Anyone who knows me well, will be aware of my passion for history. It presents such interesting subjects and is amazing to read how times have changed over centuries. The monarchs of old always got my interest for their power and majesty, which has been presented many times on television or film. So which depiction of famous monarchy is your favourite? There’s a good many to take cues from and I may just discover some I wasn’t aware of yet. Below is a video with some suggestions.
What Are Your Favourite Depictions of Real Monarchs on Television and Film?
18 Monday Sep 2017
Posted in Blogging Questions, Movie opinions and thoughts
vinnieh 
I’m just not into the films, books, or shows that have monarchs, kings, etc. I may be the only person on the planet who doesn’t care about Game of Thrones. 😃
For your post though, I’ll pick Ozzy Osborne. He is the Prince of Darkness after all. 😃
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Each to their own, I always say. And I’ve never seen an episode of Game of Thrones ever. Great pick for Osborne though.
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Should we start a club of people who haven’t seen Game of Thrones?
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Take it you’ve never seen it too.
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Ha-ha I was more shocked about you as it seems sometimes you’ve watched everything!
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Oh there are plenty of movies I’ve yet to see.
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Wow! I thought I was the only one who did it watch Game of Thrones. 😃
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There are surely more of us out there.
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I don’t think so. 😀
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Though my brother keeps telling me I must watch it.
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Just not my genre. Never have been into the fantasy stuff. Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, etc. Not my thing.
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When I said monarchy, I was referring to real kings and queens from the past. Any representations of rulers that stick in your mind?
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Oh. How Edward Longshanks from Braveheart? He was kinda the epitome of an evil ruler.
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That’s a good choice. It’s been years since I saw Braveheart.
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Love that movie! 👍🏻
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It’s a finely mounted epic.
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Certainly is.
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This conversation is making me want to see it again now.
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😃
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So many movies and so little time.
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Ha! No doubt. 😃
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The Great Dictator…
https://www.tumblr.com/search/great%20dictator%20gif
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I have heard so much about that movie over the years.
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It’s very funny. It may not seem obvious, but in a subtle way too.
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I’ll seek it out in time.
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I have two very obvious choices. “Elizabeth” and “A Royal Affair” are two of my favourites in that genre. The other film related to this topic which impresses me is “Anastasia” with Ingrid Bergman. The story is based on a myth, but it adds to the mystery and intrigue of the film.
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Elizabeth is such an exciting and powerful movie, especially with Cate Blanchett on dynamite form. A Royal Affair is one that I’ve missed, but I saw Anastasia years ago.
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I strongly recommend watching A Royal Affair then. Mads Mikkelsen and Alicia Vikander are great there.
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Just seeing that cast has me hooked.
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I second the shout for that Danish film.
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I heard that shout.
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Mikkelsen is on fire in that film!
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He’s a fine actor. I enjoy his intensity.
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Me too!
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He’s got a very arresting face too! His eyes draw you in.
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Kenneth Branagh as Henry V, Rod Steiger as Napoleon Bonaparte, Jack Palance as Atilla The Hun and last but not least Colin Firth as George Vi
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Those are some fine choices. Kenneth Branagh has played royalty quite a lot.
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Isabelle Adjani as Margot, in ‘La Reine Margot.’
Charles Laughton as Henry VIII, in ‘The Private Life of Henry VIII.’
Helen Mirren as Elizabeth I, in the TV series ‘Elizabeth I’.
Derek Jacobi as Emperor Claudius, in the TV adaptation of ‘I Claudius’
Cate Blanchette as Elizabeth I, in ‘Elizabeth’.
Laurence Olivier as Richard III, in the film of the same name.
Alec Guinness as Charles I, in ‘Cromwell’.
Damian Lewis as Henry VIII, in the TV adaptation of ‘Wolf Hall’.
Michael Jayston as Czar Nicholas, in ‘Nicholas and Alexandra’.
John Lone as Pu Yi, in ‘The Last Emperor’.
Edward Norton as King Baldwin, in ‘Kingdom of Heaven’.
Angus McFadyen as King Robert The Bruce, in ‘Braveheart’.
Patrick McGoohan as King Edward I, in ‘Braveheart.
John Malkovitch as Charles VII of France, in ‘The Messenger’.
Is that enough mate? More if required…
Cheers, Pete.
