The Prince and the Showgirl

Amazon.com

Destined to remain a curio in the careers of Marilyn Monroe and Laurence Olivier, The Prince and the Showgirl is a good movie that might have been great. While's she's wonderful as a saucy showgirl with a knack for foreign relations, Monroe's off-screen notoriety in 1957 made this a directorial nightmare for Olivier, who never bursts out of his stiff-collared finery as the Carpathian Prince Regent, who's smitten by Marilyn's innocent, unpolished candor. Of course, she's actually smarter than the monocled monarch, at least in her sensible handling of his stuffed-shirt diplomacy, so it's easy to forgive Terence Rattigan's script (from his play The Sleeping Prince) for favoring pomp over circumstance. The comedy percolates without bubbling over in this tale of opposites attracting, but it's a top-drawer production anyway, blessed by Jack Cardiff's gorgeous Technicolor cinematography and by the charm of costars who successfully concealed their off-screen anxieties. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

A lovely Monroe.......2007-05-06

I find this to be the movie in which Marylin Monroe is the most beautifully among the many movies she made. A comedy this is for sure and Marylin Monroe has made it hilarious with her signature innocent look. She is totally convincing as the nobody who caught the attention of the Duke (Lawrence Olivier), the one who could offend him, tease him yet could get away unsrcathed.

As with the plays and movies Lawrence Olivier made (Richard III, Hamlet etc.), this movie wowed the audience with its magnficent, luxurious set and props. Even the reception ball at the Ambassy was down to the finest detail. And the witty diaglogue between Mariyln Monroe, the Duke, his son guaranteed that this is not a no sense comedy. The ending is clever, romantic yet realistic.

And the greatest achievement of Lawrence Olivier (actor and director of the movie) was to choose Marylin Monroe for the role. Under his guidance (how difficult it is to achieve behind the scenes!), he has made Marilyn Monroe shine with wit, mischief, innocence in this movie like nowhere else before. Here Monroe has inner beauty to match with her lovely big screen shots. The credits must all go to the director.

I also agree with other reviewers that Monroe even outshined Olivier in many scenes. This made the movie even more intriguing to watch - to be able to admire qualities of Monroe you can't see elsewhere; to be convinced on screen that it's Marilyn's character who transformed the Prince from a hard-hearted dictator to a romantic passionate man and not the other way round. That's a master stroke of Olivier.

A Borefest.......2006-12-20

'The Prince and the Showgirl' is a forgettable Technicolor '50s movie, long and drawn out to the point of obscurity. Marilyn Monroe plays Elsie Marina, a showgirl with an annoying laugh who appears ditsy yet is really clever and witty. Lawrence Olivier plays some kind of future prince who meets Elsie at a showclub and decides to invite her up to his room to seduce her. Of course, the prince is cold and uncompassionate, and as Elsie says, "Lacks love in his life". Unfazed by his charms (or lack of) she resists him but ends up spending the night at his place (albeit in a seperate room). The prince becomes unfuriated at this clever lady and has several unncessary bursts of outrage that are supposed to be funny but aren't. The most interesting part of the plot is when Elsie overhears the Prince's son talking on the phone in German, planning to overthrow his father so he can obtain the crown sooner. After that, there is the promise the plot may pick up but it doesn't. Elsie gets to ride in a chariot with the Prince & other royals because one of the women has fallen ill, which makes the storyline even more unrealistic than it is. Then there is the long coronation ceremony that is tediously drawn out, causing viewers to become bored to tears. Most of the time during the coronation ceremony the cameras are fixated either on Monroe's face or stain glass windows. After this, the plot drags on some more but as we see in the end, Elsie somehow manages to fix an agreement between the Prince and his son, and earns the respect of the Prince all in the next hour. This movie is around 2 1/2 hours long but felt more like 3 1/2. I actually became anxious for it to end. This is one of the most boring movies I've ever seen aside from 'War and Peace' although 'War and Peace' actually became interesting after the first hour. This movie had the opposite effect: it started out interesting but went downhill from there. Sure Monroe looks beautiful in this, but is her beauty enough to give this five stars? This movie along with 'Bus Stop' was supposed to show Monroe could be a dramatic actress. And while she does show a bit more range than her previous films, it's nothing to write home about. A charismatic actress who picked forgettable film roles. Skip it, you're not missing much.

Easily Marilyn`s best performance.......2006-09-29

In this she is a Judy Holliday, just on the sensitive side... Olivier and numerous others, have over the years panned the Monroe abilities("Just a model")...

aaaaaaaaaaaaaa well there was much more to Marilyn that that, Curiously... history will have it that Marilyn`s abilities was acknowleged after her death and only then...

But here in Norway, a book from 1953, heralds her and her amazing acting gifts as a serious performer and another 1 from 1957 credits her as a comedienne of the first rank and named this film as a source....

Yup, Marilyn steals everything, execept the cameras(a George Raft cliche about Mae West in 1932, but it does suit Monroe as well).

