The plot of "The Swan" isn't very original. However, the idea of it being more of a comedy than drama and romance was a nice twist. But for the character and performance of Alec Guiness as Prince Albert, and some of the wackiness of the family, this would be a dull film indeed. One can't deny that Grace Kelly was a beautiful woman and very good actress. But as Princess Alexandra in this film, she was stiff as a board, cold as an iceberg, and lifeless as a puppet.
The only thing that comes close to saving the film is Guiness in his American film debut. At the proding of his mother, Queen Maria Dominika (played by Agnes Moorhead), the prince has been searching all over Europe for the right mate. By the time he comes to the estate of Princess Alexandra and her family, he's tired and worn out. He doesn't dilly-dally, and on the first evening when they are alone, he makes his move – a gentle placing of his hand on that of the princess. When she pulls away abruptly, Albert backs off and for the rest of his stay he will be happy sleeping late, playing soccer with the princes, and doing other manly things. Come what may, the prince will find his mate, sooner or later.
He isn't a simpleton, as some may think, but has keen insight and understanding of the ways of royalty. He has wisdom in such matters, but for now, instead of working up a lather about courtship with Alexandra, he wants to unwind and enjoy himself. Some of the humor of the film comes from the Prince. The rest comes from Alexandra's family, especially her mother, Princess Beatrix (Jessie Landis) and uncle, Father Carl Hyacinth (Brian Aherne). Louis Jourdan is the tutor to Alexandra's brothers, and in love with the princess. While his character has some life, the performance of Dr. Nicholas Agi is clumsy at times and just barely better than that of Kelly.
The romance between the princess and the tutor is awkward as written and as played by the two, especially Alexandra. Did she really have any feelings for this guy? Except for her intimating such once or twice, how would anyone know because she didn't show it by any of her actions, manners or looks? Remember that at one point, she said she had wanted to be a queen. So, in the end, it all works out as it should. I don't think this film should have been labeled a romance at all, but just a comedy. It is a sort of comedy of manners for nobility in its heyday.
That some reviewers lamented the ending or thought this was a big romance film might explain why such folks missed the humor and the spoofing of the past culture of royalty. One of the few very good aspects of this film was its filming location – at the world's largest mansion – the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.
This film had been made, in various versions in the past – all based on a Hungarian play by Ferenc Molnar. The original Broadway play ran in 1923. Kelly had appeared in a TV production of "The Swan" that aired June 9, 1950 on CBS.
Kelly had only 30 film credits in her short six-year career – half of those in TV serials. But she made some very good films and played opposite some of the top leading men of Hollywood. This clearly was her least movie – really, the only bad one she made. I wonder if her mind wasn't somewhere else. It wasn't a coincidence that MGM released the film on April 18, 1956 – the very day that Grace Kelly was marrying Monaco's Prince Rainier. She gave up her Hollywood career for a crown.
But, even with Princess Grace's seeming fairy-tale romance, wedding, and fan following, MGM wasn't able to salvage this film at the box office. Critics and audiences alike saw it as a glamorous, eye- pleasing production that missed the mark due to a weak script, poor direction and flat performance by a couple of the leads. The box office take was just over $3.7 million worldwide, and but for the larger non-U.S. showings, "The Swan" would have lost more than it did – nearly $800,000. My six stars for this film are generous, but I think Guinness and the other members of the household royalty are deserving for their comedic efforts.
Here are some sample lines from the film. For more humorous dialog, see the Quotes section here on the IMDb Web page for the film.
Queen Beatrix, "Must you still write with a feather? This is the 20th century." Symphorosa, "I don't like the 20th century."
Queen Beatrix, (To Dr. Nicholas Agi) "You're here to give the boys an education, not to fill their heads with a lot of historical gossip."
Queen Beatrix, "I noticed the roses are already beginning to bloom." Head Gardener (David Thursby), "They're just at their best, your highness." Queen Beatrix, "I don't want them at their best until the day after tomorrow. Hold them back."
The only thing that comes close to saving the film is Guiness in his American film debut. At the proding of his mother, Queen Maria Dominika (played by Agnes Moorhead), the prince has been searching all over Europe for the right mate. By the time he comes to the estate of Princess Alexandra and her family, he's tired and worn out. He doesn't dilly-dally, and on the first evening when they are alone, he makes his move – a gentle placing of his hand on that of the princess. When she pulls away abruptly, Albert backs off and for the rest of his stay he will be happy sleeping late, playing soccer with the princes, and doing other manly things. Come what may, the prince will find his mate, sooner or later.
He isn't a simpleton, as some may think, but has keen insight and understanding of the ways of royalty. He has wisdom in such matters, but for now, instead of working up a lather about courtship with Alexandra, he wants to unwind and enjoy himself. Some of the humor of the film comes from the Prince. The rest comes from Alexandra's family, especially her mother, Princess Beatrix (Jessie Landis) and uncle, Father Carl Hyacinth (Brian Aherne). Louis Jourdan is the tutor to Alexandra's brothers, and in love with the princess. While his character has some life, the performance of Dr. Nicholas Agi is clumsy at times and just barely better than that of Kelly.
The romance between the princess and the tutor is awkward as written and as played by the two, especially Alexandra. Did she really have any feelings for this guy? Except for her intimating such once or twice, how would anyone know because she didn't show it by any of her actions, manners or looks? Remember that at one point, she said she had wanted to be a queen. So, in the end, it all works out as it should. I don't think this film should have been labeled a romance at all, but just a comedy. It is a sort of comedy of manners for nobility in its heyday.
That some reviewers lamented the ending or thought this was a big romance film might explain why such folks missed the humor and the spoofing of the past culture of royalty. One of the few very good aspects of this film was its filming location – at the world's largest mansion – the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.
This film had been made, in various versions in the past – all based on a Hungarian play by Ferenc Molnar. The original Broadway play ran in 1923. Kelly had appeared in a TV production of "The Swan" that aired June 9, 1950 on CBS.
Kelly had only 30 film credits in her short six-year career – half of those in TV serials. But she made some very good films and played opposite some of the top leading men of Hollywood. This clearly was her least movie – really, the only bad one she made. I wonder if her mind wasn't somewhere else. It wasn't a coincidence that MGM released the film on April 18, 1956 – the very day that Grace Kelly was marrying Monaco's Prince Rainier. She gave up her Hollywood career for a crown.
But, even with Princess Grace's seeming fairy-tale romance, wedding, and fan following, MGM wasn't able to salvage this film at the box office. Critics and audiences alike saw it as a glamorous, eye- pleasing production that missed the mark due to a weak script, poor direction and flat performance by a couple of the leads. The box office take was just over $3.7 million worldwide, and but for the larger non-U.S. showings, "The Swan" would have lost more than it did – nearly $800,000. My six stars for this film are generous, but I think Guinness and the other members of the household royalty are deserving for their comedic efforts.
Here are some sample lines from the film. For more humorous dialog, see the Quotes section here on the IMDb Web page for the film.
Queen Beatrix, "Must you still write with a feather? This is the 20th century." Symphorosa, "I don't like the 20th century."
Queen Beatrix, (To Dr. Nicholas Agi) "You're here to give the boys an education, not to fill their heads with a lot of historical gossip."
Queen Beatrix, "I noticed the roses are already beginning to bloom." Head Gardener (David Thursby), "They're just at their best, your highness." Queen Beatrix, "I don't want them at their best until the day after tomorrow. Hold them back."