THE TRIBULATIONS OF ENGLAND'S ELIZABETH.

Byline: - David Kronke

Historian David Starkey comes across as something of a more intense, more dapper Spalding Gray: His eyebrows arch tellingly when he's editorializing on a point, like a newscaster who wants to seem impartial. Starkey delivers an impassioned history of ``Elizabeth,'' England's most celebrated queen, infusing her story with the sort of internecine political intrigue of an Oliver Stone film, in the History Channel's documentary series introducing its new History International network.

The reign of Queen Elizabeth, of course, boasted enough duplicity, lust and beheadings for a century of British history. Starkey's documentary series recalls both the virulent conspiracies and latent sexuality of the recent Cate Blanchett film, and layers upon that the bizarre and violent historic oddities that informed the years of England's most influential ruler.

Starkey reports on all of the obstacles that fell in the Virgin Queen's path en route to her monarchy, as well as all of her own sinister machinations once she had learned how to wield power. Elizabeth had to navigate anti-Protestantism, attacks from other countries such as Spain and her own familial conspiracies to maintain her power. Starkey makes each threat to her sovereignty seem the height of drama.

Simon Schama, whose own History Channel documentaries of England are delivered in a far cheekier, more amusing manner, may be more entertaining, but Starkey's delivery - on admittedly more familiar material - boast a greater urgency. ``Elizabeth'' features a great many dramatic re-creations of dubious historical worth, but the overall effect is one of great interest and emotional resonance.

ELIZABETH Three stars

What: The intrigue behind the reign of England's greatest queen.

Where: History Channel.

When: 9 tonight through Friday night.