On his return to England in 1581, after fighting honorably and victoriously in the Irish War, Walter Raleigh (Richard Todd) makes his way to Lord Leicester (Herbert Marshall), a confidant of Queen Elizabeth (Bette Davis).
Lord Leicester is so impressed with his good looking and self-confidence, that he arranges for him an introduction at Court
Raleigh, hoping to gain the queen's attention so he can interest her in sponsoring his ambition to sail to the New World and return with great loots, orders a costly blue cape he cannot afford By laying it over a mud puddle in her path as she crosses the palace courtyard, Raleigh got what he deeply desires
Formerly presented to her and openly inspired with a foolish and excessive passion, Queen Elizabeth appoints him as Captain of the Guard against the advice of Chadwick (Jay Robinson), a counselor whose dislike of Raleigh is unrestricted
Once in the Palace, and close to the queen, Raleigh falls in love with one of her beautiful attendants, Beth Throgmorton (Joan Collins), who feels she is competing with the queen for Raleigh's kindness
In a position to have entire faith in the queen, Raleigh tells her of his hope of being sent to the New World to seek fortunes Indulgent at first, Elizabeth finally considers his offer and promises him one ship for his expedition On the eve of his departure, Elizabeth knights Raleigh in her bed-chamber ignoring that, while awaiting her decision, he has married Beth in a secret ceremony
It all makes for a pretty interesting historical motion picture not to be missed
Lord Leicester is so impressed with his good looking and self-confidence, that he arranges for him an introduction at Court
Raleigh, hoping to gain the queen's attention so he can interest her in sponsoring his ambition to sail to the New World and return with great loots, orders a costly blue cape he cannot afford By laying it over a mud puddle in her path as she crosses the palace courtyard, Raleigh got what he deeply desires
Formerly presented to her and openly inspired with a foolish and excessive passion, Queen Elizabeth appoints him as Captain of the Guard against the advice of Chadwick (Jay Robinson), a counselor whose dislike of Raleigh is unrestricted
Once in the Palace, and close to the queen, Raleigh falls in love with one of her beautiful attendants, Beth Throgmorton (Joan Collins), who feels she is competing with the queen for Raleigh's kindness
In a position to have entire faith in the queen, Raleigh tells her of his hope of being sent to the New World to seek fortunes Indulgent at first, Elizabeth finally considers his offer and promises him one ship for his expedition On the eve of his departure, Elizabeth knights Raleigh in her bed-chamber ignoring that, while awaiting her decision, he has married Beth in a secret ceremony
It all makes for a pretty interesting historical motion picture not to be missed