The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex

The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex is a 1939 historical romantic drama movie. It is about the relationship between Queen Elizabeth I and Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex. The movie stars Bette Davis and Errol Flynn. The movie was directed by Michael Curtiz. It was based on the Maxwell Anderson play, Elizabeth the Queen.

The play had been a Broadway success with Lynn Fontanne and Alfred Lunt in the lead roles. The supporting cast in the movie included Olivia de Havilland, Donald Crisp, Henry Daniell, Henry Stephenson and Vincent Price. The score was composed by Erich Wolfgang Korngold. He later used a theme from the movie in his Symphony in F sharp major.

The Technicolor cinematography was by Sol Polito. The elaborate costumes were designed by Orry-Kelly. The movie was a Warner Brothers production. The movie was a hit. It received five Academy Award nominations including Best Color Cinematography. Bette Davis was expected to receive a nomination. She was nominated instead for Dark Victory.

Category:1939 movies
Category:1930s American romance movies
Category:1930s historical movies
Category:1939 romantic drama movies
Category:Movies based on plays
Category:English-language movies
Category:Movies directed by Michael Curtiz
Category:1939 American drama movies
Category:Movies about royalty
Category:American romantic drama movies
Category:American historical movies
Category:American biographical movies
Category:Warner Bros. movies
Category:Movies set in England
Category:Movies about capital punishment
Category:1930s biographical movies