.. when she had those china doll looks. In fact this is just her second film role. The reign of Lady Jane Grey is a fascinating look at how far the English ruling class were willing to go to NOT go back to Catholicism under Mary Tudor, a Roman Catholic, and next in the line of succession after Edward, Henry VIII's only and very sickly son.
You see a friendship blossom between Jane (Carter), a bookish girl, and King Edward. You - and her relatives - think that she will marry the king when the time is right. But then they learn that the king is dying. Not apparent yet, but soon it will be apparent to everybody. So Jane's relatives and John Dudley hatch a plan to have the king will his kingdom to Jane. But since England has never had a queen at this point, she will need to marry John Dudley's son, Guildford, so there can be a titular king and also, so there is something in it for John Dudley. But Jane will have none of it and is half beaten to death before she acquiesces to the marriage. Now at this point, just about everything is true. Jane was actually in love with a member of the Seymour family, not the king, but still, close enough.
But after the marriage, thtese two - Jane and Guildford - fall passionately in love. How could it not be when Guildford Dudley is played by the dashing Cary Elwes. This is complete fiction, the marriage was never consummated, and Jane considered Guildford a complete dolt probably because he was one. In the film, however, Jane's idealism rubs off on Guildford, and as a result the film has Jane pushing her weight around and making the kind of bad decisions you'd expect from a 16 year old monarch. Mary manages to rally the people to her side and take back the throne shortly thereafter. But it does turn out to be true that Mary was everything the Protestant ruling class thought she would be - especially the blood thirsty religious fanatic part.
The film got another thing right. Mary really did love King Phillip of Spain, whom she married. He really didn't care for her at all, and it did break her heart.
The direction, cinematography, costume design, and acting were all splendid. The goofy arranged marriage romance made me roll my eyes, but I guess you have to sell tickets or else you have a BBC documentary on your hands.
It is worth your time if just to see a couple of young actors at the beginning of their careers. At the time they were both completely unknown and I still remember it 35 years later. It is seldom broadcast.
You see a friendship blossom between Jane (Carter), a bookish girl, and King Edward. You - and her relatives - think that she will marry the king when the time is right. But then they learn that the king is dying. Not apparent yet, but soon it will be apparent to everybody. So Jane's relatives and John Dudley hatch a plan to have the king will his kingdom to Jane. But since England has never had a queen at this point, she will need to marry John Dudley's son, Guildford, so there can be a titular king and also, so there is something in it for John Dudley. But Jane will have none of it and is half beaten to death before she acquiesces to the marriage. Now at this point, just about everything is true. Jane was actually in love with a member of the Seymour family, not the king, but still, close enough.
But after the marriage, thtese two - Jane and Guildford - fall passionately in love. How could it not be when Guildford Dudley is played by the dashing Cary Elwes. This is complete fiction, the marriage was never consummated, and Jane considered Guildford a complete dolt probably because he was one. In the film, however, Jane's idealism rubs off on Guildford, and as a result the film has Jane pushing her weight around and making the kind of bad decisions you'd expect from a 16 year old monarch. Mary manages to rally the people to her side and take back the throne shortly thereafter. But it does turn out to be true that Mary was everything the Protestant ruling class thought she would be - especially the blood thirsty religious fanatic part.
The film got another thing right. Mary really did love King Phillip of Spain, whom she married. He really didn't care for her at all, and it did break her heart.
The direction, cinematography, costume design, and acting were all splendid. The goofy arranged marriage romance made me roll my eyes, but I guess you have to sell tickets or else you have a BBC documentary on your hands.
It is worth your time if just to see a couple of young actors at the beginning of their careers. At the time they were both completely unknown and I still remember it 35 years later. It is seldom broadcast.