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My that’s a lot of royalty. I knew Blanchett as Elizabeth would be in there as its one of my favourites too.
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There are some real gems there, mate. Get on to You Tube and Netflix, and check those out! 🙂
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I’ll do just that. I fancy watching Mrs Brown again, I remember really enjoying that movie.
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She was good in that, no denying. La Reine Margot is a better film though….
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I love Judi Dench so much. La Reine Margot is going high on my watch list.
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My favorites:
– Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II in “The Queen” (2006)
– Meg Ryan (voice) in the animated “Anastasia” (1997)
– Emily Blunt as Princess / Queen Victoria in “The Young Victoria” (2009)
– Colin Firth as the future King George VI in “The King’s Speech” (2010)
I apparently need to watch more of these movies!
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You are still young. Plenty of time… 🙂
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I’ve seen all you mention, except The Young Victoria. Though I do believe my Grandma really loves that movie.
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It’s like you invaded my head and then for to the finishing line first ha.
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Helen Mirren as Elizabeth II (The Queen)
Cate Blanchett as Elizabeth I (Elizabeth and Elizabeth: The Golden Age)
Colin Firth as George VI (The King’s Speech)
Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Henry VIII (The Tudors)
Maria Doyle Kennedy as Catherine of Aragon (The Tudors)
Natalie Dormer as Anne Boleyn (The Tudors)
Annabelle Wallis as Jane Seymour (The Tudors)
Joss Stone as Anne of Cleves (The Tudors)
Tamzin Merchant as Katherine Howard (The Tudors)
Joely Richardson as Catherine Parr (The Tudors)
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I see you’re a big fan of The Tudors.
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Haha…I definitely do!!!
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It’s a pretty good show. Definitely sexy too.
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Glenda Jackson as Elizabeth I in Elizabeth R (miniseries).
Michael Jayston as Nicholas II in Nicholas and Alexandra.
Genevieve Bujold as Queen Anne Boleyn in Anne Of The Thousand Days.
Keith Michell as King Henry V111 in Henry The Eighth and His Six Wives.
Helena Bonham Carter as Queen Jane in Lady Jane.
Peter O’Toole as King Henry II in Becket and The Lion In Winter.
Cate Blanchett as Elizabeth I in Elizabeth and Elizabeth The Golden Age.
Greta Garbo as Queen Christina of Sweden in Queen Christina.
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Thanks for introducing me to a few I wasn’t familiar with. Cate Blanchett as Elizabeth I is a rightfully popular choice.
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Thanks for your comments!
Regards Malkie
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I promise to view your blog more soon. Just been very busy lately.
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Kirsten Dunst & Diane Kruger as Marie Antoinette in Marie Antoinette and Farewell, My Queen
Graham Chapman as King Arthur in Monty Python & the Holy Grail
Cate Blanchett as Elizabeth I in Elizabeth
Colin Firth & Helena Bonham Carter as King George V & Queen Elizabeth in The King’s Speech
& Judi Dench as Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love.
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I loved Kirsten Dunst as Marie Antoinette, she presented a sympathetic take of a young girl with no guidance.
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Exactly. Oh, I want to add Emily Blunt as Queen Victoria in The Young Victoria.
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I’ve got that on my list of priorities. I love Emily Blunt.
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I liked Victoria from Dr Who. Probably not historically accurate but it worked.
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My mum and dad have been enjoying that show recently. Must make time for it.
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As a teenager I was in love with Young Catherine with Julia Ormond as Catherine and Virginia Redgrave as Elizabeth. It was a mini series about Catherine the Great. not sure if it holds up.
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Those all sound particularly fascinating. I do love my history.
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King Arthur, (I know, a legend, but a great legend!)
Clive Owen in the title role, Kiera Knightly as a feisty Gwendoline. Supporting cast of Ioan Gruffudd, Ray Winstone, Mads Mikkelson, et al. Great swashbuckling version.
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I went the cinema to watch that when it came out.
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Helen Mirren in ‘The Queen’ was wonderful. Like many others, Cate B. as QE1 and I concur with Fraggle. Loved Owen and Knightly as the royal pair in King Arthur.
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Mirren was subtlety and grace personified in that film, she got the regality so right. Blanchett for me is Elizabeth, she played the part with such conviction.
