The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex

The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex is a 1939 American historical romantic drama film directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Bette Davis, Errol Flynn, and Olivia de Havilland. Based on the play Elizabeth the Queen by Maxwell Andersonwhich had a successful run on Broadway with Lynn Fontanne and Alfred Lunt in the lead rolesthe film fictionalises the historical relationship between Queen Elizabeth I and Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex. The screenplay was written by Norman Reilly Raine and Aeneas MacKenzie.

The Earl of Essex Errol Flynn returns in triumph to London after having dealt the Spanish a crushing naval defeat at Cadiz. In London, an aging Queen Elizabeth Bette Davis awaits him with love, but also with fear, because of his popularity with the commoners and his consuming ambition. His envious rivals include Sir Robert Cecil Henry Daniell, Lord Burghley Henry Stephenson, and Sir Walter Raleigh Vincent Price. His only friend at court is Francis Bacon Donald Crisp.Instead of the praise he is expecting, Essex is stunned when Elizabeth criticizes him for his failure to capture the Spanish treasure fleet as he had promised. When his cocommanders are rewarded, Essex protests, precipitating a break between the lovers. He leaves for his estates. ........

Source: Wikipedia