New York opening at the Radio City Music Hall: 26 April 1956. But within its lyricism and daring, “The Swan” might be a little too vague, too languid. "The Swan" was her penultimate film before her marriage to Prince Rainier (her last was to be "High Society") and it is the only film in which she actually portrays a princess. Awards The film stars Grace Kelly, Alec Guinness and Louis Jourdan with Agnes Moorehead, Jessie Royce Landis, Brian Aherne, Leo G. Carroll, Estelle Winwood, and Robert Coote. When a crown prince visits, the princess's mother tries to push the prince into marrying her daughter by presenting a "rival" at the ball - her children's handsome tutor. The 1925, 1930, and 1956 films are all based on a Hungarian play entitled A Hattyú, Vígjáték Három Felvonásban (The Swan, A Comedy in Three Acts) [2] by Ferenc Molnár (Budapest, 1914). With rare exceptions (i.e., 'The Age of Innocence' and 'The Painted Veil,' among a few), too many contemporary movies set in earlier (from Elizabethan to Oscar Wildean) times miss out from a distinct failure to capture apparent period authenticity in manner or speech, be it: 'A Perfect Husband;' 'The Importance of Being Earnest'; 'Moulin Rouge;' 'The Other Boleyn Girl;' etc. All three are beautiful and perfect in their roles. Too bad...It's a handsome production which, no doubt, won't visually impress very much when diminished by, ugh!, "formatting." Her family's fortune has faded and her mother desperately desires for Alexandra to marry the heir to the throne, Prince Albert, and thus restore her family to the throne they lost. More than Charles Boyer,Louis Jourdan was par excellence the French lover;he was so handsome that pairing him with supreme beauty Grace Kelly was only natural;Alec Guiness seems out of place next to this dream couple.It should be noted that Jourdan was never big in his native country where he made some interesting movies ("Premier Rendez-Vous" )but no memorable masterpiece :he was probably too handsome for his own good.Whereas France was asking for plebeian heroes (Jean Gabin) he was some kind of aristocratic person. It's not available on DVD (and may possibly never be) and, I fear, the VHS version is formatted to fit the full screens of non-widescreen TVs. This movie is freaking amazing so I am going to write a review!!! A lovely movie!! MGM held the release of The Swan to correspond with civil wedding ceremony of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco, on April 18, 1956. Maybe it's the word itself! Sad and funny. Grace Kelly is one of the great icons of the twentieth century, partly on account of her extraordinary beauty but also on account of the fact that she is the only person to have belonged to both of the world's two most glamorous and exclusive elites, the Crowned Heads of Europe and the Crowned Heads of Hollywood. The Swan should not be labeled a romantic comedy, considering I was bordering on crying heavily through several points in the movie. Swan, a shōjo manga by Ariyoshi Kyoko "The Swan" (Baudelaire), a poem by Baudelaire\ The Swan, student newspaper of St. Hugh's College, Oxford It was there she met Prince Ranier. Interesting to note that The Swan's screenplay writer/adapter, John Dighton, also co-wrote the screenplay for "Roman Holiday", since one can logically assume that MGM's decision to film Molnar's play "The Swan" was inspired by the success of the earlier film; the similarities are obvious. It also exemplified class distinction, and the beauty of first love. Movies. Louis Jordan, as the young professor, contender for the princess's affections, is very good and looks like a young Colin Firth. I especially enjoyed Alec Guinness, Jessie Royce Landis, and the wonderful Estelle Winwood, as well as Brian Aherne and Louis Jourdan. Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) is directing the ballet, and the movie sees a production that has an ending where only the White Swan dies. This is the same charming appeal she brought to the film, "The Swan." They discuss the Prince's preference for the professor's company rather than attempting to court the princess. A truly exciting, beautiful and mesmerising movie, it was directed by Darren Aronofsky and starring Natalie Portman, Vincent Cassel, Mila Kunis and Winona Ryder. Swans are beautiful, elegant creatures. In 2001, it was nominated by the Casting Society of America for best voice-casting in an animated film, but lost the award to Disney's The Emperor's New Groove. I thought my date that night looked like Louis Jourdan, the tutor who dared to love a princess. Starring Grace Kelly, who married Prince Rainier that same year. Is Lily the Black Swan? I looked for the rooms in "The Swan." [7] However, Harrison was unable to come to terms with the studio. | The original Broadway production of The Swan opened on Broadway in 1923, with Eva Le Gallienne as Princess Alexandra, Philip Merivale as Prince Albert, and Basil Rathbone as the tutor. It is notable, however, that an independent animated film would be able to win such a nomination. "[9], The film was shot on location in North Carolina, at the 1895 Biltmore Estate of George W. Vanderbilt in Asheville and at Lake Junaluska.