For today's Posterized a little something different - rather than a star or director, a character. Here are all of the films that have told the story or a story involving Mary, Queen of Scots. The latest iteration, Mary Queen of Scots (which we just reviewed) starring Saoirse Ronan opened in movie theaters today. Saoirse's other two movies this year (On Chesil Beach and The Seagull) didn't really register with moviegoers so we're hoping for the best with the third given the Brooklyn/Lady Bird goodwill she's accumulated. But on to the royal question at hand...
How many Mary of Scots movies have you seen? Posters for all eight movies featuring the would be queen are after the jump.
THE LOVES OF MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS (1923) starring Fay Compton as Mary and Ellen Compton as Elizabeth
The first movie version of this historical tragedy was a British silent. I have no idea if the Compton actresses were related because in all the info about Fay Compton online it says that her sisters name was Viola not Ellen. Hmmmm.
MARY OF SCOTLAND (1936) starring Katharine Hepburn as Mary and Florence Eldridge as Elizabeth.
Anne-Marie wrote about this movie in her "A Year With Kate" series.
THE HEART OF A QUEEN (1940) starring Zarah Leander as Mary and Maria Koppenhöfer as Elizabeth
This rarity was an anti-British German film made during World War II. The lead actress was a Swedish-German woman. It apparently has musical numbers!
MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS (1971) starring Vanessa Redgrave as Mary and Glenda Jackson as Elizabeth.
The Academy's favorite version of the story (thus far at least). This UK/USA production earned 5 Oscar nominations: Actress, Art Direction, Costume Design, Sound, and Score though it lost them all.
THE MIRROR CRACK'D (1980) starring "Marina Rudd"
Not technically a Mary Queen of Scots movie but Elizabeth Taylor plays an actress named Marina Rudd playing Mary in the film within this film, a Miss Maple mystery.
ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE (2007) starring Samantha Morton as Mary and Cate Blanchett as Elizabeth
Mary was demoted in this version of the story: Off with her head AND HER SCREEN TIME! Nominated for two Oscars: Best Actress and Best Costume Design for Alexandra Byrne. Byrne won the Oscar (it was her fourth nomination) and now she's costuming the same story again in the new 2018 movie!
MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS (2013) starring Camile Rutherford as Mary
In this French film Mary narrates her life to Elizabeth but I believe that Elizabeth does not appear within the film.
MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS (2018) starring Saoirse Ronan as Mary and Margot Robbie as Elizabeth.
It's fate with the public and Oscar voters is still to be determined but you can read Murtada's review right here.