emmys for Outstanding Drama Series in 1974, 1975 and 1977. A 1979 spin-off, Thomas and Sarah, followed two characters that left Eaton Place—but the tone was very different and it fizzled quickly. In August 2010, Jean Marsh starred in an updated version of Upstairs, Downstairs, set in 1936. It was popular enough to earn additional seasons, but I think it lacks the sparkle of the original.

Lord Peter Wimsey – Dorothy L. Sayers’ Wimsey mysteries have been adapted for television several times. In my opinion, the best version remains the 1972-75 series with Ian Carmichael as Lord Peter and Glyn Houston as his versatile valet Bunter. Sayers purists may quibble that Carmichael was too old for the part, but he still projects just the right amount of intelligence, likability, and upper-class manners. Set in the 1920s and 1930s, the multi-part mysteries range from superb (The Nine Tailors) to good (Five Red Herrings). The series excels at capturing Great Britain at a transitional period between the two World Wars, from the flapper lifestyle and gentleman clubs in London to the country gentry and rural impoverished villagers.  Carmichael and Houston (who played Bunter in four of the five) make a fine pair of inquisitive amateur sleuths, their relationship a combination of mutual respect, professional pride, and friendship.