Elizabeth R

The late Richard Burton narrated this tribute to Queen Elizabeth II shortly before his death in 1984. Based upon the biography by Elizabeth, Countess of Longford, and longtime acquaintance of the Queen, this nicely done portrait traces the path that Elizabeth took to the throne. That path began with the unforeseen abdication of Edward VIII and ended with the death of Elizabeth's father King George VI in 1952. The following year a 26-year-old Elizabeth was crowned Queen. While allowing that the royal family is a symbol of power rather than policy makers themselves, the program nevertheless offers a portrait of a seemingly tireless and always courteous woman who has certainly been a beacon around which members of the commonwealth have gathered since her reign began. Elizabeth R, which is being released to celebrate the Ruby anniversary of the Queen's accession to the throne, offers a good mix of the private and public lives of the Queen, chronicling her happy courtship and marriage to the regal Philip Mountbatten, her interesting decision to send her children to public schools, her renowned love of horses, and her incredible travels (on one such tour it was noted that she gave 102 speeches and received 13,213 handshakes). For fun, the filmmakers have even stuck in some royal bloopers. Though a decade old--and therefore devoid of all the really juicy stuff about the royal siblings which has made standing in grocery market checkout lines slightly less tedious--Elizabeth R is a classy documentary, and will still appeal to the many avid Anglophiles in our land. Highly recommended. (Available from: TeleVideo, 2513 Old Kings Highway North, Suite 210, Darien, CT 06820; (203) 853-9115.)