The Queen of Spain's Beard - Revision history

Kurt at 23:07, 24 January 2023

2023-01-24T23:07:19Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:07, 24 January 2023
Line 28:		Line 28:

	Edmund, meanwhile, has been trying unsuccessfully to [[Courtship\|woo]] the ladies of the court. After a woman pushes him off the [[Defensive wall\|castle ramparts]] in revulsion because she was expecting Harry, Edmund renounces women. His resolve is weakened when he learns that his father has arranged his marriage to the [[List of minor Blackadder characters#Maria Escalosa, Infanta of Spain\|Infanta Maria Escalosa of Spain]] and he grows excited when he imagines her as a beautiful princess. The Infanta arrives at court and Edmund is horrified to discover that she is ugly, morbidly obese, and sexually voracious. Facilitated by her ever-present interpreter, Don Speekingleesh, she declares undying love for Edmund. Terrified, Edmund retreats to work out a way of getting out of the marriage, which is to take place the following day.		Edmund, meanwhile, has been trying unsuccessfully to [[Courtship\|woo]] the ladies of the court. After a woman pushes him off the [[Defensive wall\|castle ramparts]] in revulsion because she was expecting Harry, Edmund renounces women. His resolve is weakened when he learns that his father has arranged his marriage to the [[List of minor Blackadder characters#Maria Escalosa, Infanta of Spain\|Infanta Maria Escalosa of Spain]] and he grows excited when he imagines her as a beautiful princess. The Infanta arrives at court and Edmund is horrified to discover that she is ugly, morbidly obese, and sexually voracious. Facilitated by her ever-present interpreter, Don Speekingleesh, she declares undying love for Edmund. Terrified, Edmund retreats to work out a way of getting out of the marriage, which is to take place the following day.
			{{Quote box
	{{~~Rquote\|right~~\|''In twenty-four hours, I'll be married to a walrus!''\|Prince Edmund~~, after meeting the Infanta~~\|~~"The Queen of Spain's Beard"~~}}		\|quote = ''In twenty-four hours,<br />I'll be married to a walrus!''
			\|author = Prince Edmund
			\|source =
			\|width = 25%
			\|align = right
			\|quoted = 1
			\|qalign = center
			}}
	[[Baldrick]] hatches a plan: if Edmund can convince the Infanta that he "[[Homosexuality\|prefers the intimate company of men]]", she will not be willing to marry him. Baldrick suggests he follow the example of [[Duke of Buccleuch\|Earl of Doncaster]], which Edmund is initially reticent to do until he realises that no one would ever marry the Earl of Doncaster except, perhaps, the Duke of Beaufort. Edmund then puts on [[Effeminacy\|flamboyant clothes]] and makeup, adopts stereotypically [[camp (style)\|camp]] mannerisms and minces his way into court - only to be mistaken for the Earl of Doncaster by his father. Unfortunately, the Infanta misunderstands Edmund's appearance as an attempt to wear traditional Spanish dress to delight her, and her lust for him is kindled further.		[[Baldrick]] hatches a plan: if Edmund can convince the Infanta that he "[[Homosexuality\|prefers the intimate company of men]]", she will not be willing to marry him. Baldrick suggests he follow the example of [[Duke of Buccleuch\|Earl of Doncaster]], which Edmund is initially reticent to do until he realises that no one would ever marry the Earl of Doncaster except, perhaps, the Duke of Beaufort. Edmund then puts on [[Effeminacy\|flamboyant clothes]] and makeup, adopts stereotypically [[camp (style)\|camp]] mannerisms and minces his way into court - only to be mistaken for the Earl of Doncaster by his father. Unfortunately, the Infanta misunderstands Edmund's appearance as an attempt to wear traditional Spanish dress to delight her, and her lust for him is kindled further.

