Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Sarah Gadon | ... | Elizabeth | |
Bel Powley | ... | Margaret | |
Emily Watson | ... | Queen | |
Rupert Everett | ... | King | |
Mark Hadfield | ... | Mickey | |
Jack Laskey | ... | Lieutenant Pryce | |
Jack Gordon | ... | Lieutenant Burridge | |
Tim Potter | ... | Duty Manager | |
Annabel Leventon | ... | Lady MacCloud | |
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Geoffrey Streatfeild | ... | Jeffers |
Jack Reynor | ... | Jack Hodges | |
Debra Penny | ... | Clippie | |
Ricky Champ | ... | Tough Soldier | |
Jack Brady | ... | Pub Landlord | |
Jessica Jay | ... | Girl at Trafalgar Square |
On VE Day in May 1945, as peace is declared across Europe and London is celebrating, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret are allowed to join the celebrations, against the Queen's wishes. The King, impressed by Elizabeth's pleading, asks her to report back on the people's feelings towards him and his midnight speech on the radio. Each girl, incognito, is chaperoned by a Royal Army officer with an itinerary to be back at Buckingham Palace by 1:00 a.m. Soon realizing the Queen's planned itinerary does not fulfill their expectations of fun and meeting the ordinary people, Margaret is the first to slip away from her escort, followed by Elizabeth. Both princesses are separated on two different buses and have their own night-long adventure. Margaret is befriended by a Royal Naval officer seeking to take advantage of what he believes is just an ordinary girl. Elizabeth meets and becomes acquainted with an airman who is AWOL (absent without leave). Margaret is led by her naval officer into a ... Written by Larry B.
This period piece is about one magical night in the lives of Princesses Elizabeth (Sarah Gadon) and Margaret (Bel Powley). It is a fantasy that really captures the imagination. The two royals surely must have been overly protected---from danger, from scandal, from their own teenage whims. But "A Royal Night Out" imagines an adventure on VE Day, when all of London was celebrating and the girls might have yearned to be common enough to join in.
The era is certainly captured by costumes, manners and scenery, allowing the viewer to indulge freely in the illusion. The two young women are delightful. And the general tone of the scenes carries the emotions along, feeling exactly like the overwhelming release that came with victory after years of sacrifice, fear, and stiff upper lips. The scene when the king appears at Buckingham Palace is stirring.
Recommended for history buffs, fans of period pieces and those who might find romance in a childish fantasy that--though it is only about one night--is also a coming of age story. I saw this film before its general release with no knowledge of its subject, and I was pleasantly surprised.