Lady Jane ** (1986, Helena Bonham Carter, Cary Elwes, John Wood) – Classic Movie Review 9620

Director Trevor Nunn’s 1986 Lady Jane is a pretty, though overlong (142 minutes) and slackly paced historical drama about the 15-year-old Lady Jane Grey (Helena Bonham Carter), Henry VIII’s niece, who was forced into marriage to the Duke of Northumberland (John Wood)’s young son Guilford Dudley (Cary Elwes), ascended to the throne of England and was ultimately executed.

Helena Bonham Carter is pretty and effective in her role as the the Nine Days’ Queen, and Cary Elwes shows star promise, surrounded by a host of fine British classical actors, several of them members of The Royal Shakespeare Company, while theatre director Nunn takes time off from the stage to direct – somewhat hesitantly – his first feature film.

Cary Elwes stars in Lady Jane (1986).

Douglas Slocombe’s sumptuous Technicolor and Panavision cinematography, the intriguing story and the sterling performances are the main highlights.

The story takes place from 22 January 1552 to 12 February 1554. It is David Edgar’s only filmed movie screenplay. He won the 1982 Tony Award as writer of the Best Play winner The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. It is the only theatrical movie score composed by Stephen Oliver.

Helena Bonham Carter stars in Lady Jane (1986).

Also in the cast are, Michael Hordern as as Doctor Feckenham, Jill Bennett as Lady-in-Waiting Mrs Ellen, Jane Lapotaire as Queen Mary I of England, Sara Kestelman as Jane’s mother Lady Frances Brandon, Joss Ackland as Sir John Bridges, Patrick Stewart as Jane’s father the Duke of Suffolk, Richard Johnson as the Earl of Arundel, Ian Hogg as Sir John Gates, Richard Vernon, Warren Saire, Lee Montague, David Waller, Pip Torrens, Matthew Guinness, Guy Henry, Andrew Bicknell, Clyde Pollitt, William Morgan Sheppard as Executioner, Zelah Clarke, Laura Clipsham, Janet Henfrey, Brian Poyser, Philip Voss, Robert Putt and Carole Hayman.

The story was previously filmed as the silent Lady Jane Grey; Or, The Court of Intrigue (1923) and Tudor Rose (1936).

Dover Castle stands in for the Tower of London, interior scenes were shot at Hever Castle and the moat around Leeds Castle is another location.

It failed at the box office. Costing $8.5 million, it took only $277,646.

Lady Jane is directed by Trevor Nunn, runs 142 minutes, is made by Capital Equipment Leasing, is released by Paramount Pictures, is written by David Edgar, based on a story by Chris Bryant, is shot in Technicolor and Panavision by Douglas Slocombe, is produced by Peter Snell, is scored by Stephen Oliver and is designed by Allan Cameron.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9620

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