The Heart of a Queen (1940): Cast & Plot
The Heart of a Queen is a 1940 drama directed by Carl Froelich, starring Zarah Leander as Maria Stuart, Willy Birgel and Lotte Koch. It runs 1 hour 52 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 52m (112 min)
- Director
- Carl Froelich
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
German
- Studio
- Tonfilmstudio Carl Froelich
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Heart of a Queen About?
The premise of The Heart of a Queen without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
The early German black‑and‑white film dramatizes the eventful reign and death of Mary, Queen of Scots, emphasizing her inner emotional world rather than mere historical detail. The narrative is presented in a lyrical style, interspersed with several songs performed chiefly by the queen herself, offering a poetic glimpse into her personal perspective.
The Heart of a Queen Themes & Keywords
· 9 tags- mary queen of scots character
- execution
- historical event
- bathing
- underwear
- towel
- high treason
- 16th century
- based on novel
The Heart of a Queen Cast & Characters
Zarah Leander leads the cast as Maria Stuart, with Willy Birgel as Lord Bothwell and Lotte Koch as Lady Johanna Gordon. Directed by Carl Froelich; 34 actors are credited in all.
- Director Carl Froelich
- Zarah Leander as Maria Stuart
- Willy Birgel as Lord Bothwell
- Lotte Koch as Lady Johanna Gordon
- Axel von Ambesser as Henry Darnley
Also Starring in The Heart of a Queen
· 30 more- Friedrich Benfer David Riccio
- Will Quadflieg Page Olivier
- Erich Ponto Gaukler
- Hubert von Meyerinck Sir John
- Eduard von Winterstein
- Herbert Hübner
- Margot Hielscher Eine der vier Marien
- Albert Florath
- Rudolf Klein-Rogge
- Leopold von Ledebur
- Hans Junkermann
- Maria Koppenhöfer Elisabeth I.
- Ursula Herking Mitglied der Gauklertruppe
- Ernst Stahl-Nachbaur
- Josef Sieber
- Karl Haubenreißer
Show all 34 cast members Show fewer cast members
The Heart of a Queen Plot Summary
What happens in The Heart of a Queen from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Mary Stuart sits in the dim hall of Fotheringhay Castle, a prisoner under a sentence that will be carried out in a few hours. The weight of the coming execution presses down on her, and she learns that the Royal Court has approved the death with the assent of Elizabeth I. In a quiet, devastating moment, she accepts the fate that awaits her and the film shifts into a long flashback that recounts how she reached this point.
Full summary
The whole story of The Heart of a Queen, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know The Heart of a Queen?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which castle is the opening location where Mary Stuart awaits her execution?
The Heart of a Queen Also Known As
3 alternative titles, including “O coração da Rainha” and “Сердце королевы”.
- Also known as
-
- O coração da Rainha
- Сердце королевы
- 女王之心
Seen The Heart of a Queen?
Movies Like The Heart of a Queen
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Mary Queen of Scots, Mary of Scotland and Mary, Queen of Scots.
The Heart of a Queen FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of The Heart of a Queen, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Heart of a Queen?
The Heart of a Queen runs 1 hour 52 minutes (112 minutes).
When was The Heart of a Queen released?
The Heart of a Queen was released on November 1, 1940.
Who directed The Heart of a Queen?
The Heart of a Queen was directed by Carl Froelich.
More films by Carl Froelich Who is in the cast of The Heart of a Queen?
The Heart of a Queen stars Zarah Leander as Maria Stuart, Willy Birgel as Lord Bothwell and Lotte Koch as Lady Johanna Gordon, among 34 credited actors.
Does The Heart of a Queen have a post-credit scene?
No. The Heart of a Queen has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is The Heart of a Queen in?
The original language of The Heart of a Queen is German.
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