TheLittleSongbird I love period films, I love late legendary John Barry's music and I like Glenda Jackson, Vanessa Redgrave and Patrick McGoohan a lot. Mary, Queen of Scots was a truly wonderful film, true some of the history is suspect but I was past caring because everything else was done so brilliantly. First and foremost, the film does look gorgeous, the costumes are elegant with many touches of authenticity, the cinematography is crisp and the scenery is lush. The script is literate, thoughtful and poignant, the direction efficient and the story well paced and compelling. The acting is a marvel, Vanessa Redgrave is a very convincing and regal Mary, and Patrick McGoohan an excellent James, but Glenda Jackson who embodies Elizabeth is a revelation. The real heart of the film comes from John Barry's score, which for me is not only his best but also one of his most beautiful and moving. All in all, wonderful. 10/10 Bethany Cox

MARIO GAUCI A follow-up to the prestigious historical epic ANNE OF THE THOUSAND DAYS (1969) which reunites several crew members (producer Hal Wallis, director Jarrott, screenwriter John Hale, costume designer Margaret Furse, etc.) and resumes the bloody Tudor saga. The same events had been previously filmed in Hollywood by John Ford as MARY OF Scotland (1936) with Katharine Hepburn (as Mary Stuart), Fredric March (as Bothwell) and his real-life actress wife Florence Eldridge (as Queen Elizabeth I); here these same roles are played by Vanessa Redgrave – who had already appeared (as Elizabeth's mother, Anne Boleyn) in the magnificent A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS (1966), Nigel Davenport (ditto) and Glenda Jackson (who was currently starring as the same English monarch on British TV) and, like its above-mentioned predecessor (albeit to a lesser extent), the film found favor at awards ceremonies of the day with both Redgrave and Jackson being up for Oscar (the former) and Golden Globes (both). Also singled out was composer John Barry for his beautiful score, the somewhat disjointed script and, inevitably, the lavish costumes and sets. Still, where the film impresses most is in the performances of the ensemble cast: apart from those already pointed out, we also have Patrick McGoohan (who just died at 80 as Mary's devious half-brother James), Trevor Howard (as the English Queen's wily chief adviser), Timothy Dalton (as Mary's second and tyrannical husband), Daniel Massey (as Elizabeth's ambitious lover), Ian Holm (as Mary's link to the Vatican) and Andrew Keir (as a Scottish lord). As befits the time in which it was made, I suppose, side by side with the classiness on display, we have to contend with tastelessly 'accurate' portrayals of everybody's bed-hopping and histrionic antics – from a red-headed Dalton's seduction of minstrel man-spy Holm to Redgrave's elopement with newly-married lord Davenport to Jackson's long-term and tempestuous relationship with the equally married Massey. For the record, I have a handful of other films dealing with the Tudors on my "To Watch" list but I decided to get to this sooner rather than later in view of McGoohan's passing.

ianlouisiana As befits seasoned Shakespearian thesps,Miss Jackson and Miss Redgrave emote at the drop of a hat.Elizabeth,stubborn,toughened by years of enforced absence from Court,backed by wise advisors,Mary,stubborn,weakened by years of sycophancy at the effete French court,surrounded by hotheads.Miss Jackson goes for it as if she was auditioning for a part as Pirate Queen,she is barely restrained from smacking her thigh.Miss Redgrave,pale and dull,a mousy Desdemona. This sort of stuff may have them standing on their seats at Stratford on Avon but is hugely OTT on the screen. This basic error is compounded by the appalling performance by Mr Patrick Mcgoohan as Mary's brother,James.His attempt at a Scottish accent is frankly embarrassing.Mr Nigel Davenport as Bothwell is equally bad but at least he has the good grace to tone it down a bit. Mr Ian Holm seems to have no idea what his accent is supposed to be, a condition I suspect that will be shared by many viewers. It is left to a very young Mr Timothy Dalton to supply what entertainment "Mary Queen of Scots" provides as he pillages Olivier's bleach - blond "Hamlet"and turns that gloomy Dane into a camp aristo. Never a true villain,he is arch when he should be terrifying. Apart from a perfunctory rape which presumably results in King James,his role seems to be as GBF to the Queen. Unfortunately many people seem to see "Mary Queen of Scots" as a great historical movie.In truth it is about as accurate as "Carry on Henry" and nowhere near as funny.

Tanismoon I am not a die-hard fan of Miss Redgrave's, but I will acknowledge her talent as one of our finest actresses of our day. Her portrayal of Mary of Scotland is brilliant. The cast is excellent and you will find yourself engrossed in a history lesson before you realize it. Even the portrayal of John Knox is as accurate as one can get by delving into the archives. I found myself transported back into Tudor England with one of the most dysfunctional families of all time, Elizabeth I and her cousin Mary of Scotland. Both women were anointed Queens which lends to a problem situation that many did not consider for the English Hierarchy. With both cast and acting shimmered in excellence, you will not be disappointed in this film.