[10]. However, Agi ends up leaving the mansion without Alexandra. Albert gives his blessing to the pair and says that when he is king he will allow them back into the country. Beatrice de Clerval is not based on a single real artist, but Kostova was influenced in developing her life by the life of Berthe Morisot. Note an interesting tidbit about the image used in this banner, which was one of the most popular images used to market The Black Swan in its original release Seen here are Power and O’Hara looking out the window of The Black Swan, a scene that was followed by both jumping into the water, which was shot as the movie’s original ending. Over the century the standard practice for all productions has been to cast the same ballerina as the White and Black Swan. Grace Kelly seems a little self-conscious under the glare of the camera, but beautiful nevertheless. Copyright 1956 by Loew's Inc. A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture. [4], Kelly visited the Cannes Festival later that month. With Grace Kelly, Alec Guinness, Louis Jourdan, Agnes Moorehead. [8], Director Charles Vidor said the filmmakers paid close attention to the Princess Margaret-Peter Townsend romance. The movie is based on a play written by Ferenc Molnar and was filmed twice before this final one was made. She plays Princess Alexandra who finds herself torn between obeying her overpowering mother and marrying her cousin, Prince Albert, or following the dictates of her own heart. So Natalie Portman played “Nina Sayers/The Swan Queen.” And Barbara Hershey played Erica Sayers/The Queen. Sophisticated wit, sentimental tragedy of a girl who will not compromise. The film is a romantic comedy released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, directed by Charles Vidor, produced by Dore Schary from a screenplay by John Dighton, and based on the play by Ferenc Molnár. Aronofsky's film supplies plenty of evidence to support that Nina is dead at the end. Agi then storms out and tries to leave the next morning. Louis Jourdan is the most gorgeous man to ever grace film. Now they can't say it's old-fashioned. Before her marriage to Prince Rainier, Grace Kelly made this next-to-last film for M-G-M, the royalty (though, alas, in somewhat of a decline from its glory days) of Hollywood's studio "system." Sep 05, 2010. That's because of two serious faults--very stilted and controlled performances as well as occasionally awful dialog. Later when they are dancing at the ball it appears that Albert is getting jealous but instead he is more interested in playing the bass viol in the orchestra. Grace returned to Hollywood to make one final movie, High Society (1956), before sailing off to Monaco to marry her prince on April 18, 1956. Although banished from the kingdom, Rothbart vows to return to get his revenge. Albert tries to console Alexandra by telling her she is like a swan: on the water she looks serene, but on land she is more like a goose. The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native met her Prince at a photo match arranged by Paris Match in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Producer Darren Aronofsky admits that the idea for the story came from his interest in understudies and the notion of being haunted by a double, as in The Double: A Petersburg Poem (1946), a novella by Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky [1821-1881]. The Swan was the last vehicle for Oscar-winner Grace Kelly, it would be her swan song, if you pardon the pun, and it was one of her best. She adds some off-beat humor and is very likable. The Swan (1956) Genre: Historical Dramedy Grade: B-Here’s a golden oldie, or moldy oldie if you don’t care for it. Alexandra's mother urges her to show interest in the tutor, Dr. Nicholas Agi (Louis Jourdan), to make Albert jealous and stimulate a proposal from him. Alexandra, distraught over what happened, tries to leave with him, but he refuses her again. Audrey Hepburn would have been ideal, and should have been cast in the Kelly role. | There are no critic reviews yet for The Swan. So who better to portray the human