Elizabeth & Essex: Battle Royale (2005)

*** (out of 4) 

Nice look at the making of the Bette Davis and Errol Flynn drama THE PRIVATE LIVES OF ELIZABETH AND ESSEX features interviews with film historians Lincoln Hurst, Rudy Behlmer, Rob Thomas as well as conductor John Mauceri and actress Nanette Fabray who actually appeared in the film. Running just over ten-minutes, this featurette certainly doesn't go into great detail about every aspect of the making of the film but I think it tells enough good stories to make it worth viewing once you've seen the film. Of course, the best stuff deals with the hatred between Davis and Flynn who apparently didn't get along too well and it appears neither wanted the other in the film. It also appears that director Michael Curtiz wasn't too fond about doing the movie so it is rather amazing that the final product turned out so well. Fabray tells some very good stories about the first time she met Flynn and some advice Davis gave her when she was struggling to hit her mark. Overall fans of the film should get a kick out of these stories and it's certainly worth viewing.

The documentary is a form of non-fiction storytelling that aims to present factual information, insights, and perspectives on real-world subjects, events, issues, or people. Documentaries can cover a wide range of topics, including history, science, culture, social issues, nature, biographies, and more.

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Davis famously didn't want Flynn as her co-star, as she considered him unprofessional.

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Elizabeth & Essex: Battle Royale

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