Just as THE VIRGIN QUEEN (1955) dealt with Queen Elizabeth I's 'relationship' with Sir Walter Raleigh, this one involves her similar association with another well-known historical figure i.e. Sir Francis Drake. Unlike that film, however, which was done in lavish Hollywood terms, the title under review was a low-grade European venture, freely mixing the expected court intrigue and sea-faring stretches with elements of the swashbuckler genre, irrelevant romantic interludes and even instances of broad comedy (the discovery of potatoes, for instance, is attributed to a squaw's infatuation with Drake's right-hand man!). The brew proves uninspiring (despite interesting credentials, the best of which emerges to be Franco Mannino's rousing score) but undeniably entertaining in an unassuming way. Casting, too, is slightly above-average for this type of outing – with Rod Taylor (who had had an uncredited bit in the afore-mentioned THE VIRGIN QUEEN) a reasonably effective Drake, Keith Michell as his virile sidekick, Irene Worth as Elizabeth, Arturo (BLACK Sunday [1960]) Dominici as a Spanish ambassador, and there's even Terence Hill (still billed under his real name of Mario Girotti) as a conspirator and Michell's rival for the hands of one of the Queen's ladies-in-waiting.
9 Reviews
Nothing like the other reviewer stated
recklessron11 January 2010
Geez, I read the review by emuir-1 and almost passed on this movie.
That would have been a bad mistake.
All the points made, that illustrated flaws in the movie, were based on ignorance.
First, there is a word 'demure' that apparently isn't in that reviewer's vocabulary along with a historical understanding of its meaning.
Ladies of that time period did not look directly at a gentleman's face for very long.
Politically correct? Nope. Reality? Yes.
And the joke about bad breath shows extreme ignorance. The tooth brush had yet to be invented. Shakespeare wrote of the 'sweet breath of youth' which refers to the fact that people who didn't have ANY oral hygiene regime had rotting teeth and EVERY adult had a mouth that smelled like a sewer. So she wouldn't have been faking - not wanting to be so close as to breathe in his breath. Lastly, I saw NO scenes where she is playing to the camera instead of acting her part – she just doesn't stare lovingly into his eyes while looking him square in the face.
While this might not go down in history as the best movie ever made I found all of the criticisms to be unjustified.
That would have been a bad mistake.
All the points made, that illustrated flaws in the movie, were based on ignorance.
First, there is a word 'demure' that apparently isn't in that reviewer's vocabulary along with a historical understanding of its meaning.
Ladies of that time period did not look directly at a gentleman's face for very long.
Politically correct? Nope. Reality? Yes.
And the joke about bad breath shows extreme ignorance. The tooth brush had yet to be invented. Shakespeare wrote of the 'sweet breath of youth' which refers to the fact that people who didn't have ANY oral hygiene regime had rotting teeth and EVERY adult had a mouth that smelled like a sewer. So she wouldn't have been faking - not wanting to be so close as to breathe in his breath. Lastly, I saw NO scenes where she is playing to the camera instead of acting her part – she just doesn't stare lovingly into his eyes while looking him square in the face.
While this might not go down in history as the best movie ever made I found all of the criticisms to be unjustified.
Politics and Piracy
bkoganbing7 March 2014
Rod Taylor essays the role of Sir Francis Drake in Seven Seas To Calais, a tale of piracy and politics in the Elizabethan Age. Sometimes those two professions were blended quite a bit.
A good deal of this has been gone over in the two films that Flora Robson did playing Queen Elizabeth I, Fire Over England and The Sea Hawk. In this film we get Sir Francis Drake's round the world voyage picking up all kinds of loot for the British crown, stolen from the Spanish who would be using it to finance their great Armada to crush those Protestant upstarts over on that island kingdom. We also have the plot to assassinate Elizabeth and put her Catholic kinsmen Mary Queen of Scots on the English throne. That's woven into the film where Drake's aid Keith Michell woos lady in waiting Edy Vessel. But she doesn't like the fact that he's off having all kinds of adventures. While Michell's away, Vessel is courted by Sir Thomas Babington played by Terence Hill before he went into spaghetti westerns who gets her involved in the plot against Elizabeth. Babington was a real life figure whose capture and confession by that other real life figure Francis Walsingham turned up the whole plot that led to Mary Stuart's execution.
