Mary, Queen Of Scots (1971)

Mary, Queen Of Scots - 1971

Next on our list of films is 1971's "Mary, Queen Of Scots", a look at the life of an iconic Scottish queen.  The film covers the life of Mary from the time when she leaves France after the death of her first husband until her own death after being discovered to have participated in a plot against English Queen Elizabeth I.

The film's cast includes Vanessa Redgrave, Glenda Jackson, Patrick McGoohan, Timothy Dalton, Nigel Davenport, Trevor Howard, Daniel Massey, Ian Holm, Katherine Kath, and Maria Aitken.

Mary, Queen of Scots (and of France) has just lost her husband King Francis II of France.  Having no children, she prepares to leave French shores and reclaim her place as Queen of Scots in her own country.

Her cortege leaves the French castle where she resides.  Watching her go is her former mother-in-law, Catherine de Medici, who feels no lost love as Mary disappears from her view.

Mary arrives in Scotland and enthusiastically greets the Lords of the Congregation as their queen.

Unfortunately, she's told by her brother James (who has been acting as Regent) that she will only be a figurehead.  He will be the real power in Scotland.

He takes her to the Palace of Holyrood, where Mary laments her situation.  Her advisors tell Mary that the only way to gain control of the situation is through a strong marriage with a Catholic prince.

Queen Elizabeth I of England is also thinking of Mary's marriage.  She decrees to foreign ministers that any marriage by a Catholic prince to Mary will be seen as an act of war to England.

Elizabeth has plans up her sleeve for her own candidate for Mary's husband.  She sends her favorite Robert Dudley knowing Mary will not take him because he's Master of the Horse.  Robert Dudley comes with the caveat that Elizabeth will recognize Mary's claim to the English throne upon her death.

She also sends Henry, Lord Darnley as the bait that will make sure Elizabeth will recognize Mary as her heir.  Elizabeth's advisor William Cecil tells her, "But with Dudley comes the future Crown of England.  No true monarch would turn her back on that, not even Mary of Scotland."  Elizabeth responds, "That monarch is first a woman."  Cecil counters with, "You would never ignore such an offer for a pretty fellow."  To which Elizabeth remarks, "This woman is first a monarch."

Mary takes the bait, and she and Darnley begin spending a lot of time together.  Eventually, they become engaged.

She uses the engagement as the catalyst to remove her brother from power and take her rightful place as more than just a figurehead.  She exiles her brother from Scotland.

Mary and Darnley are married in a grand style with the entire Scottish court in attendance.

Darnley becomes unsatisfied with his position in Scotland as King Consort.  He wants more power.  When Mary denies him that, Darnley throws a fit and carries her off to bed.  Mary becomes disgusted with him.

Mary becomes pregnant, and Darnley falsely accuses her advisor David Riccio of being the father.  Mary and Riccio hurl accusations back at Darnley.

Darnley enters into a contract with Scottish lords unsatisfied with Mary's rule and they kill Riccio in front of her.

Knowing he's trapped in a horrible situation, Darnley doesn't know what to do.  Mary convinces him that their only chance is to run away.  They slip away under the cover of night and go to Mary's only ally, Lord Bothwell.

Mary has a son and heir named James.  When Elizabeth hears the news, she collapses on the floor and cries out, "The Queen of Scotland is lighter of a fair son, and I am barren stock."

With Bothwell's help, Mary is able to return to power.  She presents her son to the Scottish people.

Eventually, Darnley develops syphilis (the pox) and has to be placed in a house away from people.

Mary is now in love with Lord Bothwell.  They participate in a plot in which Darnley is murdered.

In England, Elizabeth has her court go into mourning for Darnley.  "We are mourning the late king Henry of Scotland.  We mourn because the Scottish court does not."

Mary marries Lord Bothwell.  Her exiled brother James uses this to push her from power and send her into exile in England.  He also takes from her son away from her.

Mary requests and gets an audience with her cousin Elizabeth.  During the meeting, Mary asks for money and an army so that she can reclaim her throne.  Elizabeth tells her that she will be happy to provide both if she can be acquitted of the crime of murdering Darnley.  In a rage, Mary tells Robert Dudley to guard Elizabeth well for their are many who want her dead.

"Now I have no choice," says Elizabeth.  "I must keep her prisoner until the day of her death."  She imprisons Mary in a guarded castle.

Many years later, Elizabeth is given positive proof that Mary is actively plotting against her life.  She knows that she must sign Mary's death warrant.

She goes to Mary and urges her to refute the claims against her, but Mary refuses.  "How little you have changed.  How wildly you rush to your destruction," Elizabeth tells Mary.  She also says, "Madam, if your head had matched your heart, I would be the one awaiting death."

Mary is executed in front of some assembled guests.  During her final speech to the crowd, she said, "I forgive you with all my heart.  I thank you, even.  I hope this death shall put an end to all my troubles.  For in my end is my beginning."

With tears in her eyes, Elizabeth holds Mary's prayer book and rosary as she thinks toward the future and who will succeed her.

Cast rundown:

   Vanessa Redgrave..........................Mary, Queen of Scots

   Glenda Jackson..............................Queen Elizabeth I

   Patrick McGoohan...........................James Stuart

   Timothy Dalton...............................Henry, Lord Darnley

   Nigel Davenport..............................Lord Bothwell

   Trevor Howard................................William Cecil

   Daniel Massey................................Robert Dudley

   Ian Holm.......................................David Riccio

   Katherine Kath...............................Catherine de Medici

   Maria Aitken..................................Lady Bothwell

And that's all for Mary, Queen Of Scots.  Vanessa Redgrave was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance as the Scottish queen.  She and Timothy Dalton were a real-life couple and were together from 1971 to 1986.  The French castle scenes were filmed at Chateau de Chenonceau.  Alnwick Castle stood in for the Palace of Holyrood.

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