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The Loves of Mary, Queen of Scots
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"The Loves of Mary, Queen of Scots" is a British film from 1923, in which Basil Rathbone had a small, unnamed role--a bit part. He wasn't even listed in the film credits. Consequently, it is doubtful that any publicity photos of Basil from this film exist. I haven't found any. The film itself may no longer exist. Many films of the silent era have disintegrated. I haven't seen this film, so I cannot offer my review. Here is a review from Bioscope, November 15, 1923: |
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| Ideal's scholarly production, "The Loves of Mary, Queen of Scots," is undoubtedly one of the most conscientious historical pictures ever made. Never has Britain's treasury of historical relics been so freely drawn upon as in this superbly mounted picture, which might almost be described as a screen museum of the period. Human interest is by no means lacking, moreover, and in her characterization of the ill-fated Queen, Fay Compton achieves what is undoubtedly one of the best performances her film career.1 |
Ideal was a film company that specialized in making film adaptations of Victorian novels.2 The story of "The Loves of Mary, Queen of Scots" is at least semi-historical. It concerns the murder of Mary Stuart's second husband (Lord Darnley), and her subsequent marriage to the Earl of Bothwell, the man suspected of killing him. The film starred Fay Compton, and was filmed on location at Stirling Castle in Scotland.3
Jack Cardiff, who was only nine years old in this film, went on to become a successful cinematographer, working on films such as The Red Shoes, The Black Rose, The African Queen, The Barefoot Contessa, and Rambo: First Blood. He won an Oscar for his work in Black Narcissus.
 Fay Compton, who played Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots |
 John Stuart, who played George Douglas |
1 Bioscope, November 15, 1923.
2 Rachael Low, The History of British Film, page 119.
3 "Stage and Screen: Stirling, Strathallen & the Campsies,"
Argyll, the Isles, Loch Lomond, Stirling & Trossachs Tourist Board,
www.visitscottishheartlands.com/stage_screen/stirling.html
To learn more about Mary, Queen of Scots, see the wikipedia article here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_queen_of_scots
Cast |
(listed alphabetically) |
Credits |
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| Gerald Ames .................. | Bothwell | Production Co. .............. | Ideal | |
| Harvey Braban .............. | Ruthven | Distributor ..................... | Ideal | |
| Jack Cardiff .................... | extra | Director .......................... | Denison Clift | |
| Ellen Compton .............. | Queen Elizabeth | Writer ............................. | Denison Clift | |
| Fay Compton ................ | Mary Stuart | |||
| Lionel d'Aragon ........... | Earl of Moray | |||
| Ernest A. Douglas ........ | Cardinal Beaton | |||
| Betty Faire ..................... | Mary Beaton | |||
| Dorothy Fane ............... | Mary Livingston | |||
| Julie Hartley-Milburn ... | Mary Seton | |||
| Nancy Kenyon ............. | Mary Fleming | |||
| Donald Macardle ......... | Francois II | |||
| Renfont> Mauprfont> ................ | Rizzio (Mary's private secretary) | |||
| Basil Rathbone ............. | bit part | |||
| Irene Rooke ................... | Catherine de Medici | |||
| Ivan Sampson ............... | Lord Robert Dudley | |||
| Sydney Seaward ........... | Lord James Douglas | |||
| Edward Sorley ............... | John Knox | |||
| John Stuart .................... | George Douglas | |||