Kurt at 17:07, 23 January 2023

2023-01-23T17:07:24Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:07, 23 January 2023
Line 1:		Line 1:
	~~{{EngvarB\|date=September 2013}}~~
	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=September 2013}}~~
	{{Infobox television episode		{{Infobox television episode
	\| series = [[Blackadder]]		\| series = [[Blackadder]]
Line 72:		Line 70:
	==Critical assessment==		==Critical assessment==
	In her assessment of ''The Black Adder'' series, the critic Katharine J. Lewis has examined its comedy genre. She cites several aspects of this episode in particular as elements of traditional situation comedy: the use of scheming, plotting and disguises; and the creation of exaggerated, stereotypical characters (such as the sexually voracious Infanta) for comedic effect. However, Lewis points to its connections with the [[alternative comedy]] scene which was growing in the 1980s – Rowan Atkinson, Richard Curtis and John Lloyd had all collaborated on ''Not the Nine O'Clock News'' and several actors from the alternative comedy circuit had cameos throughout the series. ''The Black Adder'' is said to draw on the controversial and irreverent material of previous alternative comedy productions to lampoon the customs and practices of the [[Middle Ages\|mediaeval world]].<ref>Lewis, p.116</ref>		In her assessment of ''The Black Adder'' series, the critic Katharine J. Lewis has examined its comedy genre. She cites several aspects of this episode in particular as elements of traditional situation comedy: the use of scheming, plotting and disguises; and the creation of exaggerated, stereotypical characters (such as the sexually voracious Infanta) for comedic effect. However, Lewis points to its connections with the [[alternative comedy]] scene which was growing in the 1980s – Rowan Atkinson, Richard Curtis and John Lloyd had all collaborated on ''Not the Nine O'Clock News'' and several actors from the alternative comedy circuit had cameos throughout the series. ''The Black Adder'' is said to draw on the controversial and irreverent material of previous alternative comedy productions to lampoon the customs and practices of the [[Middle Ages\|mediaeval world]].<ref>Lewis, p.116</ref>

	~~== See also ==~~
	* [[Infanta]]
	* [[British-Spanish relations]]

	==References==		==References==
Line 84:		Line 78:

	==External links==		==External links==
	~~{{Wikiquote\|Blackadder#The Queen of Spain's Beard\|The Queen of Spain's Beard}}~~		* {{BBC programme\|p006cxk2\|"The Queen of Spain's Beard"}}
	* {{BBC ~~Online~~\|~~programmes/~~p006cxk2\|"The Queen of Spain's Beard"}}
	* {{IMDb episode\|0526542}}		* {{IMDb episode\|0526542}}

Kurt: 1 revision imported

2023-01-23T16:36:49Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 11:36, 23 January 2023
(No difference)

en>Dimadick: Reverted. The setting is the Wars of the Roses, not 1587

2022-06-12T02:25:09Z

Reverted. The setting is the Wars of the Roses, not 1587

New page

{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2013}}
{{Infobox television episode
| series = [[Blackadder]]
| image = Blackadder Queen of Spain.jpg
| image_alt = Prince Edmund cowers with a look of terror as the ugly Spanish Infanta tries to kiss him
| caption = Prince Edmund (Rowan Atkinson) meets the Spanish Infanta Maria Escalosa (Miriam Margolyes) for the first time
| series_no = 1
| episode = 4
| writer = [[Rowan Atkinson]]<br>[[Richard Curtis]]
| director =
| airdate = {{Start date|1983|07|06|df=yes}}
| guests = [[Miriam Margolyes]]<br>[[Jim Broadbent]]
| prev = [[The Archbishop]]
| next = [[Witchsmeller Pursuivant]]
}}

"'''The Queen of Spain's Beard'''" is the fourth episode of the [[BBC]] historical sitcom ''[[The Black Adder]]'', the first serial in the ''[[Blackadder]]'' series. Set in late 15th-century [[Kingdom of England|England]], the episode parodies the practice of [[political marriage]]s between the royal houses of Europe which characterised European politics during the [[Middle Ages]].<ref name="Roberts, p.118">Roberts, p.118</ref> Its [[Ribaldry|bawdy humour]] also deals with taboos surrounding [[premarital sex]], [[LGBT stereotypes|gay stereotypes]] and the practice of [[child marriage]].

