Film: The Virgin Queen

Elizabeth I is in love with Sir Walter Raleigh, but she loses him to Beth Throgmorton and the New World in Henry Koster’s The Virgin Queen (1955). Bette Davis gives her best performance of the 1950s (following All About Eve) as the aging Elizabeth; but a young, ravishing Joan Collins as Throgmorton steals scene after scene. Inspired by monumental history paintings and group portraits, Koster animates the CinemaScope screen with brilliant colors registered through richly ornamented costumes and contrapposto figures arranged in lavish tableaus.

This screening is programmed by Jeffrey Lieber, visiting assistant professor in Harvard’s Department of History of Art and Architecture, in partnership with the Harvard Art Museums.

The event will take place in Menschel Hall, Lower Level.

Free admission

Support for this program is provided by the Richard L. Menschel Endowment Fund.