The Virgin Queen

Play trailer

The Virgin Queen

1955

1h 32m

History

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

Tomatometer

3 Reviews

65%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

English explorer Sir Walter Raleigh (Richard Todd) wants to lead a seafaring expedition to the New World. But, in order to finance the trip, Raleigh needs to win over the formidable Queen Elizabeth I (Bette Davis). The adventurer turns on the charm, seducing Elizabeth so that she'll support his mission. The deceptive games are further complicated when Raleigh falls for lady-in-waiting Beth (Joan Collins). The two must hide their love or face the wrath of the virgin queen.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Dan Callahan

Slant Magazine

Henry Koster's direction is competent, for him, but Franz Waxman's music is no substitute for Erick Wolfgang Korngold's classic score for Elizabeth and Essex.

Rated: 2/4

Mar 31, 2008

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

A star performance by the 47-year-old Bette Davis, dressed in a red wig, gets the acting honors, as she impressively revisits a role she did 16 years before.

Rated: B-

Nov 13, 2022

Full Review

Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

Bette Davis (under a red fright-wig) portrays Elizabeth the First, with Richard Todd as the dashing Sir Walter Raleigh, in a corny but enjoyable story of Tudor England.

Dec 5, 2019

Full Review

Read all reviews

Liam D

Just a standard cheesy old Hollywood costume drama with some good performances and decent production values but it’s kinda dull

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

05/05/24

Full Review

Steve D

Only Todd is given much to do.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

07/02/23

Full Review

Audience Member

a very good movie Bette Davis 2nd time as Queen Elizabeth 1 Richard Todd and Joan Collins excellent to i enjoyed this movie.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

a strong female lead role played aptly

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I think it's probably a great movie, it's Bette Davis after all. I just can't see anyone as Elizabeth since Judi Dench...

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Bette Davis chews up the scenery in this glamorous swashbuckler that deals with the relationship between Elizabeth I and Sir Walter Raleigh. It's interesting to see an early performance from Joan Collins, but for a far superior film see Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth the Golden Age.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Henry Koster

Director

Bette Davis

Queen Elizabeth I

Richard Todd

Sir Walter Raleigh

Joan Collins

Beth Throgmorton

Herbert Marshall

Lord Leicester

Jay Robinson

Chadwick

View more photos

Synopsis

English explorer Sir Walter Raleigh (Richard Todd) wants to lead a seafaring expedition to the New World. But, in order to finance the trip, Raleigh needs to win over the formidable Queen Elizabeth I (Bette Davis). The adventurer turns on the charm, seducing Elizabeth so that she'll support his mission. The deceptive games are further complicated when Raleigh falls for lady-in-waiting Beth (Joan Collins). The two must hide their love or face the wrath of the virgin queen.

Director: Henry Koster
Producer: Charles Brackett
Screenwriter: Harry Brown, Mindret Lord
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox
Genre: History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 22, 1955, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 1, 2011
Runtime: 1h 32m

Most Popular at Home Now