The Virgin Queen

Originally aired as an installment of PBS's "Masterpiece Theatre," this lavishly produced 2-disc presentation stands out for its adherence to historical accuracy and attention to period detail. As a young woman, Elizabeth, daughter of the infamous Henry VIII, was imprisoned by her sister, the then-Queen of England, Mary. Upon the death of the childless Mary, Elizabeth found herself thrust upon the throne of a country divided by religious turmoil and in desperate need of unification. This enthralling biopic then follows Elizabeth's shrewd maneuvering of the day's turbulent political waters, even as she attempts to navigate the equally treacherous realm of romance, marriage and conceiving an heir to the throne.