England of Elizabeth

Visible traces and the spirit of an age; of Elizabeth I, Drake, Raleigh and Shakespeare.

British Transport Films' apolitical and respectful glimpse of distant Tudor England features a memorable commentary from Alec Clunes and a magnificent musical score by Ralph Vaughan-Williams, and looks back in wonder at the era of Shakespeare and the first Queen Elizabeth. The film's purpose is partly to encourage audiences to visit some of the historical attractions that go on to be shown, but as in all the best BTF films, 'promotion' is very subtle, while deeper meanings are lightly brushed upon. Parallels between the original and the current 'Elizabethan age' are unstressed but obvious, yet the optimism is never brash - indeed, it has undertones of a melancholy classic.