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The Prince and the Showgirl (1957)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
13 June 1957 (USA)
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Tagline:
Some countries have a medal for Everything.
Plot:
When Grandduke Charles, the prince-regent of Carpatha, a fictitious Balkan country which could start a European war by switching alliances...
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Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for 5 BAFTA Film Awards.
Another 2 wins
&
1 nomination
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NewsDesk:
User Comments:
No Labor of Love, Just a Labor
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Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Marilyn Monroe | ... | Elsie Marina | |
| Laurence Olivier | ... | Charles, the Prince Regent | |
| Sybil Thorndike | ... | The Queen Dowager | |
| Richard Wattis | ... | Northbrook | |
| Jeremy Spenser | ... | King Nicolas | |
| Esmond Knight | ... | Hoffman | |
| Paul Hardwick | ... | Major Domo | |
| Rosamund Greenwood | ... | Maud | |
| Aubrey Dexter | ... | The Ambassador | |
| Maxine Audley | ... | Lady Sunningdale | |
| Harold Goodwin | ... | Call Boy | |
| Andreas Malandrinos | ... | Valet with Violin) (as Andreas Melandrinos) | |
| Jean Kent | ... | Masie Springfield | |
| Daphne Anderson | ... | Fanny | |
| Gillian Owen | ... | Maggie |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
The Sleeping Prince (USA) (working title)
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Parents Guide:
Runtime:
115 min
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)
Certification:
Filming Locations:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Writer Terence Rattigan had initially expressed doubts about an actor of Olivier's stature playing such a mundane character. His doubts were allayed when he saw Olivier play the part on stage.
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Quotes:
Elsie Marina:
Yes, I speak German. I was born in Milwaukee.
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Doctor Who: Evolution of the Daleks (#3.5)" (2007)
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (29 total)
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Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Prince and the Showgirl (1957)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
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| Any good? | planejane815 |
| Singing Voice? | XGlamorXGhoulX |
| What's wrong with Olivier? | SheepFugue |
| Help URGENT | pj106 |
Recommendations
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The Carpathian royal family is in town like all the other royalty in Europe for the coronation of George V of Great Britain. In this case it consists of the young king, Jeremy Spencer, his grandmother the dowager queen Sybil Thorndike, and the king's father and Prince Regent Laurence Olivier. Olivier was only the consort to his late wife the queen and he is regent until Spencer comes of age which will be in several months. But the young man is getting inpatient.
In fact he's already in communication with Germany which his pro-British father doesn't like. A little youthful rebellion in high places can have some dangerous consequences.
But Olivier is also distracted by a growing infatuation for Marilyn Monroe who is appearing in a minor part in a musical comedy. She's of course our showgirl.
A most miscast showgirl. Olivier had starred in the play in London with his wife Vivien Leigh and was going to do the film with her when her delicate health flared up again and she backed out. How the tiny and proper British Vivien gave way to the buxom Marilyn Monroe is a mystery. My guess is that when Leigh bowed out, Olivier and author Terrence Rattigan made the decision to change the leading lady to an American to broaden the appeal in the American market.
One of Marilyn's fellow Fox blonds like Betty Grable who was a natural fit in these period pictures would have been better. Marilyn looks so very out of place here.
The film was agony for Olivier to direct. In addition to Marilyn's eccentricities he had to put up with her drama coach Paula Strassberg and her interference. He threw Strassberg off the set when she presumed to direct him.
Still it's not a terribly bad film, just not a really good one.