* * * Good
Directed and Produced by: Laurence Olivier
Marilyn Monroe displays her usual charms and livens things up each time she's on screen. She actually steals most every scene she shares with the awarded and much admired Laurence Olivier. This was the second film to be made under the recently formed Marilyn Monroe Productions (MMP) company. The first film was "Bus Stop", 1956, which contains Monroe's best acting performance.
Monroe portrays Elsie, a showgirl in England, who has a chance encounter meeting with a visiting Duke (Olivier), from the fictional country of Carpatha (obviously based on Carpathia, Romania). By surprise, Elsie is invited to what turns out to be a private dinner at the embassy residence of the visiting duke and unexpectedly falls in love with him. Elsie overhears some top secret information and becomes a temporary political pawn between the duke and his son, about to become king.
Olivier does a good job portraying his comic character, with appropriate accent, however, he's usually out shined by Monroe. Monroe's role as Elsie is limiting, but she makes the most of it, bringing spontaneity, improvisation, good comic timing, playfulness and charm to her lightweight role. It's one of Monroe's best acting performances, comparable to her Golden Globe Award winning role as Sugar Cane, in the classic Billy Wilder comedy "Some Like it Hot", 1959.
This romantic comedy about royalty and proper etiquette drags a little at times, but there are always special "Marilyn Moments" to come along and liven things up.
Directed and Produced by: Laurence Olivier
Marilyn Monroe displays her usual charms and livens things up each time she's on screen. She actually steals most every scene she shares with the awarded and much admired Laurence Olivier. This was the second film to be made under the recently formed Marilyn Monroe Productions (MMP) company. The first film was "Bus Stop", 1956, which contains Monroe's best acting performance.
Monroe portrays Elsie, a showgirl in England, who has a chance encounter meeting with a visiting Duke (Olivier), from the fictional country of Carpatha (obviously based on Carpathia, Romania). By surprise, Elsie is invited to what turns out to be a private dinner at the embassy residence of the visiting duke and unexpectedly falls in love with him. Elsie overhears some top secret information and becomes a temporary political pawn between the duke and his son, about to become king.
Olivier does a good job portraying his comic character, with appropriate accent, however, he's usually out shined by Monroe. Monroe's role as Elsie is limiting, but she makes the most of it, bringing spontaneity, improvisation, good comic timing, playfulness and charm to her lightweight role. It's one of Monroe's best acting performances, comparable to her Golden Globe Award winning role as Sugar Cane, in the classic Billy Wilder comedy "Some Like it Hot", 1959.
This romantic comedy about royalty and proper etiquette drags a little at times, but there are always special "Marilyn Moments" to come along and liven things up.