Action and intrigue are the hallmarks of Seven Seas To Calais. But I fear a lot of it is rehashed from those old classics which were done a lot better.
A good deal of this has been gone over in the two films that Flora Robson did playing Queen Elizabeth I, Fire Over England and The Sea Hawk. In this film we get Sir Francis Drake's round the world voyage picking up all kinds of loot for the British crown, stolen from the Spanish who would be using it to finance their great Armada to crush those Protestant upstarts over on that island kingdom. We also have the plot to assassinate Elizabeth and put her Catholic kinsmen Mary Queen of Scots on the English throne. That's woven into the film where Drake's aid Keith Michell woos lady in waiting Edy Vessel. But she doesn't like the fact that he's off having all kinds of adventures. While Michell's away, Vessel is courted by Sir Thomas Babington played by Terence Hill before he went into spaghetti westerns who gets her involved in the plot against Elizabeth. Babington was a real life figure whose capture and confession by that other real life figure Francis Walsingham turned up the whole plot that led to Mary Stuart's execution.
Action and intrigue are the hallmarks of Seven Seas To Calais. But I fear a lot of it is rehashed from those old classics which were done a lot better.
Rod Taylor Does A Swashbuckler
seveb-2517922 July 2023
Warning: Spoilers
A better than usual 1960s Spaghetti-wood adventure movie that is superior to many Hollywood efforts in some ways.
Firstly all the leading actors are top notch, Rod Taylor makes an excellent Francis Drake, a brash man of the World on the make, Irene Worth provides the charismatic performance expected from a QE1, Keith Michell provides just the right mix of brave and naïve, as Drakes apprentice hero, who is very willing, but has much to learn from his more experienced mentor, Edy Vessel makes an ethereal love interest for the younger hero and seeing Terrence Hill before he became "Terrence Hill"... makes for an interesting curiosity.
Then there is the script, which, while not exactly "historically accurate" is at least soundly constructed around a framework of broadly authentic events, rather than being completely made up. The "potato" incident is not one of them, but as it's only there to provide comic relief, I'll give it a pass.
The costumes and indoor sets are suitably colourful and impressive, and those who know about such things suggest that the musical score is too.
The film starts with a hiss and a roar, with several decent sword fights, but then momentum starts to slip away the longer the voyage goes on. Here is where the budget limitations begin to become apparent. The producers appear to have obtained two life size "ships", but are they real ships or merely facsimiles constructed on top of shallow bottomed barges or rafts? The thing is they are only ever shown on millpond smooth water and although the sails are up they are not moving, or healing over, like a real ship would (or even a decent model). Drake manages to sail around the infamously stormy Cape Horn without a single wave troubling the surface of the ocean.
Next Drake and co decide to go ashore and encounter some sleeping Portuguese and then some dozy Spaniards, at a Spanish mine. This is another impressive indoor set, which looks like a leftover from a "Swords and Sandals" epic. More sword fighting ensues. Next Drake and co arrive near a harbour and capture two Spanish ships, more by subterfuge than swashbuckling, and acquire the requisite treasure. The only problem with this is that the ships they capture look suspiciously like their own (because, due to budget constraints of course, they probably are). The water is again millpond smooth and there is little sword play and no ship to ship action, which is disappointing. Then it's off to rest up and enjoy some comic relief (cue potatoes) with a tribe of relatively friendly South American natives, before heading for home.
Back to England in time to foil an attempt to replace QE1 with Mary Queen of Scots (another occasion which would have benefitted from a more extensive sword fighting scene), followed by the approach of the Spanish Armada. Now the director makes use of some model ships or perhaps footage from a previous movie, which show ships that are actually sailing, with the waves and the moving and the wind ruffling the sails. But, sadly, even that previous movie had its own budget constraints, so it suddenly becomes night, in order to disguise the fact that there is not actually an Armada or an English fleet (or perhaps it's from a different movie or a different part of the same movie?) The combining of the stock footage, with new close-up work of Drake and co spliced in, is quite skilfully done without being entirely convincing.
Definitely worth a watch for fans of the Swashbuckler genre.
PS - Apparently, during filming, Rod Taylor was dating Anita Ekberg, now that explains everything!
