In 1567, Francis Drake and his cousin John Hawkins set sail from Plymouth, watched by Elizabeth Sydenham, soon to be a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth. The following year, the queen is most displeased when Drake brings news that the expedition to the West Indies has ended in disaster, a venture in which the queen's own ship, the Jesus of Lubeck, has been captured. Drake reports that their trading was successful, but then a Spanish fleet, commanded by Don Enriquez, sailed into the harbor. Despite assurances that the English would be left alone, the following day, the Spanish attacked without warning and captured the treasure the English had earned. Drake recommends they recoup their losses by seizing Spanish ships forced into Plymouth to shelter from French privateers, ships which carry King Philip II of Spain's bullion. Elizabeth enthusiastically accepts his proposal, and also does not oppose his plan to attack Nombre de Dios, where treasure from the New World is gathered to send to Spain. After the queen departs, Elizabeth Sydenham introduces herself to Drake ...
The film has generally been overshadowed by two slightly later releases, Fire Over England (1937) and The Sea Hawk (1940), which deal with much the same story.[3]
Ronald Neame was assistant camera man. He said Matheson Lang's "fifty-five years and overly generous girth flew somewhat in the face of the slim, historical figure he was portraying."[4] He said during the shoot Claude Friese-Greene, the cinematographer, was drinking heavily and fell ill and wound up in hospital, meaning Neame had to take over. The film was crucial in Neame's career.[5] Filming finished May 1935.[6]
British International admitted this film and Mimi lost money even though they cost less than $500,000.[8]
Academic Jeffrey Richard later the film was "technically wholly unremarkable. For a sea-going epic, it is chronically studio-bound and handicapped by appalling model shots" and the movie looks like "a filmed pageant. The crowning absurdity is the casting of portly, ageing matinee idol Matheson Lang as Sir Francis Drake. He struts around giving heroic declamatory speeches, striking theatrical poses and looking old enough to be the heroine’s father rather than her lover."[9]
Bibliography
Low, Rachael. Filmmaking in 1930s Britain. George Allen & Unwin, 1985.
Richards, Jeffrey. The Age of the Dream Palace: Cinema and Society in 1930s Britain. I.B. Tauris, 2010.
Wood, Linda. British Films, 1927–1939. British Film Institute, 1986.
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