Great film, despite the fact that pretty much everyone involved in making it was unhappy about it. Warner Brother's made it largely because Bette Davis, their biggest female star, demanded they do so, despite misgivings over previous similar period pieces that had bombed. Bette Davis, who was powerful enough to demand such things, wanted Lawrence Olivier to play Essex. However, he was busy making Wuthering Heights, and wasn't available. Davis disliked Errol Flynn from the time of their previous movie together, The Sisters. Davis, who possessed a strict schedule on the set, considered Flynn crude and unprofessional, and disliked his habit of playing practical jokes during filming. Flynn, didn't like taking second billing to Davis, and was intimidated by both her reputation and personality. Both Davis and Flynn didn't get along with director Michael Curtiz, a strict and headstrong disciplinarian with a reputation for treating actors like cattle. Olivia DeHavilland, coming right off her critical success in Gone With The Wind, resented being relegated to an almost bit part as Penelope in Elizabeth and Essex.
One famous story about Elizabeth and Essex. Davis so disliked Flynn that during one scene in thee film that, during one sceen in which she is supposed to slap him across the face, she - rather than "stage" slapping him, hauled of and belted him as hard as she could across the face. Flynn's stunned and unrehearsed anger is evident in the film.
This is another Flynn movie available en toto on YouTube, though this one wasn't as good as the previous two. The first few minutes are without sound (there are subtitles throughout, though), and the clarity isn't as good on this one. I watched all three at 360p, as 480p tends to lock up due to memory issues. Even at 360p, The Roots of Heaven was incredibly clear. The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex - not so much. It would lock up at 480p, but the pixels appeared a bit grainy at 360p. But it was free, so what the heck.
And, finally. Donald Crisp. Playing Francis Bacon. Crisp Bacon. A classic bit of film trivia is born.
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