The title of the episode is a play on the words attributed to Sir [[Francis Drake]] who "singed the beard of the King of Spain" when he attacked the country in 1587.<ref>Lewis, p. 123</ref>

As with other episodes in this series, the end credits include an acknowledgement of "additional dialogue by [[William Shakespeare]]".<ref name="episode">{{Cite episode |title=The Queen of Spain's Beard |episode-link=The Queen of Spain's Beard |series=The Black Adder |series-link=The Black Adder |credits=Rowan Atkinson & Richard Curtis (writers) |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |date=6 July 1983 |series-no=1 |number=4 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p006cxk2}}</ref> One scene includes a parody of ''[[Richard III (play)|Richard III]]'' in which the third messenger announces in deadpan style the death of Lord Wessex. The fictitious [[Richard IV of England|King Richard IV]] retorts, "I like not this news! Bring me some other news!" echoing Richard III's rebuke to a messenger, "There, take thou that till thou bring better news." (Act 4, scene 4)<ref name=bbc-comedy>{{cite web|title=the InfantaThe Queen of Spain's Beard|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/blackadder/epguide/one_queen.shtml|work=BBC Comedy|accessdate=9 January 2013|date=May 2003}}</ref>

The episode introduces a recurring guest star to the ''Blackadder'' series, [[Miriam Margolyes]], who plays the part of the Spanish Infanta betrothed to [[Prince Edmund (Blackadder)|Prince Edmund]]. Margolyes would later return to play Edmund's [[Puritan]] aunt, Lady Whiteadder, in the 1986 episode "[[Beer (Blackadder)|Beer]]" and the part of [[Queen Victoria]] in ''[[Blackadder's Christmas Carol]]'' (1988).<ref name="Roberts, p.118"/> Margolyes's Infanta is accompanied in "The Queen of Spain's Beard" by an interpreter, played by [[Jim Broadbent]], who would go on to play [[Albert, Prince Consort]] opposite her in ''Blackadder's Christmas Carol''. Broadbent was also intended to play Lord Whiteadder in "Beer", but was unavailable for recording.<ref name="Roberts, p.201">Roberts, p.201</ref>

Although "The Queen of Spain's Beard" was originally broadcast as episode 4 of the series, on later broadcasts and DVD releases it has been switched with episode 2, "[[Born to Be King (Blackadder)|Born to Be King]]".<ref>Lewis, p. 124</ref>

== Plot ==
The year is 1492 and Europe is in disarray as nations go to war and kingdoms rise and fall. In England, [[Richard IV of England|Richard IV]]'s court throbs with activity as he and his noblemen plan for war. The King must secure Spain's allegiance in a war with France, and commands his son, [[Harry, Prince of Wales (Blackadder)|Harry, Prince of Wales]], to marry the Spanish [[Infanta]].<ref name="episode"/> Harry reveals that he is already engaged to a long list of European princesses (and one prince), and so the duty falls to Richard's forgotten son, Edmund, Duke of Edinburgh.

Edmund, meanwhile, has been trying unsuccessfully to [[Courtship|woo]] the ladies of the court. After a woman pushes him off the [[Defensive wall|castle ramparts]] in revulsion because she was expecting Harry, Edmund renounces women. His resolve is weakened when he learns that his father has arranged his marriage to the [[List of minor Blackadder characters#Maria Escalosa, Infanta of Spain|Infanta Maria Escalosa of Spain]] and he grows excited when he imagines her as a beautiful princess. The Infanta arrives at court and Edmund is horrified to discover that she is ugly, morbidly obese, and sexually voracious. Facilitated by her ever-present interpreter, Don Speekingleesh, she declares undying love for Edmund. Terrified, Edmund retreats to work out a way of getting out of the marriage, which is to take place the following day.

