Imposing Canadian-born stage actor and playwright Matheson Lang was one of the twentieth century’s greatest Shakespearean players, and became Britain’s foremost screen actor during the 1920s; in Drake of England, one of his final films, he takes the title role in Arthur Woods’ portrayal of the life and times of the flamboyant piratical adventurer who founded Britain’s sea fortunes. From clandestine romance at the court of Elizabeth I (played by Athene Seyler) to conquests in the newly discovered lands of South America and spectacular victory over the Armada, Drake of England (aka Drake the Pirate) offers a panoramic overview of Drake’s life. One of very few surviving films directed in the 1930s by the prodigiously talented Woods.
Sir Francis Drake (Lang), first English circumnavigator of the globe, is featured in this exciting adventure with his amazing defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 and a romance between the dashing sailor and a lady-in-waiting for Queen Elizabeth (Baxter). ~ Rovi
In black and white.
Starring Allan Jeayes, Matheson Lang, Athene Seyler, Jane Baxter, Henry Mollison.
Note: If you like really old films, you may also be interested in the silent historical drama Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall (1924) which is based upon the 1902 novel of the same name: “In the year 1550, Sir George Vernon agrees to have his young daughter Dorothy betrothed to John Manners, the son of the Earl of Rutland. Sir George signs a contract, promising that the marriage will take place on Dorothy’s 18th birthday, or else he will have to pay a large penalty to Rutland. But when the two children have grown older, rumors of John’s wild behavior in France provoke Sir George to call off the engagement, and to pledge his daughter instead to her cousin Malcolm. Rutland now claims the forfeit from Sir George, and meanwhile, John has befriended Mary Stuart, the sworn enemy of Elizabeth, who is now Queen of England.” Starring Mary Pickford, Anders Randolf, Marc McDermott.