Themes: Fall From Power, Rise To Power, Authority Figures
Main Cast: Helena Bonham Carter, Cary Elwes, John Wood, Michael Hordern, Jill Bennett
Release Year: 1985
Country: UK
Run Time: 140 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
Lady Jane Grey, the 16-year-old girl who for nine days in the 16th century was Queen of England, is here portrayed by Helena Bonham Carter. Lady Jane Grey's sickly cousin, who becomes Edward VI upon the death of Henry VIII, is on the threshold of death himself. The Protestant powers-that-be, fearing that England will fall under Catholic rule, contrive to marry off Edward VI's most likely successor Lady Jane to the wastrelly Guilford Dudley (Cary Elwes), the future Duke of Suffolk. The dying Edward is coerced into naming Jane as his successor. Jane is forced to assume the throne, attempting to impose reforms on the corrupt Protestant government during her brief reign. A coup led by Jane's cousin Princess Mary (Jane Lapotaire) results in the ouster, and eventual execution, of Queen Jane and her consort. The story is told through anti-establishment themes; teen-agers Lady Jane and Guilford Dudley are seen as the only hope for a brighter future, making their deaths all the more tragic. An earlier version of the same story, Tudor Rose, was filmed in 1936. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Acclaimed British actress Helena Bonham Carter made her screen debut in this 1985 historical drama about Lady Jane Grey and her nine-day rule as Queen of England. So good was Carter in her 16th Century role that filmdom began starring her in other costume dramas, both fictional and nonfictional, in which she continued to perform brilliantly. In Lady Jane, Carter aptly exhibits the principal qualities of her historical counterpart: precocity, idealism, resolve. Because the real Lady Jane was beautiful, according to historical accounts, Carter's own intriguing comeliness serves to enhance the accuracy of her portrayal and fuel the romantic fire she enkindles with Cary Elwes as Guildford Dudley, the playboy tippler with royal connections whom anti-papist oligarchs force to marry Jane to shore up England and the Crown for Protestantism. Machinations abound in whispers and echoing castle footsteps as director Trevor Nunn captures the atmosphere of a divided England just prior to the ascendancy of Elizabeth I. The film may have special appeal for young people who identify with the efforts of Lady Jane and Dudley to right the wrongs of corrupt elders after Jane wears the crown. Patrick Stewart, John Wood, Michael Hordern, Jane Laportaire, and Sara Kestelman support Carter and Elwes with able performances as puppeteers who pull the strings of power. ~ Mike Cummings, All Movie Guide
Jane Lapotaire - Princess Mary; Sara Kestelman - Frances Grey, Duchess of Suffolk; Patrick Stewart - Henry Grey, Duke of Suffolk; Warren Saire - Edward VI; Joss Ackland - Sir John Bridges; Ian Hogg - Sir John Gates; Lee Montague - Renard, the Spanish Ambassador; Richard Vernon - The Marquess of Winchester; David Waller - Archbishop Cranmer; Richard Johnson - The Earl of Arundel; Pip Torrens - Thomas; Guy Henry - Robert Dudley; Andrew Bicknell - John Dudley; John Abbott - Manservant; Adele Anderson - Lady Warwick; Zelah Clarke - Lady Anne Wharton; Anna Gilbert - Lady Robert Dudley; Michael Goldie - Porter; Matthew Guinness - Dr. Owen; Stewart Harwood - Tavern Keeper; Carole Hayman - Brothel Keeper; Janet Henfrey - Housekeeper; Clyde Pollitt - Peasant Leader; Gabor Vernon - Jeweler; Philip Voss - Herald; Richard Moore - Soldier; Denyse Alexander - Dressmaker; Krzysia Bialeska - Wedding Dancer; Laura Clipsham - Katherine Grey; Nicky Croydon - Singing Maid; Jeanette Fox - Wedding Dancer; Cryss Jean Healey - Wedding Dancer; Eliza Kern - Wedding Dancer; Philippa Luce - Wedding Dancer; Robin Martin Oliver - Singer; Brian Poyser - Under Treasurer; Robert Putt - Steward; Alison Woodgate - Wedding Dancer; William Morgan Sheppard - Executioner
Credit
Fred Carter - Art Director, Martyn Hebert - Art Director, Sheila Falconer - Choreography, Geraldine Stephenson - Choreography, Dave Perry - Costume Designer, Sue Blane - Costume Designer, Trevor Nunn - Director, Anne V. Coates - Editor, Stephen Oliver - Composer (Music Score), Peter Frampton - Makeup, Allan Cameron - Production Designer, Douglas Slocombe - Cinematographer, Peter Snell - Producer, Harry Cordwell - Set Designer, Chris Bryant - Screen Story, Chris Bryant - Screenwriter, David Edgar - Screenwriter
The death of King Henry VIII of England throws his kingdom into chaos as his heir, Edward VI is both under-age and in poor health. Anticipating the young king's imminent death from consumption and anxious to keep England true to the Reformation by keeping the CatholicMary from the throne, John Dudley, Lord President of the Council, second only to the king in power, marries his son Lord Guilford to Lady Jane Grey and has the royal physician keep the young king alive — albeit in excruciating pain — long enough to get him to name Lady Jane his heir.
Jane is not happy with the proposed marriage, and must be forced into it through corporal punishment by her parents. At first Jane and Guilford decide to treat this purely as a marriage of convenience, but then they fall deeply in love. Jane is placed on the throne after Edward dies. She is troubled by the questionable legality of her accession; but, in consultation with Guilford, she turns the tables on John Dudley and the others who had thought to use her as a puppet.
After only nine days, however, Queen Jane is abandoned by her council precisely because of her reformist designs for the country. The council, then, goes over to Mary, who at first imprisons Jane and Guilford. After Jane's father, the Duke of Suffolk, raises a rebellion to restore her to the throne, presumably in concert with Thomas Wyatt's rebellion, Queen Mary finally has Jane, Jane's father, and Guilford executed.
Although the film is correct to portray Jane as a precocious and talented scholar, it contains a number of historical inaccuracies.
It is believed that Jane and Guilford did not get on well with each other, and lived apart for most of their brief marriage. Jane returned to her parents' house after her marriage, and Guilford's mother came and forced her to leave after a few weeks. Jane refused to make her husband king when she was made queen, offering instead to make him a duke. Guilford then attempted to leave the castle, which Jane refused to allow because of the way it would look to the public.
Jane was not a social reformer during her reign as the film portrays her. Indeed, that type of social reform was not part of political thinking during the Tudor era.
Mary and Jane actually had a very good relationship; indeed, Mary at first insisted that Jane not be executed. It was only after the revolt led by Jane's father the Duke of Suffolk (who did not do so in an attempt to save Jane but rather to stop Mary's marriage to Prince Philip of Spain) that Mary's advisers made it obvious that she was too much of a liability to be allowed to live. Mary sent her own confessor to try to convert her cousin to Catholicism.
The film also incorrectly portrays Edward's sister Elizabeth as being younger than Edward and Jane.
