Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > The Young Victoria (2009)
The Young Victoria
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The Young Victoria (2009) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 8 | slideshow) Videos
The Young Victoria (2009) -- A dramatization of the turbulent first years of Queen Victoria's rule, and her enduring romance with Prince Albert.

Overview

User Rating:
7.2/10   993 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 20% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Jean-Marc Vallée
Writer (WGA):
Julian Fellowes (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Young Victoria on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
6 March 2009 (UK) more
Genre:
Drama | History | Romance more
Plot:
A dramatization of the turbulent first years of Queen Victoria's rule, and her enduring romance with Prince Albert. | add synopsis
NewsDesk:
(56 articles)
Emily Blunt wants to be a gay icon
 (From AfterEllen.com. 30 June 2009, 2:00 PM, PDT)

Blunt 'embarrassed by acting talk'
 (From digitalspy. 22 June 2009, 4:26 AM, PDT)

User Comments:
A Nutshell Review: The Young Victoria more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated PG for some mild sensuality, a scene of violence, and brief incidental language and smoking.
Runtime:
Germany:100 min (European Film Market)
Country:
UK | USA
Language:
English
Company:
GK Films more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The floppy mesh bonnet Emily Blunt (Victoria) wears in the garden is the same one worn by Rosamund Pike (Jane Bennet) in Meryton when she learns Mr. Bingley has returned to Netherfield in Pride & Prejudice (2005), by Catherine Walker (Eleanor Tilney) in the garden with Catherine in Northanger Abbey (2007) (TV), and by an extra at church in Becoming Jane (2007). more
Goofs:
Anachronisms: In her opening speech to the Privy Council, the new Queen Victoria refers to herself with 'I' and 'me'. This would never have happened in the day - monarchs always referred to themselves with the royal plural 'we'. more
Movie Connections:
Version of The Mudlark (1950) more
Soundtrack:
Only You B Love more

FAQ

When is "The Young Victoria" going to be released in the USA? I am dying to see this film
more
3 out of 4 people found the following comment useful:-
A Nutshell Review: The Young Victoria, 24 May 2009
7/10
Author: DICK STEEL from Singapore

The cinematic interests in the British monarchy continues with The Young Victoria (1837 to 1901), after having seen in recent years, the efforts with Keira Knightley's The Duchess, Cate Blanchett's Elizabeth films, and Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman's take on the Boleyn sisters with The Other Boleyn Girl. More contemporary stories would include Helen Mirren's award winning portrayal of The Queen on the current reign of Queen Elizabeth II at the turn of Princess Diana's death.

Each of the films mentioned featured stunning actresses with acting gravitas (ok, so some may dispute Johansson) or were the flavour of their moment, and each film had a definitive moment in their historical character's legacy that it becomes a no brainer to have those events featured, and in fact Elizabeth had enough to span two films. However, The Young Victoria, as the title already suggests, is a lite-version of the young queen's life, and if you're looking for that definitive event, or the staple political intrigue that plague all royal households and their dealings with shady, self-serving politicians, unfortunately there's nothing of depth here.

That's not to say The Young Victoria is without. Directed by Canadian Jean-Marc Vallee (best known for CRAZY) and written by Julian Fellowes, this film chronicles in very plain terms, ,the life and times of Victoria (Emily Blunt, soon becoming the new It girl) when she was a child, the troubles she faced before Coronation such as the eagerness of her mom The Duchess of Kent (Miranda Richardson) and her adviser Sir John Conroy (Mark Strong) to appoint themselves as joint-Regent to her throne, as already planned for by reigning King William (Jim Broadbent). As if that wasn't enough, the political power play enters the picture with Lord Melbourne (Paul Bettany) being a Prime Minister-in-waiting trying to gain the trust of the new Queen, and subtly plants his own trusted allies into positions within the palace. On one hand you'd understand the need for a young, and new Queen to have trusted people in key positions, but on the other, are they really acting in her interests, or in the interests of others?

Even this angle of intrigue creeps into her romantic story with Prince Albert (Rupert Friend), where their relationship forms the bulk of the second half of the film, and pretty much everything already included in the trailers. For both, they've been brought up under the influence of others, and told each step of the way exactly what to do. Even their union may seem like a firm registration of an alliance, if not for both lovers recognizing their common need to establish their own grounding, and to do so with the help of each other. Instead of being pawns, there's this constant search and probing of opportunities to break out of stifling, and at times absurd, rules and regulations. Trust also becomes a much valued commodity, and loyalty too can be traded for wanting to set the slate clean.

However, all these themes become but a breeze through the narrative, from childhood to romance, marriage and children. In fact, there's so much fast-forwarding here, especially the last few minutes filled with inter-titles, that it actually leaves the audience wanting for more, and room of course for another movie, which I suspect would probably not see the light of day, but perhaps a television series might pick up on the film's response, and come out with a mini-series or such. It's a pity that all the effort here in ensuring the gorgeous costumes, sets and art direction would be confined to a film that's quite lightweight in theme and brief mention of issues, that they don't really challenge the protagonists in order to allow for some overcoming of character-defining adversary.

With its star-studded cast, one would expect more, but one would be left wanting more instead. Recommended for those who are ever curious about Kings and Queens in the British Monarchy, only as a complement to other more engaging stories available in the other films already mentioned.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Young Victoria (2009)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Would have worked better as... cunningstunt
Nitpicking on details InfernoXV
Princess Beatrice jdcofield
did anyone else dislike this film?? jessica969
Soundtrack question Viktorkrumnemesis
Lady Flora Hastings affair - anyone? info-8159
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Mrs Brown Victoria & Albert Hamlet The Other Boleyn Girl Charles & Diana: A Royal Love Story
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Drama section IMDb UK section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.