Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I knew from the first 10 minutes that this film would be disappointing. There were way too many misrepresentations in this film. Just as an example, unless you were knowledgeable about her story, you would not know about the death of her 1st husband (Francis), the hatred the DeMedicis had for Mary, the well-known "Four Marys" who were her constant attendants, and how she was "accosted" by John Knox upon her arrival at the Port of Leith. One of the most important screeches John Knox said against Mary and her religion is well noted in history, yet it was completely missing from this film. The film didn't show the true relationship between Mary and Bothwell; instead, it showed Mary as hating him and being forced to marry him. No mention later on in the film of where Bothwell ended up (he was captured by James' forces and wound up insane in a Danish prison). The film portrayed James as friendly and supportive of Mary, which is completely opposite. He hated her. Some of the characters in the film were stunningly unreal. There are numerous other misconceptions in this film, but most striking was the complete lack of any mention of the Casket Letters which were so pivotal in the history of Mary, Bothwell and her capture by Elizabeth. At the Kirk O'Field house where Darnley was recuperating from his sexually transmitted disease, this film showed him with a fairly un-poxmarked face and a male companion in the room with him. In truth, Darnley was in the room by himself after Mary left him to attend the wedding of one of her attendants. There was also no mention whatsoever about the people on the outside who worked to try to help her escape and who paid with their lives for this. No mention at all of all the different castles she was moved to during her time in England. This was vital to the story of Mary's incarceration by Elizabeth. The film is also very dark. The film produced years ago with Vanessa Redgrave and Glenda Jackson is far superior and more accurate.