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The back reads:
"Flora Robson, Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh star in this swashbuckling story set in an Elizabethan England under threat from Spain and the Inquisition.
1587. The court of Queen Elizabeth (Flora Robson) is alive with intrigue, espionage and danger. With Spain poised to launch its mighty Armada against England, traitors plot to kill or kidnap the Queen and destroy all opposition to the invasion force.
Michael (Laurence Olivier) has just made a daring escape from Spain. Now, the Queen bids him to return once more as her spy to discover the names of those who plot against her. His love, the Lady Cynthia (Vivien Leigh) is desperate for him not to go, as his mission will take him into the Escurial itself - King Philip's palace. But duty calls - and time is running out before the Armada is ready to sail . . .
This fast paced, stirring and lavish British film production from 1936 was produced partly to celebrate the royal coronation year and also to act as a rallying cry against the forces of evil gathering in Nazi Germany."
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
When this film was made in 1937, England's rulership was deeply divided. Whilst many still looked for peace with Germany, Churchill's faction were demanding that urgent preparations be made for the war they believed inevitable. Set amidst the similarly crucial Elizabethan period just prior to the attack of the Spanish Armada; this 85min B&W classic starring Laurence Olivier and Vivian Leigh, reveals those divisions, in a highly entertaining but easily grasped parable of late 1930's England.
King Phillip's Spanish superpower(Hitler's Germany) is the ever growing menace, looming over England's cherished rights and freedoms. On the high seas a few heroic sea captains led by Francis Drake, fight an undeclared war against the tyranny of the Spanish Inquisition. With her Court split/misguided by Spanish gold and falsehood, Queen Elizabeth "I am England!" can do little, but determinedly states:- "I have seen blacker fears turn to hope; hope on, til there is none!". Treason is finally unmasked as the Armada enters the Channel, but realising their folly at last, the conspirators die for the England they also love; steering fire ships into the Spanish invasion fleet:- "Thou dids't blow thy wind and they were scattered!".
With the intensity of a passion play at times, but also full of sub-plots which don't drift too far from historic reality; this is one of the very best of Korda's pre-war productions. Fire Over England [DVD] [1937]
King Phillip's Spanish superpower(Hitler's Germany) is the ever growing menace, looming over England's cherished rights and freedoms. On the high seas a few heroic sea captains led by Francis Drake, fight an undeclared war against the tyranny of the Spanish Inquisition. With her Court split/misguided by Spanish gold and falsehood, Queen Elizabeth "I am England!" can do little, but determinedly states:- "I have seen blacker fears turn to hope; hope on, til there is none!". Treason is finally unmasked as the Armada enters the Channel, but realising their folly at last, the conspirators die for the England they also love; steering fire ships into the Spanish invasion fleet:- "Thou dids't blow thy wind and they were scattered!".
With the intensity of a passion play at times, but also full of sub-plots which don't drift too far from historic reality; this is one of the very best of Korda's pre-war productions. Fire Over England [DVD] [1937]
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I enjoyed this film quite a lot, even though there isn't a great deal in the way of plot. Laurence Olivier is here, looking very young (well it is 1936!) and Dame Flora Robson is an excellent Queen Elizabeth the 1st. It's hard to say who was the better queen, Flora Robson or Bette Davis; they were both eminently watchable in the role in my opinion.
The film was really propaganda about the rising threat of the Nazis: The 'Spanish' were meant to be the Germans, and the 'Armada' was about the threat of invasion from Germany. This aside, the film is still a good rollicking romp forgetting the propaganda issue.
So, a very pleasant hour and a half all told.
The film was really propaganda about the rising threat of the Nazis: The 'Spanish' were meant to be the Germans, and the 'Armada' was about the threat of invasion from Germany. This aside, the film is still a good rollicking romp forgetting the propaganda issue.
So, a very pleasant hour and a half all told.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Fire Over England is an excellent film which embraces the talents of a superb cast and A. E. W. Mason who wrote the script.It is a film of some age now, and there are production limitations, the battle scenes for example, but this should not detract from the pleasures of a literate script with fine performances from an all star cast. Flora Robson makes a most convincing Elizabeth and Leslie Banks, Raymond Massey,Vivien Leigh, Tamara Desni and Laurence Olivier give spirited performances. There are, in addition,reminders of actors who were to became stars in their own right. Both James Mason and Robert Newton feature, Newton in particular is impressive, whilst the experienced Morton Selten as Burleigh is a delight.
The film notes draw attention to this 1937 production as one to celebrate the royal coronation year and also to act as a rallying cry against the forces of evil gathering in Nazi Germany. These were worthy objectives played out in stirring fashion. The Radio Times Film Guide has it about right, Fire Over England is "Great Fun"
If you love vintage black and white films, buy it! I certainly wasn't disappointed.
The film notes draw attention to this 1937 production as one to celebrate the royal coronation year and also to act as a rallying cry against the forces of evil gathering in Nazi Germany. These were worthy objectives played out in stirring fashion. The Radio Times Film Guide has it about right, Fire Over England is "Great Fun"
If you love vintage black and white films, buy it! I certainly wasn't disappointed.
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