{{Rquote|right|''In twenty-four hours, I'll be married to a walrus!''|Prince Edmund, after meeting the Infanta|"The Queen of Spain's Beard"}}

[[Baldrick]] hatches a plan: if Edmund can convince the Infanta that he "[[Homosexuality|prefers the intimate company of men]]", she will not be willing to marry him. Baldrick suggests he follow the example of [[Duke of Buccleuch|Earl of Doncaster]], which Edmund is initially reticent to do until he realises that no one would ever marry the Earl of Doncaster except, perhaps, the Duke of Beaufort. Edmund then puts on [[Effeminacy|flamboyant clothes]] and makeup, adopts stereotypically [[camp (style)|camp]] mannerisms and minces his way into court - only to be mistaken for the Earl of Doncaster by his father. Unfortunately, the Infanta misunderstands Edmund's appearance as an attempt to wear traditional Spanish dress to delight her, and her lust for him is kindled further.

Edmund's next strategy is to get out of the marriage by marrying someone else. He sends [[Lord Percy Percy|Percy]] to find a suitable fiancée while Baldrick kidnaps a [[Roman Catholic priest]] to perform the ceremony. Edmund – still wearing his flamboyantly gay outfit – attempts to marry a giggling peasant girl named, Tully Applebottom. The ceremony is abruptly halted by Tully's enraged husband, who ejects Edmund by threatening him with a scythe, assuming him to be the Earl of Doncaster.

On the eve of the wedding, Edmund's last hope is to make the Infanta lose her [[virginity]], thus making her ineligible for marriage. He sends Baldrick into the Infanta's bedchamber to "deflower" her. In total darkness, Baldrick is heard struggling desperately, while the Infanta's lustful exclamations are helpfully translated for Baldrick by Don Speekingleesh. Edmund, feigning sorrow, informs King Richard that the Infanta is not a virgin. The King brushes the revelation aside – only ''one'' of them has to be a virgin (that one, of course, being Edmund).

The following day, the marriage ceremony begins and the Infanta is impatient. A traumatised Baldrick is shown covered in bruises from the previous night's tryst. Unexpectedly, the wedding is suddenly halted when news arrives that Spain, [[Switzerland]], and France have joined forces. Realizing that the only country in Europe England can ally with now is [[Hungary]], the King ejects the Infanta from the court, and declares that Edmund must now marry a Hungarian princess. Edmund is disappointed once again — [[List of minor Blackadder characters#Princess Leia of Hungary|Princess Leia of Hungary]] turns out to be an eight-year-old girl. The wedding goes ahead, and Edmund spends his entire wedding night wearily reading [[fairy tales]] to his [[Child marriage|child bride]].

== Cast ==
The closing credits of this episode list the cast members "in affable order".<ref name="episode" /><ref>Roberts, p.420</ref>

* [[Rowan Atkinson]] as [[Prince Edmund (Blackadder)|Edmund, Duke of Edinburgh]]
* [[Brian Blessed]] as [[Richard IV of England (Blackadder)|King Richard IV]]
* [[Elspet Gray]] as [[Gertrude of Flanders (Blackadder)|The Queen]]
* [[Robert East (actor)|Robert East]] as [[Harry, Prince of Wales (Blackadder)|Harry, Prince of Wales]]
* [[Tim McInnerny]] as [[Lord Percy Percy|Percy]]
* [[Tony Robinson]] as [[Baldrick#The Black Adder|Baldrick]]
* [[Miriam Margolyes]] as [[List of minor Blackadder characters#Maria Escalosa, Infanta of Spain|Infanta Maria Escalosa of Spain]]
* [[Jim Broadbent]] as Don Speekingleesh, an interpreter
* [[Jane Freeman (actress)|Jane Freeman]] as [[List of minor Blackadder characters#Tully Applebottom|Tully Applebottom]]
* John Rapley as [[List of minor Blackadder characters#Reverend Lloyd|Rev. Lloyd]]
* [[Howard Lew Lewis]] as [[List of minor Blackadder characters#Thomas Applebottom|Mr. Applebottom]]
* [[Stephen Tate]] as [[List of minor Blackadder characters#Lord Cheswick|Lord Chiswick]]
* Kenn Wells as the 1st Messenger
* Richard Mitchley as the 2nd Messenger
* [[David Nunn (actor)|David Nunn]] as the 3rd and 4th Messengers
* [[Willoughby Goddard]] as the Archbishop
* Natasha King as [[List of minor Blackadder characters#Princess Leia of Hungary|Princess Leia of Hungary]]
* Harriet Keevil as Lady on Ramparts

