[MR] Kid friendly movies about Elizabeth I or the Renaissance?

[Anthony Bryant]

Irmgart wrote:

> I have a friend who has a bunch of Girl Scouts interested in the
> Renaissance, and we're looking for a movie to give them a good "feel" for
> the clothing and time period. She's using this as something of a jumping off
> place.
> 
> The trick?
> 
> They're 12, and a lot of them don't have that great an attention span.

"Mary Queen of Scots" is probably right out, although I saw 
it when it first came out and I was 10 -- I missed some of 
the politics, and was a bit upset by the assassination of 
her Spanish secretary, but... eh.

How about a random episode or two of the old "Elizabeth R" 
with Glenda Jackson? The eps are an hour long, more or less 
self-contained, and can't be *too* bad, as they were 
televised 35 years ago. (Ditto for the Beeb's "Six Wives of 
Henry VIII.")

I would *not* recommend "Elizabeth" for anyone, even though 
I love Galadrie... er, Kate Blanchett. The thing is just too 
wonky.

"Anne of a Thousand Days" is a good one (Richard Burton and 
Genvieve Bujold -- can't go wrong!).

For a depression fest, there's the lovely "Lady Jane" with 
Helena Bonham Carter as Lady Jane Grey, and Cary Elwes as 
Lord Dudley.

It occurs to me that they *might* like "Shakespeare in Love" 
-- the only nudity is girls, and since these *are* girls.... 
<G> Of course, the sex scenes *may* be a bit much, but it's 
just such a great and witty film, and one made with such 
love for the period...

Great films that don't have much in the way of sex or 
violence, but might drag a bit for kids are "A Man For All 
Seasons" and

It's a bit more "Hollywood" than "history," but "Elizabeth 
and Essex" (with Erroly Flynn and Bette Davis) is a classic, 
and has lots of action to keep people's attention.


Effingham
-- 

Anthony J. Bryant
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