Luminous Marilyn.......2005-12-26

I found Marilyn Monroe's performance absolutely intelligent and shrewd and delightful. In this movie, she plays a show girl taken to spend a night with the visiting Grand Duke of Carpithia, played by Lawrence Olivier. It's 1911 and he's in England for the Coronation of thr King of England. She thinks there'll be other people there, but when she finds out that they'll be alone, she wants to leave inmediately. Plot developments, of course, keep her near the Grand Duke. It takes him a while (perhaps too long?) to be charmed by her physical assets and personality, but at last, he falls for her.When this movie was released, Marilyn was 31 and she proves herself to be a good comedienne once again.I would have wished for a different ending. The rest of the cast is very good, with fine British actors. Highly recommended.

Monroe and Olivier in a comedy fit for a Duke..........2005-05-04

THE PRINCE AND THE SHOWGIRL is notable for featuring the once-in-a-lifetime pairing of Laurence Olivier with Marilyn Monroe. Though the two lack any kind of rapport, the movie does hold some charms with it's lush period design and lovely musical score by Richard Addinsell. Jack Cardiff's photography is exceptional too. The story is based on the not-too-successful play "The Sleeping Prince" by Terence Rattigan, in which Olivier had starred on Broadway (opposite Barbara Bel Geddes) where it only played for 60 performances. The story is simple. Olivier plays the womanising Grand Duke of Carpathia, visiting London, who becomes entraced by an American actress, Elsie Marina (Marilyn Monroe). Elsie is invited to the palace for a nightcap, and ends up staying for an eventful weekend, becoming entangled in the royal goings-on.

Amusing, if not forgettable fare. Monroe and Olivier give their best in the lead roles though this can't count among their best work. Some fine support is provided by Sybil Thorndike, Richard Wattis, Jeremy Spenser, Esmond Knight, Rosamund Greenwood, Jean Kent, Gillian Owen and Paul Hardwick.

The DVD presents the movie in a full-frame transfer. Extras include newsreel footage of Monroe arriving in London to shoot the movie, as well as the obligatory trailer.

The Prince & The Showgirl (Deluxe Series Box Set)

Average customer rating:

The Prince & the Showgirl
not wide screen , not aspect ratio of= 1.85
Collector's Set

The Prince & The Showgirl (Deluxe Series Box Set)
Starring: Daphne Anderson , Maxine Audley , Vera Day , Aubrey Dexter , and Harold Goodwin
Director: Laurence Olivier
Manufacturer: Creative Design Art
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Comedy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

( P ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000083E7X
Release Date: 2002-11-19

Customer Reviews:

The Prince & the Showgirl.......2006-03-31

When I saw this movie on DVD I added it to my Wish List immediately. Then I saw the Deluxe Series. I scrolled down to read the reviews, and was confused by one reviewers statement that the film was in Widescreen. According to IMDB the original negative is 35mm, 1:37. ????

not wide screen , not aspect ratio of= 1.85.......2005-08-26

if only this was in widescreen then it would be 5 out of 5 but its 2 out of 5 because of that , i hope we can get it in the future in widescreen, it even said at the back of the box that it was in aspect ratio 1:85 (wide screen) too bad, but the rest of this is nice , thanks .

Collector's Set.......2004-01-16

This very special box set contains, the DVD, Senitype (a limited edition image from the film and 35 millimeter film frame) color booklet with rare photos of Marilyn Monroe and a second DVD entitled the LEGEND OF MARILYN MONROE which was produced by David Wolper (The Thornbirds, Roots)and a one-sheet movie poster.

Average customer rating:

The Prince & The Showgirl (Deluxe Series Box Set)
Starring: Daphne Anderson , Maxine Audley , Vera Day , Aubrey Dexter , and Harold Goodwin
Director: Laurence Olivier
Manufacturer: CREATIVE DESIGN ARTS
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Comedy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Classic Comedies | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Romantic Comedies | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

( P ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00007FCTJ
Release Date: 2002-11-19

Average customer rating:

A lovely Monroe
A Borefest
Easily Marilyn`s best performance
Luminous Marilyn
Monroe and Olivier in a comedy fit for a Duke...

The Prince and the Showgirl [Region 2]

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

( P ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B0000695IS

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

A lovely Monroe.......2007-05-06

A Borefest.......2006-12-20

Easily Marilyn`s best performance.......2006-09-29

Luminous Marilyn.......2005-12-26

Monroe and Olivier in a comedy fit for a Duke..........2005-05-04

Average customer rating:

A lovely Monroe
A Borefest
Easily Marilyn`s best performance
Luminous Marilyn
Monroe and Olivier in a comedy fit for a Duke...

The Prince and the Showgirl
Starring: Daphne Anderson , Maxine Audley , Vera Day , Aubrey Dexter , and Dennis Edwards
Manufacturer: Creative Design Art
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Classic Comedies | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Drama | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Drama | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Romantic Comedies | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

( P ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

ASIN: B0000844JS
Release Date: 2002-11-19

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

A lovely Monroe.......2007-05-06

A Borefest.......2006-12-20

Easily Marilyn`s best performance.......2006-09-29

Luminous Marilyn.......2005-12-26

Monroe and Olivier in a comedy fit for a Duke..........2005-05-04

DVD:

DVD

DVD