I admit I don't know much about the historical aspects of the British, so I defer to others comments about this film. I watched this film more out of curiosity recently when it was on TCM. "Fire Over England" released in 1937, is noteworthy to a true movie fan because of the early pairing of Viven Leigh and Laurence Olivier, who would eventually become Mr. and Mrs. Olivier. They had actually made a few films earlier in England, but they are not well known. In fact, both were not known much in America at all at this point, but of course that would change in two years with Viven Leigh playing Scarlett O'Hara and Laurence Olivier playing Heathcliff. This film is what some call a costume drama, focusing on the 1500's turbulence of England about to go to war with Spain. Flora Robson plays Queen Elizabeth, and she is riveting in the part, and -- in my opinion -- steals every scene she is in. With all due respect to Bette Davis playing the great queen two years later in "The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex" Robson's Queen is superior. She carries her not just with the required bitchiness, but with a regal air about her. Davis seemed rather actress and self-conscious in the part. Anyway, this film, while not great, is still worthwhile, although largely forgotten today. It enjoyed something of a revival after Vivien Leigh won the Oscar for "Gone With the Wind," becoming a bona fide star, and Laurence Olivier finally getting the recognition he deserved in "Wuthering Heights."
Review of Fire Over England
