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Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 9780780020610
Format: Black & White, NTSC
ISBN: 0780020618
Label: Homevision
Manufacturer: Homevision
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Homevision
Release Date: June 06, 2000
Running Time: 92 minutes
Sales Rank: 31001
Studio: Homevision
Theatrical Release Date: March 05, 1937
Editorial Review:
Description:
This stirring historical drama brought Laurence Olivier (Hamlet, Richard III) and Vivien Leigh (Gone With the Wind, That Hamilton Woman) together on screen for the first time. Set during the reign of Elizabeth I, William K. Howard's (The Power and the Glory) Fire Over England boasts dazzling cinematography, grand sets and costumes, and a first-rate cast. The then-unknown Olivier stars as a dashing naval officer whose daring leads the British to victory over the Spanish Armada. Proving himself a true swashbuckler, he charms many a maiden, infiltrates King Philip's court, and escapes by his sword and his wit. Leigh is exquisite as the lady-in-waiting who wins his heart forever. Other outstanding performances include Flora Robson as the courageous yet vulnerable queen and Raymond Massey as the power-hungry Philip.
Amazon.com essential video:
Alexander Korda often enlisted Tinseltown talent to lend his British productions some Hollywood pizzazz. For this spirited historical film about the intrigues and counter-intrigues leading up to the Spanish Armada's assault against Queen Elizabeth's brave little island, William K. Howard directed and the cameraman was the great James Wong Howe. Still, it's the Russian French art director Lazare Meerson who takes top honors with his ethereal sets. The swashbuckling pales beside Captain Blood or The Prisoner of Zenda, but the diplomatic crosstalk and young Larry Olivier's James-Bond-in-a-ruff act are delicious. Vivien Leigh is Olivier's love interest (on screen and off), and royalty is royally served by Flora Robson's gusty Good Queen Bess (a role she reprised in The Sea Hawk) and Raymond Massey's wonderfully lugubrious Philip of Spain. Robert Newton plays another Spaniard, and if you don't blink you'll glimpse James Mason as the traitorous Hillary Vane. --Richard T. Jameson
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Of historical intererest
Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier were already in love during production of this film and it`s because of them this is still of interest. Flora Robson still excell(she was to meet Vivien as her servant Ftattateeta in CAESAR AND CLEOPATRA - by the way my first review on this site on this very day - and a nice switch since Vivien is Robson`s lady-in-waiting here)...
The battle was always a bathtub-affair(noted even in 1936). Olivier`s crying of grief was cut in the US because the thought ... Read More
Rating:  - The Best Queen Bess
This is a period piece set at the time of the Spanish Armada which is little known to Americans. This is a shame since it is a fairly good one.
The action does not focus so much on the Armada as it does on the political intrigues leading to it. It also focuses on a love story between English, Lawrence Olivier and the half Spanish Vivian Leigh. When all is said and done, it is their story. The threat of invasion is just the backdrop. Both of these big name Hollywood stars do a wonderful ... Read More
Rating: - Very good movie!
My family enjoyed this picture very much. It was well written, and my Sister even recognized the uncredited James Mason in the film. The acting was superb (Flora Robson made a very regal Queen Elizabeth I). Well worth watching!
Rating: - A movie worth watching!
Definitely a wonderful movie, Fire over England, brings to the screen the story of a young English naval officer as he strives to uncover a plot, find the conspirators and warn the Queen of the imminent threat of foreign invasion.
The setting is 1558 England. King Philip of Spain has collected enough gold from the colonies in the Americas that he has built the Spanish Armada. In addition he has set up a network of spies and operatives in Queen Elizabeth's court who serve as his eyes and ears ... Read More
Rating: - Still the best screen Elizabeth!
This is one of the best-scripted of all cinematic costume dramas, even if that script does require the young Laurence Olivier to sing (sounding strangely like Noel Coward as he does). Vivien Leigh is perfect as the young lady-in-waiting envied by the ageing Elizabeth, who finally manages to renounce her dreams of lost youth; James Mason makes a fine villain; and above all Flora Robson makes a seriously convincing and complex Elizabeth, politic and inspiring all at once. It makes more recent movies about ... Read More
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