Elizabeth the Queen (film)

Elizabeth the Queen is a 1968 television movie presented on Hallmark Hall of Fame. It is an adaptation of the 1930 play Elizabeth the Queen by Maxwell Anderson. The film was directed by George Schaefer.

Elizabeth the Queen
Based on	Elizabeth the Queen
Written by	Maxwell Anderson
Story by	John Edward Friend
Directed by	George Schaefer
Starring	Judith Anderson Charlton Heston
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Running time	90
Production company	Crown Media Productions
Original release
Network	NBC
Release	January 24, 1968 (1968-01-24)[1][2]
Related
Hallmark Hall of Fame

Cast

• Judith Anderson as Queen Elizabeth I
• Charlton Heston as Robert Devereaux, Earl of Essex
• Michael Allinson as Sir Walter Raleigh
• Alan Caillou as Burbage
• Jody Carter as Lady In Waiting
• Peter Church as Hemmings
• Dana Elcar as Captain Marvel
• Lynn Harper as Ann Rousseau
• Harvey Jason as Herald
• Donald Marlatt as Irish Courier
• Anne Rogers as Penelope
• Gilchrist Stuart as Physician
• Harry Townes as Sir Robert Cecil

Production

In 1964 George Schaefer said he had decided not to do a production of this or another Maxwell Anderson play, Mary Queen of Scot, because they depended on pageantry, which was hard to do on television.^[3]

Schaefer changed his mind and Judith Anderson signed to star in a production in May 1967. It was her third production for the Hallmark Hall of Fame following Macbeth and The Cradle Song. She had performed in the play the year before in New York and received poor reviews but insisted the production was faulty rather than the play itself.^[4] Charlton Heston agreed to co star.^[5]