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Helen Mirren in The Queen, Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth and Colin Firth as George VI in The King’s Speech come to mind, but The Tudors is an enjoyable show with terrific performances of royalty too
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Your three main choices were some of my favourites too. And The Tudors definitely had fun sexing up history.
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“Richard III” (1995):
Ian McKellan as Richard York III, King of England
John Wood as Edward York III, King of England
Edward Jewesbury as Henry Lancaster VI, King of England
“The Hollow Crown: The War of the Roses” (2016)
Tom Sturridge as Henry Lancaster VI, King of England
Geoffrey Streatfeild as Edward York III, King of England
Benedict Cumberbatch as Richard York III, King of England
Luke Treadaway as Henry Tudor I, King of England
“The King’s Speech” (2010)
Colin Firth as George Windsor II, Emperor of India
Guy Pierce as Edward Windsor I, Emperor of India
Michael Gambon as George Windsor I, Emperor of India
“Blackadder II” (1986):
Miranda Richardson as Elizabeth Tudor, Queen of England and Ireland
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I missed The Hollow Crown but would like to see it.
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Great idea for a topic. My first thought was Tje Kings Speech and The Other Boleyn Girl
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I really like The King’s Speech, yet have somewhow missed The Other Boleyn Girl.
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It’s interesting as Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johanssen play against type.
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Really, please elaborate.
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Scarlett is quiet and reflective and Natalie plays someone more confident and ambitious.
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How interesting. Scarlett usually has a real subtlety to her but a strength also. Natalie is adept at vulnerability and innocence, but can easily switch that up too.
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The fact both were great says a lot about them.
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Oh yes, I really love both actresses.
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This would make a great blogathon as so many good films, loved these as a kid.. Six Wives of Henry VIII (Keith Michell), Lady Jane, Anne of a Thousand Days (Richard Burton) and Mary Queen of Scots.. Glenda . And the list continues. There’s a new Mary Queen of Scots movie coming out with Margot Robbie as Elizabeth I !!!
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You have me tempted to do something like that. Monarchy throughout history is so rich in intrigue and shifting scales. That’s probably what makes it so compelling.
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Definitely, there’s so much history in so many good films, Count me in if you do do a blogathon on it – love to revisit these again.
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I’ll take a look at my schedule and see what I could do.
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Count me in if you do this or any other blogathons Vinnie!
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Thanks for that vote of confidence.
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No problem, love your site. And you’ve always a great support, since my early blogging days.
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I’m happy to be a support.
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Can’t forget Daphne Zuniga as Princess Vespa in Spaceballs.
“Lone Starr: Oh, great. That’s just what we needed: a Druish princess.
Barf: Funny. She doesn’t look Druish.”
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Haha, a most interesting and unexpected choice.
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Haha I’m glad I can surprise. Vespa rocked, though.
[Princess Vespa has been given a gun]
Princess Vespa: I ain’t shooting this thing, I hate guns.
[her hair gets singed by a laser]
Princess Vespa: My hair, he shot my hair. Son of a bitch!
[begins blasting]
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I haven’t seen it in ages. But what about portrayals of real life monarchs? Any love for historical movies?
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Not really. Unless they’re Japanese. I dunno, my lovely wife watches all of those British reenactments of monarchs and stuff and I just can’t sit through it. Except maybe Judi Dench, she’s always excellent.
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Judi Dench is a class act, can’t say I’ve seen her give a bad performance.
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Damn straight!
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Her and Maggie Smith are two actresses I never grow tired of.
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My top 3 would be:Colin Firth as George VI, Cate Blanchett as Elizabeth I, and Judi Dench as Victoria.
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All distinguished and excellent choices. Funnily enough all three are some of my favourite actors.
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☺️
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They all possess such a dignity and strength, ideal to play a Royal.
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I agree Vinnie.
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And i just did something on sexiest depictions of monarchy.
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I’ve bookmarked it Vinnie.
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Thanks sassy sister. As I said, my proper return on Tuesday is going to be great. Just got a few more things to do first.
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I look forward to seeing you back. I’ve missed you visiting my blog.
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I’m sorry for my absence, but it couldn’t be avoided. I’ll be back with a vengeance.
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No problem.
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You’re always so understanding. I like that about you, Kim.
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😙
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