ridiculous rating

An absolute waste of money

I saw this movie before reading any reviews, and I thought it was very funny. I was very surprised to see the overwhelmingly negative reviews this film received from critics.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

This series is loosely based on the story of Sir Francis Drake woven with the characters around at the time- e.g. Sir Thomas Stukely (King of America) and the Irish female pirate Grace O'Malley . It's not historically accurate but poetic licence makes some marvellous viewing all these years since it was made. In parts there is comedy and wit, which I did not pick up on when I watched it as a child. The production values are superb, the picture crisp and the sound good, as are the actors. Queen Elizabeth (Jean Kent) and the Spanish Ambassador (Roger Delgado) deserve a particular mention as thoroughly believable casting. Although there are good sets the shipboard scenes are also filmed at sea. It is also interesting to see a young Michael Crawford in what must be one of his earliest roles.

An excellent performance by that very underrated actor, Terence Morgan. You felt that Elizabethan England was in safe hands! How refreshing it was that television used to show real historical characters in series that were attractive to children. Of course Drake was made exceptionally sympathetic but it managed to put over some of the aura that the real historical character must have possessed. Many of the issues raised in this series - starving and underpaid seamen and soldiers, the diplomatic conventions hiding an inevitable move to war, and corruption amongst the great and the good. Maybe it's time for another series on Drake!

Though I was very young at the time, I remember this well acted,handsomely mounted"swashbuckler".It was probably one of my first sources for British history.,and not a bad one ,as all the episodes were well researched.

Was a summer replacement on U.S. TV for "Car 54". Of all of the ITC historical drama/action shows this one had the highest standards -and it showed. A lot of effort went into correct clothes, sets and historical information. A REAL pity it only lasted one season. A bigger pity is that ITC of England has not released this show for video.