Stephen Arnell

10 films about the last days of rulers

  • From Spectator Life
Image: Getty

‘All political lives, unless they are cut off in midstream at a happy juncture, end in failure, because that is the nature of politics and of human affairs.’ Enoch Powell, (Joseph Chamberlain, 1977)

As President Donald J Trump witnesses the remaining days of his presidency ebb away, we take a look at the inevitable time when leaders face their ouster.

Some face the end with resignation and fortitude, but sadly (for them), many cannot accept that they no longer hold the reins of power.

So, as a no doubt disconsolate POTUS tucks into yet another cheeseburger (with two scoops of ice cream to follow), some motion pictures for him to reflect on.

‘My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;

Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!’

Ozymandias (1818) – Percy Bysshe Shelley

In chronological order of release:

Mary, Queen of Scots (2018) – Netflix & Amazon Rent/Buy


The monarch has featured in many a movie/TV biopic (played by the likes of Vanessa Redgrave, Samantha Morton, Clémence Poésy, Adelaide Kane, Camille Rutherford and Barbara Flynn), with Saoirse Ronan opting in this instance to play Mary Stuart with a Scottish accent.

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