The Queen (2006)

After the death of Princess Diana, Queen Elizabeth II struggles with her reaction to a sequence of events nobody could have predicted.

Director:

Stephen Frears

Writer:

Peter Morgan

Stars:

Helen Mirren, Michael Sheen, James Cromwell

Won 1 Oscar. Another 95 wins & 97 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Helen Mirren	...	The Queen
James Cromwell	...	Prince Philip
Alex Jennings	...	Prince Charles
Roger Allam	...	Robin Janvrin
Sylvia Syms	...	Queen Mother
Tim McMullan	...	Stephen Lamport
Robin Soans	...	Equerry
Lola Peploe	...	Janvrin's Secretary
Douglas Reith	...	Lord Airlie
Joyce Henderson	...	Balmoral Maid
Pat Laffan	...	Head Ghillie
Amanda Hadingue	...	Queen's Dresser
John McGlynn	...	Balmoral Head Ghillie
Gray O'Brien	...	Charles' Valet
Dolina MacLennan	...	Balmoral Switchboard Operator

Storyline

Diana, the "People's Princess" has died in a car accident in Paris. The Queen (Dame Helen Mirren) and her family decide that for the best, they should remain hidden behind the closed doors of Balmoral Castle. The heartbroken public do not understand and request that the Queen comforts her people. This also puts pressure on newly elected Tony Blair (Michael Sheen), who constantly tries to convince the monarchy to address the public.

---

Plot Keywords:

british politics | based on real events | based on real person | united kingdom | scotland | 

---

Taglines:

Tradition Prepared Her. Change Will Define Her.

---

Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Her Majesty the Queen would never refer to travelling "down" to London as she does when talking to Blair. The traditional English way of stating this would be "up to London", as London is on the "up" line of all trains and airplanes.

---

Goofs

Several people in the film repeatedly refer to the practice of flying a flag at "half-mast" to honor someone recently deceased, in this case at Buckingham Palace. Although in the US the term used is "half-staff", in the UK it is correct to say "half-mast", whether the half-mast flag in question is on land or sea, according to the Flag Institute.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Reporter: After weeks of campaigning on the road, Tony Blair and his family finally strolled the few hundred yards to the polling station this election day morning. Amongst the Labour faithful up and down the country, there is an enormous sense of pride in Mr. Blair's achievements, and the confidence that he is about to become the youngest prime minister this century.

---

Connections

Featured in The 79th Annual Academy Awards (2007)

---

Soundtracks

Creag Ghuanach
(Traditional)
Performed by Peter Anderson

User Reviews

A Crowning Achievement

How silly of me. I kept putting off seeing this movie because I had an acute case of "Dianaetis" Too much about the doomed princess of the people. Well, I was wrong. I was very, very, wrong. The film is a surprising, unpretentious masterpiece and I haven't mention Helen Mirren yet. Apart from the fact that it's a film perfectly suited to be seen in your own living room or like me, in bed, it's also cinema with capital letters. The illusion created by Helen Mirren's portrayal is total and I mean total, eerily so. There were moments in which I was seeing the real thing or the "royal" thing I should say. When Elizabeth II bows to pressure and returns to London and views first hand the overwhelming show of affection for Diana, something happens to her, we will never know what exactly, but something. That in itself is Helen Mirren's mastery. To tell us exactly that without revealing anything. Needless to say I'm buying the DVD. I know I will see this one many times.

Details

Official Sites:

Bim Distribuzione [Italy] Official Facebook

Country:

UK USA France Italy

Language:

English German French

Release Date:

17 November 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Queen

Filming Locations:

Blairquhan Castle, Blairquhan, South Ayrshire, Scotland, UK

Box Office

Budget:

GBP9,800,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$122,014, 1 October 2006

Gross USA:

$56,441,711

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$123,384,128

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pathé Pictures International, Pathé, Granada Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min 94 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1