Product Description

One of the most important rulers in history, Elizabeth I came to the throne at a time when England was under threat of annexation from abroad and collapse from within. When she died after a reign of 45 years, she left behind a nation protected by the greatest navy on earth and in the midst of a cultural explosion she made possible. Hosted by the world-renowned historian David Starkey (author of Elizabeth: The Struggle for the Throne) ELIZABETH explores the life and rule of the woman who gave her name to an era. A compelling blend of dramatic re-creations and incisive commentary brings alive the courtly intrigues and epic conflicts that shaped her reign, opens a window into the Queen's private struggles and convictions, and examines her monumental legacy. The four volumes in this epic set are From the Prison to the Palace, The Virgin Queen, Heart of a King and Gloriana.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6513 in DVD
• Brand: A&E HOME VIDEO
• Released on: 2002-05-28
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 200 minutes

Customer Reviews

Entertaining and Educational...The Best of Both Worlds!
This History Channel four part documentary on the life of the famous Virgin Queen, Elizabeth I is an excellent addition to any history enthusiast's video library. Combining commentary with well-done re-enactments, this mini-series chronicles the rise and reign of the most famous queen in history, Elizabeth Tudor, daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. This series follows her life from her childhood, where she was raised as a lady in a man's world, tossed about after the death of her father, to whom she was devoted, and ultimately spending her adolescence trying to fend off the advances of her step-father. After suffering through the reign on her virulently Catholic half-sister, "Bloody" Mary, Elizabeth finally ascends to the throne of England in time to fend off conspiracies, rebellions, and marriage proposals. We then follow as Elizabeth grows into a powerful and intelligent queen, first by putting down a rebellion instigated by Mary, Queen of Scots, then outmanuevering Spain's Phillip II and defeating his great Armada in the English Channel. Elizabeth's life is a fascinating and entertaining piece of history and this wonderful DVD series does it great justice. Highly recommended.

Documentary of Her Royal Self
This is a really beautiful documentary about the life of Elizabeth. It is not a drama, uses actors primarily without words under narration to tell the life story of Elizabeth. I have watched this several times over.

Similar to other David Starkey narrated histories, there are trace comments which really SHOULD be followed up on, things stated as fact that would be hard to prove outside of conjecture. Some of today's pasty titled folks are trotted out and one wonders how much of an authority they really are, when they mistranslate simple phrases... but that also brings life and light to the "mystique" of station, to see that these really are just people.

The actors are well used, and when they do get to speak, they shine. I especially like that they used two actresses, one for young Elizabeth, another for older. The transition is done well, and helps the time-line progress (they should have done the same thing with Mary).

Not the best docu-history I've ever seen, but very basic, well produced, and worth several viewings.

Born and Raised on Shaky Grounds, Reigned and Died in Glory
Elizabeth, a two-DVD set by The History Channel, will win the hearts and minds of a wide audience. On-location photography in the United Kingdom and Ireland, well-done reenactments, artwork, and the superb narration of historian David Starkey make it possible for viewers to get a better appreciation for Queen Elizabeth I and the impact of her reign on British, European, and world history. Starkey clearly explains how Elizabeth Tudor, daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, managed to become queen in 1558 C.E. through courage, cunning, and luck. Starkey also shows with conviction that unlike her cousin Mary Stewart, Queen of Scots, Elizabeth I, a Protestant, was an astute politician both domestically and overseas during her nearly 45-year rule. England became a major European power under Elizabeth I's reign. Paradoxically, Mary Stewart, the figurehead of Catholicism, got the last word after her execution for high treason against Elizabeth I in 1587 C.E. Elizabeth I died heirless in 1603 C.E. Mary Stewart's son, James VI of Scotland, became King of England and Scotland as James I after the death of Elizabeth I. To summarize, Elizabeth is a nice addition to the DVD library of any person fond of history.