Saraband (1948)
"Saraband for Dead Lovers" (original title)

A young woman marries Prince George but it's far from a love match. Then she falls for a Swedish Count.

Director:

Basil Dearden

Writers:

Helen Simpson (novel), John Dighton (screenplay),

Stars:

Stewart Granger, Joan Greenwood, Flora Robson

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Stewart Granger	...	Count Philip Konigsmark
Joan Greenwood	...	Sophie Dorothea
Flora Robson	...	Countess Clara Platen
Françoise Rosay	...	The Electress Sophia (as Francoise Rosay)
Frederick Valk	...	The Elector Ernest Augustus
Peter Bull	...	Prince George Louis
Anthony Quayle	...	Durer
Michael Gough	...	Prince Charles
Megs Jenkins	...	Frau Busche
Jill Balcon	...	Knesbeck
David Horne	...	Duke George William
Mercia Swinburne	...	Countess Eleanore
Cecil Trouncer	...	Major Eck
Noel Howlett	...	Count Platen
Barbara Leake	...	Maria, Clara's Maid

Storyline

A young woman marries Prince George but it's far from a love match. Then she falls for a Swedish Count.

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Plot Keywords:

royalty | swede | execution | 1600s | arranged marriage | 

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Taglines:

A Romance that rocked the Thrones of Kings.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History | Romance | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 October 1948 (UK)

Also Known As:

Saraband

Filming Locations:

Ealing Studios, Ealing, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ealing Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

While shooting tests as a stand-in for Stewart Granger, Christopher Lee actually got a real part in the film but the scene was cut out, presumably because both actors looked too much alike.

User Reviews

Look for the Well-Executed Montage Sequence

This is the type of film that shows how one can find interesting small moments in an otherwise rather average film. Buried in the middle of this film is a five minute beautiful example of a montage by rhythm as Joan Greenwood tries to make her way through a chaotic masque ball in order to meet her lover. The sequence climaxes with a series of flash pans and POV shots as we are thrust into the center of the action with the character. The filmmaker inserts fast POV shots of close ups of the masked revelers. The cuts and flash pans are edited rhythmically with the music and make for a wonderful example of a well-executed montage sequence. Show just this sequence to film students.