Firstly all the leading actors are top notch, Rod Taylor makes an excellent Francis Drake, a brash man of the World on the make, Irene Worth provides the charismatic performance expected from a QE1, Keith Michell provides just the right mix of brave and naïve, as Drakes apprentice hero, who is very willing, but has much to learn from his more experienced mentor, Edy Vessel makes an ethereal love interest for the younger hero and seeing Terrence Hill before he became "Terrence Hill"... makes for an interesting curiosity.
Then there is the script, which, while not exactly "historically accurate" is at least soundly constructed around a framework of broadly authentic events, rather than being completely made up. The "potato" incident is not one of them, but as it's only there to provide comic relief, I'll give it a pass.
The costumes and indoor sets are suitably colourful and impressive, and those who know about such things suggest that the musical score is too.
The film starts with a hiss and a roar, with several decent sword fights, but then momentum starts to slip away the longer the voyage goes on. Here is where the budget limitations begin to become apparent. The producers appear to have obtained two life size "ships", but are they real ships or merely facsimiles constructed on top of shallow bottomed barges or rafts? The thing is they are only ever shown on millpond smooth water and although the sails are up they are not moving, or healing over, like a real ship would (or even a decent model). Drake manages to sail around the infamously stormy Cape Horn without a single wave troubling the surface of the ocean.
Next Drake and co decide to go ashore and encounter some sleeping Portuguese and then some dozy Spaniards, at a Spanish mine. This is another impressive indoor set, which looks like a leftover from a "Swords and Sandals" epic. More sword fighting ensues. Next Drake and co arrive near a harbour and capture two Spanish ships, more by subterfuge than swashbuckling, and acquire the requisite treasure. The only problem with this is that the ships they capture look suspiciously like their own (because, due to budget constraints of course, they probably are). The water is again millpond smooth and there is little sword play and no ship to ship action, which is disappointing. Then it's off to rest up and enjoy some comic relief (cue potatoes) with a tribe of relatively friendly South American natives, before heading for home.
Back to England in time to foil an attempt to replace QE1 with Mary Queen of Scots (another occasion which would have benefitted from a more extensive sword fighting scene), followed by the approach of the Spanish Armada. Now the director makes use of some model ships or perhaps footage from a previous movie, which show ships that are actually sailing, with the waves and the moving and the wind ruffling the sails. But, sadly, even that previous movie had its own budget constraints, so it suddenly becomes night, in order to disguise the fact that there is not actually an Armada or an English fleet (or perhaps it's from a different movie or a different part of the same movie?) The combining of the stock footage, with new close-up work of Drake and co spliced in, is quite skilfully done without being entirely convincing.
Definitely worth a watch for fans of the Swashbuckler genre.
PS - Apparently, during filming, Rod Taylor was dating Anita Ekberg, now that explains everything!
So bad it is almost good!
emuir-17 August 2002
This film ranks (no pun intended) with the worst excesses of the Italian made spectaculars. A blonde leading lady who cannot act to save her life, handsome hunks, glorious costumes and scenery and at least 2,000 extras in every scene. The story hopskotches around with no continuity and nothing to tie scenes together, as if a reel or two had been lost. One minute they are frolicking with American Indians in a Disney style village, next minute they are at the court of Good Queen Bess. History takes a time warp.
To be fair, it still has a long way to go before it ranks with "The Norseman" but it tries. Most amusing is the way the love interest, Arabella, constantly turns her face away from the hero and toward the camera during the romantic scenes, as if the handsome hero had bad breath. What a waste of two good Australian actors, Keith Michell and Rod Taylor.
To be fair, it still has a long way to go before it ranks with "The Norseman" but it tries. Most amusing is the way the love interest, Arabella, constantly turns her face away from the hero and toward the camera during the romantic scenes, as if the handsome hero had bad breath. What a waste of two good Australian actors, Keith Michell and Rod Taylor.
Can't tell whether they forgot the swash or the buckle
ArtVandelayImporterExporter10 November 2018
They appear to have shot two movies: One about Rod Taylor dashingly taking on Spaniards in the New World. The swordplay is passable, I suppose. But there's something about the way people perform their ''stunts'' or move about that is so laughably inept you wander whether a 94-year-old Douglas Fairbanks or recently deceased Errol Flynn couldn't have been remummified to do some scenes. Drake's sidekick has less athletic agility than Zero Mostel.
And then there is the other movie they glued on to the adventure. One about palace intrigue and a love interest left behind. Who cares. And who cares.