==Production==
Miriam Margolyes spoke of her enjoyment during the production of "The Queen of Spain's Beard", and was happy to take on role of a fat, hideously ugly Infanta as she held the cast and production team in such affection. It was her first collaboration with Rowan Atkinson, and she expressed admiration that he was able to overcome his [[Stuttering|stammer]] and perform as an actor.<ref>Roberts, pp.118–9</ref>

Jim Broadbent, who was cast in the role of the Spanish interpreter, had previously worked with Atkinson on ''[[Not the Nine O'Clock News]]''. His performance was singled out by writer Richard Curtis as particularly memorable. Broadbent later confessed that he had no idea at the time what a Spanish accent should sound like, and improvised with "a very bad cod Italian accent" — which turned out in the end to be a very successful comedic strategy. Curtis remarked that it was an "astonishing technical feat, to get the rhythms of the English language so completely wrong."<ref>Roberts, pp.118–120</ref>

Natasha King (Princess Leia of Hungary) has remarked on the kindness of the cast and crew to her as a child actor and recalled that, at the end of filming, Rowan Atkinson presented her with a bouquet of flowers.<ref>Roberts, p.120</ref>

==Critical assessment==
In her assessment of ''The Black Adder'' series, the critic Katharine J. Lewis has examined its comedy genre. She cites several aspects of this episode in particular as elements of traditional situation comedy: the use of scheming, plotting and disguises; and the creation of exaggerated, stereotypical characters (such as the sexually voracious Infanta) for comedic effect. However, Lewis points to its connections with the [[alternative comedy]] scene which was growing in the 1980s – Rowan Atkinson, Richard Curtis and John Lloyd had all collaborated on ''Not the Nine O'Clock News'' and several actors from the alternative comedy circuit had cameos throughout the series. ''The Black Adder'' is said to draw on the controversial and irreverent material of previous alternative comedy productions to lampoon the customs and practices of the [[Middle Ages|mediaeval world]].<ref>Lewis, p.116</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Infanta]]
* [[British-Spanish relations]]

==References==
*{{cite book|last=Roberts|first=JF|title=The True History of the Black Adder: The complete and unadulterated history of the creation of a comedy legend|year=2012|publisher=Preface|location=London|isbn=9781848093461}}
*{{cite book|last=Lewis|first=Katherine|title=Mass Market Medieval : Essays on the Middle Ages in Popular Culture|year=2007|publisher=McFarland|location=Jefferson, N.C. [u.a.]|isbn=9780786429226|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LroNNbbvcBoC&pg=PA113|chapter=8. Accident, my Coddlings}}

{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote|Blackadder#The Queen of Spain's Beard|The Queen of Spain's Beard}}
* {{BBC Online|programmes/p006cxk2|"The Queen of Spain's Beard"}}
* {{IMDb episode|0526542}}

{{Blackadder}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Queen of Spain's Beard, The}}
[[Category:Blackadder episodes]]
[[Category:1983 British television episodes]]
[[Category:Fiction set in 1492]]
[[Category:Television shows written by Rowan Atkinson]]
[[Category:Television shows written by Richard Curtis]]