GRACE OF MONACO


US/France, 2014, 102 minutes, Colour.
Nicole Kidman, Tim Roth, Frank Langella, Parker Posey, Paz Vega, Derek Jacobi, Robert Lindsay, Milo Ventimiglia, Geraldine Sommerville, Nicholas Farrell, Jeanne Balibar, Roger Ashton- Griffiths.
Directed by Oliver Dahan.

It is somewhat embarrassing for a reviewer to say that this film was enjoyable, embarrassing in the face of almost universal critical condemnation. But, I found it both interesting and enjoyable. Perhaps this is because of the presence of Grace Kelly in one’s consciousness and in her films, memories of seeing the films at the time, remembering the occasion of her wedding. Maybe those not familiar with Grace Kelly or her films will see this as something of a fiction which they can take or leave. In fact, the film does begin with a statement that, while it is based on events, it is a fictional interpretation.

The film shows the build-up to the 1956 wedding of Grace Kelly with Prince Rainier of Monaco, with some footage of the actual ceremony itself shown later. Most of the action takes place in 1961-1962.

For Princess Grace herself, there was the dilemma of whether she should go back to Hollywood and appear in of Alfred Hitchcock’s Marnie. At the beginning of this film, Hitchcock himself comes to Monaco to discuss the role with his friend, Gracie, leaves a script with her which she studies, and rehearses a number of ways to interpret a sequence in front of her mirror. The issue becomes political, whether the people of Monaco, wary of their American princess, would approve of her going back to Hollywood, and whether European royalty would approve of the same thing. This leads the film into the political issues of the period.

At this time, President De Gaulle was waging war in Algeria and needed finances for this war effort. One of the ways for doing this, along with a number of other political reasons and financial issues, was to impose taxes on independent Monaco. The small nation itself was financially strapped and could not afford the taxes. Rainier was offering a number of French companies tax havens in his country, while so many French visited Monaco for its financial benefits in the casinos. Rainier himself, while marrying an American, was very strong on the traditions of the Grimaldi family, ruling in Monaco since the 13th century. He had somewhat stern European expectations of women and wives.

The film shows Grace with two of her children, the tensions with her husband, the issue of Marnie and her status in Monaco. Negotiations for the wedding, in this very Catholic principality, were entrusted to the American priest, Father Francis Tucker. He played a significant role in Monaco. He was Grace’s confidante, especially urging her to acknowledge the role she had to play as wife, mother and Princess of Monaco, role-playing and acting if she must. He also urged her to study the protocols and rules and regulations as well as perfect her French and her style and poise.

The drama of the film, apart from the relationship between husband and wife, is how to deal with De Gaulle and a blockade against Monaco. In the screenplay, Grace uses her shrewdness to attract the aristocratic women of Monaco and their work for the Red Cross to hold a ball to which she invited world leaders – and De Gaulle accepted. (The ball took place in October 1962 at the time of the Cuban crisis for the United States and at the time of the opening of the Second Vatican Council.)

The political intrigue is interesting even if the solution is probably simplified and glamorised.

But, so much of the interest in the film is in Nicole Kidman’s performance as Princess Grace. Some critics have complained that Nicole Kidman does not look like Princess Grace or act like her but, I was happily convinced to accept her. Tim Roth is an interesting choice for Rainier, seem mostly in preoccupation about his political situation. Frank Langella is quietly persuasive as Father Tucker. Parker Posey does severity personified as the regulator of protocols within the Palace – and caught up in an interesting subplot as to whether somebody in the Palace was undermining the family and negotiating with De Gaulle. Derek Jacobi gives a rather enthusiastically camp performance as the count who instructs the Princess in the ways of protocol.

Of course, the film looks very good, with scenes of the city itself, the Palace, the beautiful Mediterranean coastal cliffs. And, those with an eye to fashion, will be looking at all the creations for Nicole Kidman.

Audiences may have forgotten, but Cheryl Ladd appeared long since in a film entitled, Grace Kelly (1983), allegedly approved just before her death, a film that ends with the wedding. Comparisons have been also made with Diana, with Naomi Watts impersonating the Princess. I would prefer this film.

1. Audience interest in and knowledge of Grace Kelly? As an actress? As Princess of Monaco? Of her political activities? Charitable activities? Her life in the 1960s?

2. The production values, filming in Monaco, the views of the city on the coast, the Palace and the interiors? The blend of the romantic with the political? The musical score, operatic themes?

