George MacDonald Fraser writes insightfully about this film in his Hollywood History of the World, discussing it with The Sea Hawk. Like that film it stars Flora Robson as Queen Elizabeth I, fighting to battle for England’s independence against Spain, who are getting increasingly annoyed at attacks from English privateers such as Francis Drake. She also flirts with a handsome young buck (here Laurence Olivier), who has romantic shenanigans amidst his duelling and ferreting out of traitors.
Story-wise this has some problems - it doesn't really make sense they'd risk sending Laurence Olivier back to Spain as a spy when he's lived with a family there for months, and there's a great risk he'd be recognised by them.
The film also can't seem to make up it's mind who the female love interest is - beautiful Vivien Leigh is on hand as the girl waiting for Larry back home in England, but she's a nagging bitch. He seems to have more of a connection with a beautiful Spanish girl (Tamara Desni) who falls in love with him. This is certainly more dramatically interesting - but he winds up with Leigh.
The final attack on the Armada also feels tacked on - the story feels over when Olivier arrives with the traitor's name. (These are all things that were fixed up in The Sea Hawk, which was like a semi remake - they made the film about one person, i.e. Errol Flynn, instead of splitting focus, the dramatic line was clearer, he romanced a Spanish girl, there's no final Armada battle, it ends with the Queen's speech).
Oliver is handsome and dashing and all that but overacts at times, particularly when his character gets all upset. Still, the good things outweigh the bad. Like most big budget Alex Korda productions, it looks wonderful. Robson is superb as Queen Bess, and has plenty of queenly moments, and Raymond Massey's Phillip is a worthy (and not completely unsympathetic) opponent.
There is also lots of action and a strong support cast, including Leslie Banks (his blandness works for him for a change, playing the Earl of Leicester, a noble who's been in love with the Queen forever), a young James Mason (as the traitor whose place Olivier takes) and a young Robert Newton. Some fun moments too like when Flora Robson slaps Vivien Leigh. and Laurence Olivier sings not once but twice!
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