Where does one start? Like all other films about Mary Queen of Scots the plot line veers dizzyingly from the actual events of her life (for example Bothwell is portrayed as her enemy whereas he was actually one of her staunchest supporters). Zarah Leander is badly miscast in the title role - she's just too old and too statuesque for the part. This is painfully highlighted in her scenes with her four Marys. They were actually chosen to be her companions and were roughly the same age as the queen. In this film she comes across as a mother hen figure or a favourite high-school teacher to a quartet of slim young lovlies. The effects of this miscasting are hard to convey to English speakers but the nearest I can come to is to imagine Joan Crawford in the role emoting as she did in Mildred Pierce. The result is one of inadvertent camp comedy especially when La Leander lays on the patient suffering act which was her trademark (especiallyin her walk to the block). The sets, though, are magnificent - wonderful fantasies on renaissance Scottish and English architecture. The costumes too are as near to accurate as possible although there are some oddities such as Darnley's natty line in weird pointy shoulder pads and mini-kilts. Could have done without the miserable dirges that they felt obliged to give Zarah to perform, but she had to sing I suppose as she was, basically, known as an operetta/musical star. As it was released in 1940 the propaganda message is as subtle as the Blitz - perfidious Albion (Queen Elizabeth 1) being horrible to poor suffering German womanhood. I was interested to see Das Hertz der Koenigin but wouldn't be in any hurry to repeat the experience.
4 Reviews
When the heart rules the head.
brogmiller26 May 2021
Of the estimated 1,300 films in every genre made during the Third Reich only ten per cent could be classed as overtly propogandist, some of them notoriously so. However, the very few that come under the heading of 'Anti-English' are a comparatively harmless bunch that never seemed to do well commercially and had a minimal impact on the consciousness of German cinema goers. The passage of time now enables us to judge them solely upon their artistic merits.
Coming as it does from the Tempelhof Studios this film of Carl Froelich boasts superlative art direction, production design, cinematography and score.
As a piece of history it is of course absolute tosh and the liberties taken are too numerous to mention. Despite these inaccuracies it remains a thoroughly absorbing and moving depiction of one of history's most appealing and sympathetic characters.
Willy Birgel and Axel von Ambesser are adequate as Bothwell and Darnley but it is the three leading actresses whose performances impress. Lotte Koch is mesmerising as the duplicitous and vengeful Johanna Gordon as is the wonderful Maria Koppenhoeffer as Elizabeth 1 whose ruthlessness is revealed in her line: "Anyone who allows himself to be helped by England will die!" The way her part is written also allows us to see, behind the majesty, a lonely and loveless woman. Far from being loveless is the Mary of Zara Leander. Granted, in terms of age and physique she is totally miscast in the role but she possesses star quality in spades. She combines imperiousness with vulnerability here and as a bonus, has one of the most seductive voices in the history of cinema, both speaking and singing.
There is also a splendid cameo by Erich Ponto as an itinerant actor who assumes the function of a prophet of doom. He is best known to viewers as 'Vinkle, not Winkle' in 'The Third Man.'
500 years on it is difficult to appreciate just how much Catholicism was feared in this country and how very real was the threat of a Spanish invasion. Indeed, scarcely more than a year after Mary's head was separated from her body an Armada of 130 ships appeared on the horizon. Mary did get a revenge of sorts when in 1603 her son the Catholic James V1 of Scotland became James 1 of England.
Does the film succeed as propoganda? Goebbels certainly didn't think so but it was considered contentious enough by the Allies for it to be kept off the screen until the early fifties. Best to look upon it now as a well-made and entertaining piece of historical hokum.
Coming as it does from the Tempelhof Studios this film of Carl Froelich boasts superlative art direction, production design, cinematography and score.
As a piece of history it is of course absolute tosh and the liberties taken are too numerous to mention. Despite these inaccuracies it remains a thoroughly absorbing and moving depiction of one of history's most appealing and sympathetic characters.
Willy Birgel and Axel von Ambesser are adequate as Bothwell and Darnley but it is the three leading actresses whose performances impress. Lotte Koch is mesmerising as the duplicitous and vengeful Johanna Gordon as is the wonderful Maria Koppenhoeffer as Elizabeth 1 whose ruthlessness is revealed in her line: "Anyone who allows himself to be helped by England will die!" The way her part is written also allows us to see, behind the majesty, a lonely and loveless woman. Far from being loveless is the Mary of Zara Leander. Granted, in terms of age and physique she is totally miscast in the role but she possesses star quality in spades. She combines imperiousness with vulnerability here and as a bonus, has one of the most seductive voices in the history of cinema, both speaking and singing.
