A ROYAL NIGHT OUT
UK, 2015, 98 minutes, Colour.
Sarah Gadon, Bel Powley, Jack Reynor, Rupert Everett, Emily Watson, Roger Allam, Ruth Sheen.
Directed by Julian Jarrold.
Released to coincide with the 70th anniversary of VE Day, the end of the war in Europe, A Royal Night Out tells the story (allegedly based on fact or two) of Elizabeth and Margaret persuading their regal parents to allow them to go out for the evening to join the celebrations in London.
It was not long into the screening before this reviewer thought, “Republicans, beware”. For audiences, much like the character, the soldier Jack, who unknowingly encounters Princess Elizabeth in the pub as everyone wants to listen to the King’s speech, there will be enjoyment reservations. He is anti-establishment, is irritated by the King and by royalty, and is told to pipe down by the awed listeners. Although, by the end, Jack has come to like Lizzie, and so have we. He has spent a lot of the film helping to (or being pressurised to) search with her for Margaret who has wafted off into the night to enjoy herself (including learning how to signal for the bus to stop as well as falling out on top of a soldier), often unwittingly in very dubious company.
But that is probably to take the film far too seriously. It is meant to be a lark. The girls have been sheltered, Elizabeth 19, Margaret 14, not really having had any of this kind of ordinary experience for themselves, except Elizabeth and her work with vehicles during the war, posh style, posh accents (referred to several times throughout the film), and a propensity to order, even make presumptuous demands on the people around without realising it. Actually, Elizabeth has had a night of experiences, learning about people, appreciating that she is mixing with people she doesn’t usually meet, with Jack taking her to the home of his working-class mother with some awareness of what he had experienced as a pilot during the war.
Margaret is flighty, gets tangled with some military types who were letting loose (to put it mildly) with drink and women as they celebrate, but also finds herself accompanying a number of ladies of the night as well as the manager of the Soho “club” to Chelsea barracks. Another military type puts something into her drink so that she becomes quite dipsy when she is tipsy.
The King is of a rather stern demeanour but has let he is daughters go out. The Queen is far more wary, far more prim than her image as the Queen Mother over the decades.
The recreation of the period and of VE night, sometimes with the help of newsreel footage, certainly captures the atmosphere. The performances a strong, Sarah Gadon bringing some intensity to her portrait of Princess Elizabeth, Bel Powley indicates the kind of reputation Princess Margaret would have in the future. It is a surprise to see Rupert Everett as the George VI. Emily Watson fits easily into the role of Queen Elizabeth. Jack Reynor is Jack who is surprised to find himself at breakfast in Buckingham Palace and driven back to barracks, with aplomb and rapidity by Lizzzie. Roger Allam is good as the Soho boss and Ruth Sheen as Jack’s mother.
A Royal Night Out is probably best for older audiences and those who admire the Royal family, but might have a touch of much ado about very little for younger audiences who don’t have an affinity for Queen Elizabeth and her family.
1. A film for Royalists? Whether or not a film for Republicans?
2. The background of the United Kingdom, the traditions of Empire, the role of royalty, class distinctions in the United Kingdom, the role of the military, ordinary people, and comparisons? The world of Soho? The perspective of 70 years later?
3. VE Day, the celebrations, the relief at the end of the war, the anticipation of the King’s Speech, a great deal of flag-waving, respect and loyalty for the monarchy? Londoneris letting their hair down, the crowds gathering, singing and dancing in the streets, the pubs, the clubs?
4. The London of May 8, 1945? Buckingham Palace, the Mall? The Brits, Trafalgar Square, Soho, the Chelsea Barracks? Exterior and interiors? The musical score?
5. The truth of the plot, what if…? In the light of the life of the Queen, of Princess Margaret?
6. The status of the king and queen, Rupert Everett and Emily Watson as the monarchs? The role of the monarchy during the war, leading the nation, relying on Churchill? The King’s reluctance, his speech impediment? The girls, growing up? Elizabeth and the war, working with cars and trucks? Their ages at this time?
7. The King, his speech, wanting feedback, from his daughters? Queen and her prim attitudes? Their appearing on the balcony on VE Day?
8. The princesses, eager, their plea, the parents agreeing, Margaret and the tiara and the guard?
9. The military escort, unreliable, the personal behaviour, drinking, sexual behaviour? To the Ritz, leaving, Margaret on the bus, how to stop it, falling out? The sisters separating? Margaret and her dancing, with the military, the spiking of the drink, her behaviour, being taken to Soho, being sick, the ladies of the night, the men’s advances? The boss and learning the password for Chelsea barracks, taking the women, Margaret’s eagerness? Meeting Ellizabeth? The Lindbergh-hop? Going home, asleep, asking about the knocking shop? The effect of the experience on Margaret – and her later life and career?
10. Elizabeth at 19, serious, wanting to go out, her war experience and the driving and mechanics? Separating from Margaret? Her concern? At the Ritz, the behaviour of the escorts? In the pub, meeting Jack, his anti-royalty stances and talk, her reaction? Listening to the King’s speech? The pressure on Jack to help her, talk, giving orders? Going to the club, the payment to get in, Jack giving the money? The information about Soho, going to the club? Going to the Chelsea Barracks, on the boat, the payment? At the barracks, his not being allowed in, Elizabeth going in, the dancing, Jack and his devices of getting past the guards? Discovering Elizabeth, Lizzie, was the Princess?
11. The picture of the military, their drinking, irresponsibility, with the women, spiking drinks, at the Chelsea barracks?
12. The scenes in Soho, the situation, the brothel and the club, the boss, the bouncer, the violence, the fight with Jack? Getting the password, going with the women, exploitation at the barracks? The behaviour of the women, talking with Margaret?
13. Jack, his work in the war as a pilot, sad, in the pub, the critique of the Royal family, Elizabeth and her pressurising him, paying cash, disappearing, found, going to the club, going to Soho, the bashing, on the boat? The barracks, his discovering the truth?
14. Jack’s mother, an ordinary woman, in the street, talking with Elizabeth? Jack and his war effort? The deaths of his friends? AWOL and deserting?
15. The picture of the princesses, upper-class, the comments on their posh accents and behaviour? The contrast with ordinary people?
16. Getting back to Buckingham Palace, the explanations to the King and Queen, Margaret and her questions, Jack invited to breakfast? Elizabeth driving
him back to the barracks, his joining his squad?
17. Happy endings – in view of the history, especially of Queen Elizabeth?
