Adolph Zukor
presents
Queen Elizabeth
starring
Sarah Bernhardt
M. Lou Tellegen, as Robert Devereux
Earl of Essex
Mlle. Romain, as the Countess of Nottingham
M. Maxudian, as the Earl of Nottingham
The Queen, anxiously awaiting news of the Spanish Armada, is struck by the enthusiasm and noble bearing of Earl Essex, who alone is confident of success. Drake arrives and announces the total defeat of the Spaniards.
Essex, who had become the Queen's favorite, is present at a performance of the "Merry Wives of Windsor" and presents Shakespeare to the Queen.
The fortune teller
The fortune teller predicts an unhappy future for the Queen and tells Essex he will die on the scaffold.
The Queen, greatly upset by the forecast, places her ring on Essex' finger and tells him should he ever be in trouble, on his returning it, she will save him however great his fault may be.
The Countess of Nottingham, who loves Essex, cannot conceal her grief on hearing the prophecy.
Departure of Essex for Ireland as Lieutenant General
Elizabeth, by the grace of God, Queen of England, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, to all concerned Greetings.
Be it known that it hath pleased us to appeal our loyal servant Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, to be Lieutenant and Governor General of Ireland.
Essex bids the Countess farewell
The Earl of Nottingham discovers his wife in the arms of Essex
Nottingham swears vengeance on Essex and confides his plans to Lord Bacon, the bitter enemy of Essex.
Nottingham and Bacon write the Queen an anonymous letter accusing Essex of Treason
(illegible text)
This letter is to inform our gracious Sovereign that Earl Essex is returning from Ireland after having betrayed the interests of his country.
The Queen discovers Lord Essex is unfaithful. She then believes the anonymous letter and orders his arrest.
Essex is taken to Westminster to be tried. The Queen desiring to save Essex sends for the Countess of Nottingham to persuade him to return her ring as a sign of submission.
Bacon informs Nottingham of the Queen's intentions
Yielding to the entreaties of the Countess, Essex gives her the ring.
Nottingham prevents his wife from returning the ring to the Queen and throws it in the Thames.
Elizabeth signs Essex' death warrant, believing him to be too proud to ask for clemency.
Elizabeth, by the grace of God, Queen of England, France and Ireland, etc., to Our trusty servant Lord Howard of Walden, Constable of the Tower.
We do will and by warrant hereof do authorize you to cause by your command execution to be done upon the person of Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex.
The 20th day of February in the 43rd year of Our reign.
The Queen visits the body of Essex and discovers that the ring is missing.
"May God forgive you, I never will!"
After the death of her lover, Queen Elizabeth never had another happy moment and gradually faded away. The death of Queen Elizabeth
Sic transit gloria mundi.
The
End
Paramount
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published in 1912, before the cutoff of January 1, 1929.
Copyright law abroad tends to consider the following people authors of a film:
- The principal director
- The screenwriter, and/or other writers of dialogue
- The composer/lyricist (if the film is accompanied by sound)
- The cinematographer
- By extension, the authors of any works that may serve as the basis for a film's plot
The longest-living of these authors died in 1976, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 47 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
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