embodiment of a swan than the beautiful, elegant Grace Kelly? With Jack Palance, Howard McGillin, Michelle Nicastro, Liz Callaway. Awards and nominations. New Marvel and Star Wars Trailers. Because of a combination of factors, her family had lost its status, and her mother was urging her to marry her second cousin, a prince played by Alec Guinness, so that they could enter royalty again. Jayne Film Reviews arranged-marriage / class-difference / Friday Film Review / Royalty 8 Comments. In many ways, The Swan sailed with her. This comedy of manners, about Royals, was set at the end of La Belle Epoque(1870-1914), and it evoked the values of a bygone era in 1956, when it was made, yet it also encompassed everyday values of family, and romance. By the time she makes her choice, you won't care. In fact, the decisions to make the film and to cast Kelly in the leading role seem to have been taken before that romance was public knowledge. 385K likes. 108 minutes. By the end of the month Alec Guinness signed to play the role – it would be his first Hollywood movie. Rothbartis an evil sorcerer who wishes to take William's kingdom for himself, but before he can make his move, he is attacked by William's men. Later, Agi tells Alexandra how he feels about her. But despite the upheaval, the director Asa Helga Hjorleifsdottir never displays the passion that her characters suggest in their stories. Of further interest, timing of the release of the movie was a few days after Kelly and Rainier married, to take full advantage of the publicity. This is a very lovely film to look at--with lots of opulent dresses, a lovely palace locale and pretty people such as Louis Jordan and Grace Kelly. Grace Kelly had previously appeared in the CBS Television production of The Swan on June 9, 1950. Absolutely completely well done film by the future Princess Grace of Monaco, Grace Kelly and supporting staff including dreamy Louis Jordan, staunch Alec Guiness, and a surprise entry as Queen, Agnes Moorehead. The 1925, 1930, and 1956 films are all based on a Hungarian play entitled A Hattyú, Vígjáték Három Felvonásban (The Swan, A Comedy in Three Acts) by Ferenc Molnár (Budapest, 1914). As it turns out Albert is a bit of an odd duck. :) There is a play called Black Swan, where there is an innocent white swan who falls in love with the prince and a seductive black swan who seduces the prince first...and in the end the white swan commits suicide. I watched the videotape of "The Swan" just before visiting the Biltmore Estate the summer of 1998. Prince Albert (Alec Guinness) battles with the tutor (Louis Jourdan) for Princess Alexandra's (Grace Kelly) affections. Capitalizing on Grace's intention to marry a prince in Monaco, MGM dusted off Molnar's antique play, a comedy of manners involving a princess torn between the love of two men--ALEC GUINNESS (as her second cousin) and handsome LOUIS JOURDAN (as the tutor of her young brothers). Directed by Charles Vidor. However, once you peel away all the loveliness, the film itself isn't all that special despite a few decent performances here and there. King William, widowed father of newborn Princess Odette, and Queen Uberta, widowed mother of young Prince Derek, decide to betroth their children in the hopes of uniting their kingdoms. The acting is superb by all, and the direction of Charles Vidor(Gilda), and production by Dore Schary, was magnificent. Okay! Albert then offers Alexandra his arm and they walk back into the mansion together. As the would-be romance founders Alexandra's desperate mother hatches a plot. This is the most recognised storyline, but there have been, and continue to be, many variations. Albert's mother, The Queen, (Agnes Moorehead), shows up and gets the entire story and is aghast. A nice old-fashioned story with a hidden message: do what is right. While Natalie Portman gets to be the Swan Queen, Mila Kunis is the one credited with the Black Swan. I'm kind of stuck in between giving this a 3.5 or a 4, but I think I'm going to give it a 3.5 for now. Alec Guinness and Grace Kelly and Louis Jourdan make a beautiful trio. One piece of source music, "Rakoczy March", an 1809 piece by John Bihari, was conducted by Miklós Rózsa.