Mary, Queen of Scots is a 1972 film based on the life of Queen Mary I of Scotland. Like the play on the same subject by Friedrich Schiller and the opera on the same subject by Gaetano Donizetti, it takes considerable liberties with history in order to achieve increased dramatic effect.
The movie was written by John Hale and directed by Charles Jarrott.
It was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Vanessa Redgrave), Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Costume Design, Best Music, Original Dramatic Score and Best Sound.
Mary Stuart (Vanessa Redgrave), who was named Queen of Scotland when she was only six days old, is the last Roman Catholic ruler of Scotland. She is imprisoned at he age of 23 by her cousin Elizabeth Tudor (Glenda Jackson), the English Queen and her arch adversary. Nineteen years later the life of Mary is to be ended on the scaffold and with her execution the last threat to Elizabeth's throne has been removed. The two Queens with their contrasting personalities make a dramatic counterpoint to history. Produced and directed by the team of Hal Wallis and Charles Jarrott ("Anne of the Thousand Days.") Written by alfiehitchie
