nobody and but nobody and could chew the scenery like the divine one and ruth elizabeth davis and and elizabeth and essex be a great example why . although she overplay the part at time and watch her when she gawfs about raliegh write the lyric to a song her lady in wait be about to play represent in that one moment and she make u understand how elizabeth be able to rule and rule absolutely . at other time and she be do in by the script sappiness . when elizabeth have to be vulnerable and she come off a weak and shrewish . this have the added effect of undermine her authority represent when she blow her stack and threaten to dispense justice and it hard to take her seriously . flynn exudes charm and make u see how essex be able to worm his way into elizabeth heart and but he be totally inept at convey the complexity and sheer evil of the man . it also doesn not help that essex be badly underwritten . why be he this hothead who want to overthrow his queen even a he swear fidelity to her except only that he be more blue blood and thus and more worthy of rule . and why do raliegh betray elizabeth by intercept her and essex letter . he in no risk of fall out of favor and and we know where essex ( and his head ) be head . so why do he risk his own head by speed up the inevitable . what do curtiz do with all the $ $ $ he be give . he doesn not even bother to try to hide the fact that his battle scene be shoot on a sound stage . he should have end it with elizabeth the first time alone at the tower while everything else that follow ( especially the final scene between her and essex ) be unnecessary . the costume be fantastic . and be it me and or do bette look exactly like susan sarandon .