FIRE OVER ENGLAND

UK, 1936, 92 minutes, Black and White.
Flora Robson, Laurence Olivier, Leslie Banks, Vivien Leigh, Raymond Massey, Tamara Desni, Morton Selton, James Mason.
Directed by William K. Howard.

Fire Over England is from a novel by A.E.W. Mason, with a screenplay co-written by playwright Clemence Dane. It is a star vehicle for the young Laurence Olivier as a gallant Elizabethan gentleman. Vivien Leigh appears as Lord Burleigh's daughter. Flora Robson is impressive as Elizabeth I. Leslie Banks is Leicester. The film re-creates the Elizabethan period in a British style. Grahame Greene remarked that it fulfilled the vision of the history of England from the point of view of an English public schoolmistress.

While the film seems contrived in its design, it is nevertheless a rallying kind of film - England on the verge of World War Two, the atmosphere of the Spanish Civil War. Two years later, Hollywood was to produce The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex with Bette Davis and Errol Flynn.

1.British film-making of the '30s? Production values, sets and decor? Special effects and models? The cast? The spirit of England in the late '30s, dangers for World War II, the Spanish Civil War?

2.The title, Elizabeth and the armada? Her loyal subjects? Plots? Spain?

3.The perspective on Elizabeth? Representing the people and the kingdom? The virgin Queen? Her age, experience? Attitude towards Spain? Mary, Queen of Scots - and the woman's attempt on her life? Her nobles, plots against her? Her court, Cynthia? Dominating people's lives? Her interest in Michael? Her presentation to the people, her speeches? Patriotism?

4.Michael as hero? Laurence Olivier's dramatic style - and rhetoric? With his father, his father's death? In Spain, the hospitality of Elena and her father? The plots against England? His patriotism? His return? Loyalty to the Queen, her favouring him? Eventual knighthood? In love with Cynthia? His concern about plots, saving the Queen's life? His plan to get the spies, Sir Hilary Vane and his impersonation? Going to Spain, the confidence of King Philip? The letters for the traitors? Being met by Elena, her not betraying him, Pedro and his help? His imprisonment, skill in escape? Return to England, the armada? Heroism?

5.Philip II, the antagonism with Britain, his memories of his marriage and living in England? His court? Catholic versus Protestant? The plot to kill Elizabeth? His advisers? Sir Hilary Vane, the letters? Suspicions, the trapping of Michael, the imprisonment? The sending of the armada? Its defeat?

6.Leicester and Burleigh, their access to the Queen, politics, politicking? Their intrigues at court? Plots against Elizabeth? Drake, the navy, the armada? Its defeat?

7.Cynthia, lady in waiting, attendance on the Queen, love for Michael? The interference of the Queen?

8.The traitors, causes, religious wars? The clash with Spain?

9.The fact of the armada, its danger to England, English shipping? The firing of the armada and fire over England?

10.The British historical perspective? The atmosphere of empire? The perspective of later decades? Other film about Queen Elizabeth (Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex, The Virgin Queen? Mary, Queen of Scots?)