Premiere.com: The 14 Best(British) Monarch Movies

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Premiere's list of the best British Royals films of all time. Britain is only one of several monarchy countries, but they've got some of the best monarch films around. For the full article and photo gallery go to: http://www.premiere.com/List/The-Fourteen-Best-British-Monarch-Movies
  • The Queen
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    The Queen

    Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen, James Cromwell
    • Released: 2006
    • Directed by: Stephen Frears
    In the cinematic biography The Queen, Helen Mirren portrays Queen Elizabeth II during a tumultuous time in British history. The narrative orbits around the unexpected passing of Princess Diana, and the unprecedented public outcry that follows. Prime Minister Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) struggles to bridge the gap between tradition and public sentiment, while navigating his own complicated relationship with the monarch. This intriguing drama, which won an Academy Award for Mirren's compelling performance, offers a rare glimpse into the private sphere of England's longest-reigning queen amidst a national crisis.

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  • The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex
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    The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex

    Bette Davis, Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland
    • Released: 1939
    • Directed by: Michael Curtiz
    Queen Elizabeth (Bette Davis) secretly loves the ambitious and courageous Earl of Essex (Errol Flynn), but at the same time she distrusts his desire for power, fearing he will exploit his political influence to her detriment. Though Essex's popularity soars when he returns victorious from a military campaign in Spain, Elizabeth instead chides him for prosecuting an unprofitable war. While the lovers quarrel, Sir Walter Raleigh (Vincent Price) schemes to bring about the downfall of Essex.
  • The Private Life of Henry VIII
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    The Private Life of Henry VIII

    Charles Laughton, Elsa Lanchester, Binnie Barnes
    • Released: 1933
    • Directed by: Alexander Korda
    Renowned for his excess, King Henry VIII (Charles Laughton) goes through a series of wives during his rule. With Anne Boleyn (Merle Oberon), his second wife, executed on charges of treason, King Henry weds maid Jane Seymour (Wendy Barrie), but that marriage also ends in tragedy. Not one to be single for long, the king picks German-born Anne of Cleves (Elsa Lanchester) as his bride, but their union lasts only months before an annulment is granted, and King Henry continues his string of spouses.

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  • Mary of Scotland
    4

    Mary of Scotland

    Katharine Hepburn, Fredric March, Florence Eldridge
    • Released: 1936
    • Directed by: John Ford
    Mary Stuart (Katharine Hepburn), the Queen of Scotland, returns to her native highlands upon the death of her husband, the King of France -- which is one of the rival nations of English queen Elizabeth Tudor (Florence Eldridge). After Mary's third marriage to the Earl of Bothwell (Fredric March), the Scottish people become divided, and Mary is forced to abdicate her throne. She seeks help from Queen Elizabeth, who fears Mary's influence and has her imprisoned, and later executed.

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  • Macbeth
    5

    Macbeth

    Orson Welles, Jeanette Nolan, Dan O'Herlihy
    • Released: 1948
    • Directed by: Orson Welles
    In director Welles' retelling of Shakespeare's classic tragedy, Macbeth (Orson Welles), a medieval Scottish general, is told by three witches he will rise to be king. After learning the prophecy, he's pressured by his ambitious wife, Lady Macbeth (Jeanette Nolan), to murder King Duncan (Erskine Sanford) and seize the throne. Macbeth succeeds, but with his new power he becomes increasingly paranoid and bloodthirsty, which ultimately leads to his tragic demise.
  • Richard III
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    Richard III

    Laurence Olivier, Claire Bloom, Cedric Hardwicke
    • Released: 1955
    • Directed by: Laurence Olivier
    Having helped his brother King Edward IV (Cedric Hardwicke) take the throne of England, the jealous hunchback Richard, Duke of York (Laurence Olivier), plots to seize power for himself. Masterfully deceiving and plotting against nearly everyone in the royal court, including his eventual wife, Lady Anne (Claire Bloom), and his brother George, Duke of Clarence (John Gielgud), Richard orchestrates a bloody rise to power before finding all his gains jeopardized by those he betrayed.

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