Fire Over England

With unflinching resolve and magisterial bravery, Queen Elizabeth survives assassins and traitors to instill in her people the pride and courage necessary to defeat Spain and define the greatness of England.

The setting and the astonishing period costumes notwithstanding, this film is not really a history. Rather, it is the foremost dramatic presentation about projecting strength of personality as worldly power - and no one will ever equal, much less surpass, Flora Robson's depiction of Queen Elizabeth.

Raymond Massey is stunningly reptilian as King Philip of Spain, and this movie is also of interest for the as yet unrefined-for-film acting of Laurence Olivier and the always beautiful Vivien Leigh.

And, in addition, there is, of course, the music by Richard Addinsell.