Fire Over England (1937)

Laurence Olivier helps save England from Spanish dreadnoughts in this unabashedly patriotic 1936 British film directed by American William Howard. Featuring Olivier as gung-ho naval officer Michael Ingolby, the production has all the ingredients of the classic swashbuckler: booming canons, swordplay, romance, and villainy. But what really sets the film apart is the outstanding performance of Flora Robson as a stout-hearted, quick-tongued Queen Elizabeth I. Robson delivers barbs at court as sharp as the crossed swords on the field of battle. In private, though, she exhibits a gentle side, even spoon-feeding broth to her ailing counselor, Baron Burleigh, portrayed with grandfatherly benignity by Morton Selten. The plot moves swiftly, depicting battles, captures, narrow escapes, and wooing on the fly -- all enhanced by the stunning black-and-white cinematography of James Wong Howe. Richard Addinsell serves up a rousing music score, and two of early filmdom's exquisite beauties -- Tamara Desni (Elena) and Vivien Leigh (Cynthia) -- turn strait-laced Elizabethan gowns into fashion statements. The film is not faultless, however. At times, Olivier is much too theatrical, as if he is performing Shakespeare for an audience far distant from the stage. There are also directorial faux pas. In one, Olivier doffs a sling on a wounded arm, jumps ship, and swims ashore like Mark Spitz going for gold. In another, the supposedly iron-fisted queen allows traitors to redeem themselves by helping Ingolby sink Spanish ships. Robson knights Olivier in this film, ten years before he received the honor in real life. ~ Mike Cummings, All Movie Guide