The producers, to their credit, spent enough money that we get scenes of real men on real ships on real water, on what I assume is the European coastline somewhere. So it has a visual appeal.
On paper it probably seemed to Rod Taylor like it would be a fun way to spend the summer of '62. If they'd only concentrated on his adventures and hired a better choreographer, they might have had something here.
spaghetti historical drama
SnoopyStyle18 December 2023
It's 1577 Plymouth. English and Spanish swordsmen are battling over a document. It's a map to all the stored Spanish gold and it falls to privateer Sir Francis Drake (Rod Taylor). Queen Elizabeth I (Irene Worth) authorizes him to lead raids to steal the golden treasures.
This is a spaghetti historical drama. It's an Italian film for the English world. There is some swashbuckling. There are plenty of costume drama. The acting is fine if somewhat broad. Sometimes, it's almost camp. There are some impressive old style ships really on the sea. When the big battle finally happens, it is done with miniatures. It's a little too stuffy at times and I'm not taken with these characters. By the time of the final battle, I just want the movie to end.
This is a spaghetti historical drama. It's an Italian film for the English world. There is some swashbuckling. There are plenty of costume drama. The acting is fine if somewhat broad. Sometimes, it's almost camp. There are some impressive old style ships really on the sea. When the big battle finally happens, it is done with miniatures. It's a little too stuffy at times and I'm not taken with these characters. By the time of the final battle, I just want the movie to end.
saw on AMC in English as 'Seven Seas to Calais' and was fantastic
galidorn_23m12 June 2010
I Never saw the Italian version of "Seven Seas to Calais" but the English version aired on AMC and was delightful. I wish I could find it somewhere on DVD its definitely worth the purchase. Fairly Young Rod Taylor & Keith Mitchell are awesome in this one and completely in the vain of 'The Virgin Queen' & 'Sea Hawk' but with Captain Draco attacking the Spanish treasure fleet's sailors plundering the plunderers.
Not to mention If hearing someone mention the words 'princess potato' or yell out "Mr Marsh!" doesn't at least put smile on your face after seeing this film... I don't know what will.
I also have to mention this film inspired me to read up on Sir Francis Drake to which I am grateful.
Not to mention If hearing someone mention the words 'princess potato' or yell out "Mr Marsh!" doesn't at least put smile on your face after seeing this film... I don't know what will.
I also have to mention this film inspired me to read up on Sir Francis Drake to which I am grateful.
A Good Movie With Action, Drama & Humor.
obamasteinaba2 May 2021
I downloaded this movie to watch for free, mainly because of the main actor Rod Taylor. Beside the actor Terence Hill I really did not know of any of the other actors. If you are expecting a "Troy" like movie with 1,000's of CGI warships and 10's of 1,000's of soldiers/sailor you will be disappointed. This is made in the early 1960's! They did rather well with the actors they had, some real ships that they could use & decent use of model ships in the final battle.
Rod Taylor was clearly selected for the lead part because he was well known to most movie goers at this time. I have a number of his movies in my collection and he does not disappoint in any of them. This movie covered lightly the history of Sir Francis Drake. Played by Mr. Taylor. The supporting actors/actresses are mainly European and likely not as well known, but they provide a good enjoyable supporting cast. I really liked the role of Keith Michell, whom I did not know of as an actor. His role as 2nd in command to Drake had humor and action that was enjoyable. As a younger officer under Drake he found himself in a somewhat embarrassing position on one of their cruises. He also has a number of other scenes of action that are enjoyable.
I suggest you sit back and enjoy a movie made almost 60 years ago and that it is better than much of what is produced today.
Rod Taylor was clearly selected for the lead part because he was well known to most movie goers at this time. I have a number of his movies in my collection and he does not disappoint in any of them. This movie covered lightly the history of Sir Francis Drake. Played by Mr. Taylor. The supporting actors/actresses are mainly European and likely not as well known, but they provide a good enjoyable supporting cast. I really liked the role of Keith Michell, whom I did not know of as an actor. His role as 2nd in command to Drake had humor and action that was enjoyable. As a younger officer under Drake he found himself in a somewhat embarrassing position on one of their cruises. He also has a number of other scenes of action that are enjoyable.
I suggest you sit back and enjoy a movie made almost 60 years ago and that it is better than much of what is produced today.
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