3. The cast, Nicole Kidman and her interpretation of Grace Kelly, Tim Roth and his interpretation of Prince Rainier?

4. The background of Grace Kelly’s life, her wealthy father, his building up an industry? Her mother, her sister and her talents and her father’s comparisons of Grace with her sister? Filming To Catch a Thief in Monaco and the Riviera? The filming of High Society and the end of her career, the studio sequence? Romance with Prince Rainier, the lavish wedding, their children, her life in Monaco?

5. The situation in 1962, political, the clash between Monaco and France, president De Gaulle and wanting the taxes, a blockade on Monaco? The background of world events the time, the Cuban crisis? The role of Europe?

6. The film introduced as a fictional interpretation of events? How much fiction, how much fact, interpretation?

7. Grace Kelly as an actress, her career in Hollywood, Oscar, finishing her career with High Society? Her relationship with Hitchcock, the several films? His visit, the script for Marnie, the discussion, the rehearsing the role to the mirror, the wanting to do the film, the withholding of the press release, political manoeuvrings, its being leaked in Hollywood, the hype, audience interest, the people of Monaco considering her as an American wanting to go back to America?

8. Grace Kelly by 1961, the children, trapped in the situation, an American not particularly liked, the background of her own family (and the phone call to her mother and the inability to have an ordinary conversation and her mother saying that Grace’s father would be turning in his grave)? Rainier and his being busy, the tensions, the situation for her, Hitchcock’s offer, the dilemma, Rainier and his modified approval? Grace and her missing this aspect of her life and career?

9. Monaco, old, since the 13th century, the Grimaldi family, the buildings, resisting invasions? No taxes? The role of the casinos? Businesses coming to Monaco for tax relief? The deals? France and the war in Algeria, De Gaulle wanting taxes, the threats, the visits to Monaco and the hardline French, embargoes and blockades? Rainier and his difficulties handling the situation?

10. The picture of the French politicians, insulting Grace and her children, Rainier punching the representative? The negotiations? The presence of Aristotle Onassis, his advice to Rainier?

11. Grace, Madge and the insistence on protocol, instructing Hitchcock? The details, the language, the poise? Grace being supervised?

12. Grace, her children, playing, lessons, sometimes a meal with the whole family?

13. Antoinette, her husband and his advice, this son? The revelation that they were plotting against Rainier, financial deals, this son as the Prince and the mother as Regent?

14. Father Frank Tucker, his role as a priest, being in Monaco 15 years, his part in the search for Rainier’s wife, persuading the Kelly’s, Grace? His role in Monaco, advice? The politics? In himself, Grace’s confidante? His concern about grace’s education, supervising with the count, his correspondence, asleep and Grace reading the letter, his decision to leave Monaco, the interest of the Vatican? His returning to the US? The role of the church? The Archbishop of Monaco seen at state dinners? A Catholic family?

15. Rainier, his personality, expectations of him, as a European, member of royalty, chauvinist in his attitude towards women and his wife, political demands? Coping, negotiations, the advice of his council? The difficulties of the situation, his being prepared to surrender? The shock revelations about his sister?

16. The scene with the Red Cross, Grace visiting the hospital, the women and their disdain for Grace? The Countess and her role, lack of money, concern about the annual Red Cross ball? Grace and her idea, changing, getting the women on side, the visit to Paris, the press conference outside Cartier, the invitations, even to De Gaulle? De Gaulle debating whether to go or not, not being afraid of the American actress? The fact the Robert McNamara? was going to represent the United States?

17. The interlude with Maria Callas, her relationship with analysis, the horse riding, the discussions, the discussions about career and Callas maintaining her singing?

18. The count, his knowledge of protocol and style, his books, supervising Grace, the lessons in French and pronunciation, lessons in posture? Frank Tucker being present?

19. Madge, her role in the house, prim and prissy? Supervision? Suspicion of her as the plant for France? Grace’s confidante and the press manager, following Madge, seeing her contact? Discovering that she was suspicious, her hiring a private detective, the documents, the photos, showing them to Grace, Rainier walking in, his shock? The confrontation with Antoinette and her husband, her dominance, his being quiet? Their being exiled? Their son provided for? The husband and his having to phone France, the deception? Their having to be present at the ball, and go through the motions of loyalty?

20. Grace and Frank, their discussions, his talking about her roles, her having to make the decision, to be a role model for her children, to commit herself to Rainier and her life in Monaco? Her sitting and watching the footage of her wedding and its effect on her?

21. The ball, Grace and her gown and hair style, visitors arriving, De Gaulle and the French, protocols, the lavish party? Her arrival, meeting the people, autographs, popularity? Her speech and the applause? De Gaulle being beaten? The theme of her speech of peace without guns?

22. The consequences, Rainier, Grace and her family, her position in style, a prominent figure in Europe?