Drake of England

For the play, see Drake of England (play).

Drake of England
Directed by	Arthur B. Woods
Written by	Marjorie Deans Clifford Grey Ákos Tolnay Norman Watson
Based on	Drake of England by Louis N. Parker
Produced by	Walter C. Mycroft
Starring	Matheson Lang Athene Seyler Jane Baxter Henry Mollison
Cinematography	Claude Friese-Greene Ronald Neame
Edited by	Edward B. Jarvis
Music by	G. H. Clutsam Idris Lewis
Production company	British International Pictures
Distributed by	Wardour Films
Release date	16 May 1935 (1935-05-16)
Running time	99 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Drake of England is a 1935 British drama film directed by Arthur B. Woods and starring Matheson Lang, Athene Seyler and Jane Baxter. It depicts the life of Francis Drake and the events leading up to the defeat of the Armada in 1588.

Plot

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 ...

Cast

• Matheson Lang as Francis Drake
• Athene Seyler as Queen Elizabeth
• Jane Baxter as Elizabeth Sydenham
• Henry Mollison as John Doughty
• Donald Wolfit as Thomas Doughty
• George Merritt as Tom Moone
• Amy Veness as Mother Moone
• Ben Webster as Lord Burghley
• Sam Livesey as Sir George Sydenham
• Margaret Halstan as Lady Sydenham (credited as Margaret Halston)
• Charles Quatermaine as Parson Fletcher (as Charles Quartermaine)
• Allan Jeayes as Don Bernardino
• Gibb McLaughlin as Don Enriquez
• Helen Haye as Lady Lennox
• Arthur Goullet as Pedro (as Arthur Goulett)
• George Moore-Marriott as Bright

Production

The film was made at Elstree Studios, as part of the boom in historical films that followed the global success of The Private Life of Henry VIII. The film was based on the play of the same title by Louis N. Parker. The art direction was by Duncan Sutherland who designed the film's sets. It was given an American release in 1936, when it was distributed by Grand National Pictures.

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.

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.