This is made by Channel 4 for British TV but will no doubt make its way elsewhere. Helen Mirren plays Elizabeth in the years after the Armada to her death, and the advisor was the historian David Starkey. After praising its authenticity in an article in the "Radio Times" a tv listings magazine, he then proceeds to list at least 5 anomalies. I quote "David Starkey explains why, sometimes, artistic licence is better for drama than authenticity." (Says who?)
The interest for us will no doubt be the costumes. Well, I'm getting my b*tch in first. Helen Mirren is posing with Jeremy Irons (great so far) in a gown that has seams which curve into the armhole. And the underskirt is an embroidered dupion which is extraordinarily like 18th century flower embroidery. (I used it for my 18th century bride recently.) The braid is a braid I buy in a local shop, and would never have considered for Elizabeth - far too plain. There is a "collar of glass jewels and pheasant feathers in which Helen Mirren gives Queen Elizabeth's Armada speech". I will no doubt watch, as I adore Jeremy Irons, but I don't anticipate much joy from the costumes.
I spend a lot of time working to get things looking as near accurate as I can for my customers, but really, sometimes I wonder why I bother.
Suzi _______________________________________________ h-costume mailing list [email protected] http://mail.indra.com/mailman/listinfo/h-costume
