The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex

The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939) is a serviceable costume drama. The film may frustrate fans of Errol Flynn, here playing an atypically verbose character. But it's Bette Davis's show all the way, with the legendary star giving the definitive portrayal of Elizabeth I.

England 1595. Queen Elizabeth (Bette Davis) struggles to maintain peace with Spain and suppress a Catholic rebellion in Ireland. But her impetuous favorite, Robert Devereaux, Earl of Essex (Errol Flynn) leads an unauthorized attack on Cadiz, earning him popular acclaim. Elizabeth and Essex are dotty over each other, which doesn't sit well with ministers Robert Cecil (Henry Daniell) and Sir Walter Raleigh (Vincent Price). They arrange for Essex's dispatch to Ireland, convincing lady-in-waiting Penelope (Olivia de Havilland), herself attracted to Essex, to intercept his correspondence with Elizabeth. This arrangement leads to Essex's military defeat and incurs Elizabeth's wrath. Essex returns to England with his army, intent on forcing himself back into the Queen's favor.

Despite its ornamental trappings, Private Lives is a talky drama. Based on a Maxwell Anderson play, its intricate court intrigues are competently but not always engagingly staged by Michael Curtiz. Sol Polito's photography is beautiful but the film rarely ventures outdoors, with a few crowd scenes and an unconvincing set standing in for Ireland. Certainly anyone expecting a Flynn swashbuckler will be let down.

Fortunately, the central romance works fine, showing a meeting of two frustratingly disparate lovers. Elizabeth is a proud but insecure woman, who must sublimate her romantic desires to the needs of state. Essex allows his ambition and arrogance to trump his loyalty, giving his rivals ample opportunity to outflank him. When Essex threatens Elizabeth's power she ruthlessly turns on him. With two such personalities clashing, the story can only end in tragedy.

Bette Davis sets the standard for all screen Elizabeths. She's an admirably unglamorous Queen, shaving part of her head and sporting gruesome pancake makeup. More to the point, she perfectly captures Elizabeth's mixture of ruthlessness and romanticism, hauteur and insecurity. It's a marvelous performance that few successors (Glenda Jackson and Helen Mirren perhaps) match.

This is Errol Flynn's most demanding role, a straight dramatic part with no action or derring-do. Flynn occasionally seems out of his depth opposite Davis, but holds his own through sheer charisma. Olivia de Havilland gets saddled with a colorless part, sharing but a single scene with Flynn. Donald Crisp (The Man from Laramie) gets a solid role as Essex's friend Francis Bacon. Henry Daniell (The Sea Hawk) and Vincent Price make fine villains, and Alan Hale is good in a rare straight role.

The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex isn't the best work of anyone involved but it's certainly enjoyable enough. As a period romance, one could do worse. And as a portrayal of the Essex Rebellion, well... enough said?