Film: Elizabeth / Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Genre: History, Thriller, Drama
Year: 1998, 2007
Geoffrey plays the role of Sir Francis Walsingham in the critically acclaimed historical thriller Elizabeth, and, hand-in-hand with the script, re-invented the historical figure into an enigmatic and dangerous servant of the Queen, staunchly loyal, and unflinching in his task of keeping the realm safe. If it involves espionage, seduction and murder, then so be it. And Sir Francis proves himself as a more than successful advisor to Elizabeth, by helping her wipe out the Catholic threats to her throne, and aiding her in becoming the idol that is "The Virgin Queen".
Though certainly not historically accurate, Walsingham was the first of Geoffrey's characters to really make an impact on me, and I love him to bits. His version of Sir Francis reminded me intensely of Lord Vetinari from Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels, being so outwardly polite and calm, and yet inwardly capable of becoming a merciless and ruthless killing machine. Master of his own spy ring, which extends throughout Europe as well as Scotland and England, Walsingham is shown to be an invaluable part of Elizabeth's entourage and, without him, it is doubtful that she may have survived the insurgences and plots made against her during her reign. Geoffrey plays the man with a mild and casual demeanor, though just one look into his clear blue eyes betrays all this and gives one the hint of the fierce assassin within. Careful, efficient and thoroughly sexy, the Walsingham of Elizabeth is just one of the many contributary factors that makes the film such an impressive and engaging piece of work, and though certainly not an historically accurate representation, he can at least be viewed as a metaphor for the real man who was just as efficient and far-reaching in his machinations, even if he did not personally go out and murder his victims.
Unfortunately, in the sequel, The Golden Age, Walsingham's character is almost unrecognisable as being the same man whom we saw, years before, help Elizabeth to ascend the throne -- and stay there. Of course one has to accept that this is an older and much over-worked Walsingham whom we're bearing witness to now, tired and perhaps not as sharp as he once was -- but this representation does not do credit to the historical Walsingham at all, who seemed, to all accounts, to remain as canny and insidious until the very end; this version also does no credit to Geoffrey's original performance and shatters the image of the Queen's infallible servant and advisor. The character also has lamentably short screen time in a film which is dominated by a swaggering Raleigh (Clive Owen) and the personal issues of Blanchett's aging (and lonely) Queen. That said, the film is breath-taking in its beauty and scope, and contains much of Shekhar Kapur's trademark filming style, and of course manages to be thoroughly engaging -- even if there is not enough in there to sate the appetite of us Walsingham buffs! It is a totally different type of film to the first, albeit not void of conspiracy, and though it perhaps does not match the original in any aspect, it's still an admirable acheivement from one of the world's most visual directors.
Screen Caps:
Elizabeth
The Golden Age
(original images c/o Working Titles, extended trailer, and The Golden Age Website)
NB: You are free to take any of the screen captures for your own use, but if you intend to use them online, can you please give me some credit, and also let me know where they're going? Capturing and editing these images takes time, after all. ^_^ Thank you in advance.
Walsingham in the Elizabeth Novelisation
If, like me, you found that there just wasn't enough Walsingham for you to get your teeth into in the Elizabeth movie (and really, could there ever be enough...?), then you might enjoy persuing a few extracts from the novelisation of the movie in which Sir Francis was given a few extra scenes -- and in which some scenes are written markedly differently (we certainly see more of...*ahem*... the Mary of Guise seduction, for instance). I have selected the best Walsingham moments from the novel and typed them up here for your pleasure. I hope you enjoy them! (Be warned, there is lots of text and some large images on these pages.) Included are some of my notes on the text, as well.
Walsingham in the Elizabeth Novel - Part I
Walsingham in the Elizabeth Novel - Part II
Walsingham in the Elizabeth Novel - Part III