Mary of Scotland

Year:

1936

Duration:

123 min

Genres:

Biography | Drama | History | Romance

IMDB rate:

6.5

Director:

John Ford

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Details

Country: USA

Release Date: 1936-08-28

Cast

Actor

Character

Bobs Watson

Katharine Hepburn

Mary Stuart

Fredric March

Bothwell

Florence Eldridge

Elizabeth Tudor

Douglas Walton

Darnley

John Carradine

David Rizzio

Robert Barrat

Morton

Gavin Muir

Leicester

Ian Keith

Moray

Moroni Olsen

John Knox

William Stack

Ruthven

Ralph Forbes

Randolph

Alan Mowbray

Throckmorton

Frieda Inescort

Mary Beaton

Donald Crisp

Huntly

David Torrence

Lindsay

Molly Lamont

Mary Livingstone

Anita Colby

Mary Fleming

Jean Fenwick

Mary Seton

Lionel Pape

Burghley

Alec Craig

Donal

Mary Gordon

Nurse

Monte Blue

Messenger

Leonard Mudie

Maitland

Brandon Hurst

Airan

Wilfred Lucas

Lexington

D'Arcy Corrigan

Kirkcaldy

Frank Baker

Douglas

Cyril McLaglen

Faudoncide

Doris Lloyd

Fisherman's Wife

Robert Warwick

Sir Francis Knollys

Murray Kinnell

Judge

Lawrence Grant

Judge

Ivan F. Simpson

Judge (as Ivan Simpson)

Nigel De Brulier

Judge (as Nigel de Brulier)

Barlowe Borland

Judge

Walter Byron

Walsingham

Wyndham Standing

Sergeant-at-Arms

Earle Foxe

Earl of Kent

Paul McAllister

du Croche

Lionel Belmore

Fisherman

Gaston Glass

Frenchman

Neil Fitzgerald

Nobleman

Frank Anthony

Man (uncredited)

John Blood

Man (uncredited)

Al Bridge

(uncredited)

Tommy Bupp

Boy in Boat (uncredited)

David Clyde

(uncredited)

Hallam Cooley

(uncredited)

Harvey D'Roulle Foster

Man (uncredited)

Jean De Briac

Man (uncredited)

Jerry Frank

(uncredited)

Bud Geary

(uncredited)

Douglas Gerrard

(uncredited)

Hilda Grenier

Woman (uncredited)

Winter Hall

(uncredited)

Halliwell Hobbes

Man (uncredited)

Robert Homans

Jailer (uncredited)

Shep Houghton

Soldier (uncredited)

Maxine Jennings

Woman (uncredited)

Jean Kircher

Prince James (uncredited)

Judith Kircher

Prince James (uncredited)

Fred Malatesta

Man (uncredited)

G.L. McDonnell

Man (uncredited)

Wedgwood Nowell

Queen Elizabeth's Majordomo (uncredited)

John Pickard

Soldier Dueling Bothwell (uncredited)

Father Raemers

Man (uncredited)

Robert Ryan

(uncredited)

Leslie Sketchley

(uncredited)

Wingate Smith

(uncredited)

Pat Somerset

Mary's Majordomo (uncredited)

Harry Tenbrook

One of Queen Mary's Guards (uncredited)

John Tyke

Man (uncredited)

Billy Watson

Fisherman's Son (uncredited)

Niles Welch

Man (uncredited)

Did you know?

Trivia

John Ford lost interest in this film early on. He didn't think the story was very strong, and didn't like the blank verse dialog. The film did not do well at the box office and Ford seldom mentioned it in conversation. Later, during filming of Stagecoach (1939), Ford harassed several actors, notably John Wayne, about their performances. As he began with Thomas Mitchell, who played Doc Boone, Mitchell reportedly said, "Just remember, I saw 'Mary of Scotland'". Ford left him alone for the remainder of the shoot.

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Moroni Olsen was the only member of the original Broadway cast of the play to repeat his role in the film version.

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According to Katharine Hepburn, during the filming of Mary and Bothwell's love scene, John Ford, rather fed up with the idea of directing a romantic costume drama written in blank verse, simply said to Hepburn, "Here; you direct this scene." And she did.

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Goofs

When the messenger brings Moray the news of Mary, the lighting changes markedly from the close-up to the master shot.

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A screen caption introduces a setting as "Holyrood Castle". Properly this building, now the monarch's official residence in Scotland, is known as the Palace of Holyroodhouse sometimes shortened to Holyroodhouse or Holyrood, but never as Holyrood Castle.

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In the movie, Mary's execution takes place outdoors. It actually took place in the great hall of Fotheringay castle.

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Quotes

Mary, Queen of Scots: [to Queen Elizabeth I] I might have known you'd come to gloat like this - stealthily, under cover of night.

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Queen Elizabeth I: Rebellion! How I hate that word!

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Bothwell: Dark or bright, I'll always follow your star, Mary.

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Faq

Q

What was Mary of Scotland doing in France?

A

Q

Is it true that Katharine Hepburn directed a scene in this film?

A

Yes. Director John Ford was not very happy with this film, and one day he told Hepburn to direct a scene - which she did, and this movie marks her debut as a director.

Q

Is this film historically accurate?

A

Mary of Scotland is considered to be a historical drama, a sub-genre of fiction that portrays fictional accounts or dramatizes historical figures or events. Whereas the names, dates, places, and familial relationships may be accurate, the portrayal of events, causes, and interpersonal relationships is fictionalized. For example, Mary is depicted as a victim to Scotland and a martyr to her love for Bothwell, whereas Elizabeth is depicted as cold, vain, and jealous of her cousin. In actuality, the rivalry between them had to do with the warring factions of Protestantism and Catholicism, a reason that is mentioned only cursorily throughout the movie. John Knox (played by Moroni Olsen) rants against Mary because she is a "jezebel of France". In actuality, John Knox was the leader of the Protestant Reformation in Scotland and spoke against Mary because she was a devout Catholic. Bothwell is depicted as a romantic figure whereas some historians claim that it was he who murdered Lord Darnley, then kidnapped Mary and carried her off to Dunbar Castle where he raped her. Finally, the finale in which Elizabeth and Mary come face-to-face is said to be inaccurate as there is no evidence that the two queens ever met.

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