[11]. The summer of 1955 Grace Kelly read love letters from her real-life prince while sitting on the terrace of the Biltmore Estate in Ashville, N.C., waiting for the cameras to be set up for exterior shots of "The Swan." To the point that at the end of Black Swan the credits show the movie character and ballet character. The original music score was by Bronisław Kaper, the cinematography by Joseph Ruttenberg and Robert Surtees, the art direction by Randall Duell and Cedric Gibbons, and the costume design by Helen Rose. He has rejected many potential brides and now he has come to call on Alexandra to see if perhaps she is the one. The official music video for Dua Lipa - Swan SongTaken from the soundtrack for the film 'Alita: Battle Angel' released in 2019. "The Swan" was her penultimate film before her marriage to Prince Rainier (her last was to be "High Society") and it is the only film in which she actually portrays a princess. Albert and Agi trade insults. Australian release: 18 April 1956 (sic). This is not a particularly good story, in fact without the lure of the leads, it would not be worth watching. 2 thumbs up!! Our story unfolds in 1910 with Kelly playing young Princess Alexandra, a minor royal in some fictional European nation. Arts, entertainment, and media Film and television. If you take out these factors, the basic fairy tale story is pretty good and I liked the way the movie ended. Struggles in rehearsal. From the producers of The Swan Princess animated film series comes exciting news, updates on The Swan Princess brand and its collection of great products! The cast is stellar, with the future Princess Grace surrounded by the likes of Alec Guiness, Louis Jourdan, Estelle Winwood, and Jessie Royce Landis, to name a few. There are funny parts, allot of Royalty, and is beautifully filmed, and a really good movie. The Swan Thieves is a 2010 novel by American author Elizabeth Kostova.The "old painter" described in the book before the first chapter is Alfred Sisley. Wonderful casting throughout, though Grace Kelly is, as always, less an actress than a beautiful presence. I read a review proclaiming Grace Kelly was a young girl from Wisconsin, who made a hit in Hollywood, and became a real life princess. The Molnar play upon which the film is based is pretty much intact and holding its own. Kelly's character, to me, is an insult to all women, because she has no ambition other than to fill her mother's wishes to marry into royalty. I saw the film for the first time in 1958 at the 25-cent movies for University of Illinois students in Champaign-Urbana. Release Calendar DVD & Blu-ray Releases Top Rated Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Showtimes & Tickets In Theaters Coming Soon Coming Soon Movie News India Movie Spotlight. Delightful, witty screenplay. The Swan (1956) an Eastman Color in CinemaScope is a remake of The Swan (1925), a Paramount Pictures release. Alexandra is to be married to the Prince, to restore the lost throne, and then at a Ball, she falls inlove with Nicholas while dancing with him. A beautiful, funny movie, knows how to capture your heart! She jumps to her death. Black Swan fades to white at the end as Nina is bleeding on stage after finishing her perfect performance, but there has been some debate about whether or not she actually died. She totally restructured Hollywood, giving it an old world elegance. In the ending credits of the film, every actor is credited not just with their role in the film, but also their counterparts in Swan Lake itself. "However, by not marrying a commoner made our Swan a new, modern story. Disney dropped new trailers for " The Falcon and the Winter Soldier ," " Loki ," and a first look at the new Star Wars series, " Andor ." The dashing Louis Jourdan is worth watching on the dance floor scene, as he is good-looking, graceful and romantic. Watch them all. Ending MovieJun the Swan (TATSUNOKO - SCIENCE NINJA TEAM GATCHAMAN) External Reviews "The Swan" is about two guys in love with a princess. So it was fun to see this movie, 'The Swan', this week on the TCM channel. The complete score was released in 2004, on cd, on the Film Score Monthly label. She tries to finish Thomas' … Prince Albert is Alexandra's cousin but don't mind that because marrying your cousin was quite the royal thing to do at the time. William and Uberta have … By the end of its run, the film grossed a mere $102,202. Black Swan is based on a screenplay co-written by screenwriters Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz, and John McLaughlin. Of note, there are several underlying hints that the Prince is probably gay: he takes no notice of Princess Alexandra and the scenes between him and her are painful to watch, because he keep fixing her with a closed expression in his eye (like a man that knows a woman wants him but is not interested because he already has a man!). Swan ( 1956 ) an Eastman Color in CinemaScope is a remake the. She has some feelings for him but he refuses her again visiting the Biltmore Estate the summer of 1998 those. 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