It was condensed from a play of the same name and directed by Louis Mercanton and Henri Desfontaines.

It was shot in Paris and starred Sarah Bernhardt as Elizabeth and Lou Tellegen as Essex.

Zukor also brought it to New York City, where it premiered at the Lyceum Theatre on Broadway.

Its success convinced other American companies that feature films were commercially viable.

Queen Elizabeth had one of the earliest dedicated film scores, composed by Joseph Carl Breil specifically for the production.