I saw this movie when it was originally released and I was 12-years-old. This was before Bette Davis had done any role of Elizabeth I, so all the gorgeous costumes (although B & W) and the icy queen got into my imagination immediately. Heck I liked ANY movie then - but, when "Mary, Queen of Scots" (Katherine Hepburn) appeared on the screen, I was smitten - what beauty ! That she was a consummate actress, even at that very young age, committed me to seeing all of her movies. I think I have, and enjoy seeing them all again. Bette Davis starred in "The Corn is Green", and Hepburn did a TV re-make - both were excellent, although many years apart, Davis definitely was the best - those eyes ! Ms. Hepburn's roles were magnificent, because she was smart enough to stay away from those which didn't suit her. Davis was an adventuress.....
All of the few reviews written here about this very early - but wonderful - movie get very "teachy" in Scotish history. All of that is good to know, but forget it all; just enjoy raw acting without any special effects, except for the blowing-up of the castle. SEE - modern movies weren't the first ! Easy to tell who the "good folk" are and very easy to detect the villains.
"Mary" was doomed from the moment she set foot on Scottish soil. She had been the Queen of France of 2 years, very young and cultured and Scotland was a wasteland; she was totally unprepared to rule ANY country. Much of the plot (screenplay by Dudley Nichols) stressed that she was the rightful heir to her throne and also the throne of England. The aristocrats of Scotland had been without rule for so many years, they weren't about to give-up their power. It was evident when they did not greet her as their queen, and her half-brother didn't support her. A streak of determination to rule her kingdom only decided her fate - plus, she was Catholic.
Although she was smitten at first sight of "Bothwell" (Frederic March), she was forced to marry her cousin, the "Earl of Moray" (Ian Keith) - a "fop", that is, a sissy male with lots of make-up - completely out of place for Scotland. One scene shows "The Earl" greeting "Mary's" ladies as "four lovely ladies", and they saying "now there is five". "Mary" needed a legitimate heir - "Elizabeth" feared it. "Elizabeth's" ambassador to Scotland was "Throckmorton" (Alan Mowbray), and kept her up-to-date on the heathens in Scotland.....they even murdered "Mary's" secretary, because he was a foreigner and Catholic, too - that should tell you a great deal. "John Knox" (Moroni Olsen) was all over the country screaming that Catholics were blasphemers - sounds like Iran, doesn't it? - and should be put to death.......Bin Laden hadn't been heard of.......
The plot-twists let you know very early "Mary" would have to escape all the sabotage in Scotland, getting Elizabeth's permission "to visit" in England - which turned into 19 years of imprisonment. They had never met, but it was apparent "Elizabeth" wasn't about to harbor a threat to her throne and had plotted to get "Mary" under her care - in prison.
Hepburn's acting is solid all through this historical movie. She stole every scene. All of the other prominent actors - and there were many in this film - couldn't hold a candle to her. Her "trial" was epic. She was aware she was being framed, but realized she had already been judged guilty. "Elizabeth" finally came to visit her in her apartment, but was only interested in getting "Mary" to abdicate. Surprise ! "Mary" did not relent, and "Elizabeth" stomped out. "Mary" was beheaded the next day.
Seeing an early movie like this would have told anyone that this was going to be the greatest communication with the masses worldwide. The radiance of Hepburn's acting ordained a great career for this lady. My copy of the VHS is so bad - and, unfortunately, so was the screening in the theater - one would wonder how the industry would survive. When the photography was good, it was wonderful - everyone involved in this film played their roles well, because many of them were actors from silent-screen or the stage. Few younger people would sit still for all this tackiness, but - if they could - they'd see that "movies" were here to stay, and there was magic for the future. Kudos to all those prominent actors, but Ms. Hepburn stole the show - Brava ! I recommend this piece of filmic history to everyone - it gets a 15 -
All of the few reviews written here about this very early - but wonderful - movie get very "teachy" in Scotish history. All of that is good to know, but forget it all; just enjoy raw acting without any special effects, except for the blowing-up of the castle. SEE - modern movies weren't the first ! Easy to tell who the "good folk" are and very easy to detect the villains.
"Mary" was doomed from the moment she set foot on Scottish soil. She had been the Queen of France of 2 years, very young and cultured and Scotland was a wasteland; she was totally unprepared to rule ANY country. Much of the plot (screenplay by Dudley Nichols) stressed that she was the rightful heir to her throne and also the throne of England. The aristocrats of Scotland had been without rule for so many years, they weren't about to give-up their power. It was evident when they did not greet her as their queen, and her half-brother didn't support her. A streak of determination to rule her kingdom only decided her fate - plus, she was Catholic.
Although she was smitten at first sight of "Bothwell" (Frederic March), she was forced to marry her cousin, the "Earl of Moray" (Ian Keith) - a "fop", that is, a sissy male with lots of make-up - completely out of place for Scotland. One scene shows "The Earl" greeting "Mary's" ladies as "four lovely ladies", and they saying "now there is five". "Mary" needed a legitimate heir - "Elizabeth" feared it. "Elizabeth's" ambassador to Scotland was "Throckmorton" (Alan Mowbray), and kept her up-to-date on the heathens in Scotland.....they even murdered "Mary's" secretary, because he was a foreigner and Catholic, too - that should tell you a great deal. "John Knox" (Moroni Olsen) was all over the country screaming that Catholics were blasphemers - sounds like Iran, doesn't it? - and should be put to death.......Bin Laden hadn't been heard of.......
The plot-twists let you know very early "Mary" would have to escape all the sabotage in Scotland, getting Elizabeth's permission "to visit" in England - which turned into 19 years of imprisonment. They had never met, but it was apparent "Elizabeth" wasn't about to harbor a threat to her throne and had plotted to get "Mary" under her care - in prison.
Hepburn's acting is solid all through this historical movie. She stole every scene. All of the other prominent actors - and there were many in this film - couldn't hold a candle to her. Her "trial" was epic. She was aware she was being framed, but realized she had already been judged guilty. "Elizabeth" finally came to visit her in her apartment, but was only interested in getting "Mary" to abdicate. Surprise ! "Mary" did not relent, and "Elizabeth" stomped out. "Mary" was beheaded the next day.
Seeing an early movie like this would have told anyone that this was going to be the greatest communication with the masses worldwide. The radiance of Hepburn's acting ordained a great career for this lady. My copy of the VHS is so bad - and, unfortunately, so was the screening in the theater - one would wonder how the industry would survive. When the photography was good, it was wonderful - everyone involved in this film played their roles well, because many of them were actors from silent-screen or the stage. Few younger people would sit still for all this tackiness, but - if they could - they'd see that "movies" were here to stay, and there was magic for the future. Kudos to all those prominent actors, but Ms. Hepburn stole the show - Brava ! I recommend this piece of filmic history to everyone - it gets a 15 -