There is also a splendid cameo by Erich Ponto as an itinerant actor who assumes the function of a prophet of doom. He is best known to viewers as 'Vinkle, not Winkle' in 'The Third Man.'
500 years on it is difficult to appreciate just how much Catholicism was feared in this country and how very real was the threat of a Spanish invasion. Indeed, scarcely more than a year after Mary's head was separated from her body an Armada of 130 ships appeared on the horizon. Mary did get a revenge of sorts when in 1603 her son the Catholic James V1 of Scotland became James 1 of England.
Does the film succeed as propoganda? Goebbels certainly didn't think so but it was considered contentious enough by the Allies for it to be kept off the screen until the early fifties. Best to look upon it now as a well-made and entertaining piece of historical hokum.
Quite a fine film!
plater29 August 2001
A beautiful and moving film with some sequences of song and dumb-show leaving the spectator spellbound...a mix of the German sense of poetry and doom and of something almost like Bergman's Seventh Seal. Fine black and white photography, proper attention paid to every detail. Minor parts are all remarkable and even Birgel's swagger and Lotte Koch's half-dazed performance are intriguing. Zarah Leander at her best!
My view point of it.
cynthiahost27 July 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Excellent!About two month ago I had order it from German films,cause it was digital and had subtitles in English.When it arrived it was okay until the ending. It froze. I was so apprehensive I got another title. Later I tried again,I got another title out of fear cause of defect. It tried again,Well my luck work. It wasn't defective. It was okay .I finally saw the ending. As subtle as the other versions. As I've complained T.C.M.,and told them, they would never show this movie cause they are p.c. against exploring anymore films of the Third Reich. Like most big movie broadcast channels, they are greedy. They want to make sure that they will continue to make their wall street profits and ratings.They are profit hungry. Not German war films or Reich's Kino . They are long term profit. While Reich has slowly getting their masters back from Germany, mine orders will arrive here in two and a half weeks, war films have theirs.But then some of their masters are not remastered or restored, but they got digital prints with subtitles. The others all their films are remastered or restored but many without subtitles. Take your pick. Now let me tell you the subtle propaganda of Heart of the Queen. It has it. You never see Queen Elizabeth,played by Maria Kopenhofer, Who was in Kora Terry,together with Mary Tutor, played excellently by Zarah. It's anti British that's why. The British Queen is portrayed as a P. C.,based on the Nazis p.c., of the time.The sight of The Scots Queen would offend her. So she leaves it up to Marys Brother Jacob, played Walter Sussenguth, and sissy Prince Henry,with his sissy out fit,he was immature, not a man,played by Axel Von Ambersser,and Hubert Von Meyerink playing the British Ambassador to face her, Mary.Lord Boswell, played by Wily Birgel, Has ambitions to the Scottish crown too. Jane Gordon, played Lotte Koch,serves the Scots queen too in spite that her family had been tortured by the Scots Queen Father, But she then wants revenge by offering Wiily Birgel Money to marry her.Later he get frustrated by it cause he wanted to control the Scottish crown.Some other typical of propaganda in light entertainment was that in the queens bedroom there is a picture of a naked Lady. More female nudity. Eric Pronto and Ursela Herskins plays minstrels who give the news about what's going on at the palace, An primitive form of Fox News channel. It has songs. One song ,Zarah sings about her love for Lord Boswell, until she learns of his marriage to Jane. Eventually she hates Henry cause he's not a man. Boswell gets fed up with Jane. Both Willy and Zarah go back together and end up doing bigamy. Well Elizabeth give permission for the Scots Queens brother to over throw her and kidnap the baby. While earlier prince Darney gets jealous and have's the Queens Italians servant originally just kick him out of the palace.But Birgil kills him. Later Jacob kills Birgel and Marys protector,who is a sissy too, Oliver,played by Will Qaudfleig. Except for Willy every man around her is a sissy, except for her brother. Well poor Zarah rule is over thrown and ends up in the scalpel. Those were bloody day's beside the Third Reich ,later. Although,"Die Grossie Liebe", was Zarahs hit, this is her best because it showed her acting training from the Swedish. This is available at German War films dot com.07/27/11
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
