KING’S RHAPSODY
UK, 1955, 93 minutes, Colour.
Anna Neagle, Errol Flynn, Patrice Wymore, Martita Hunt, Finlay Currie, Francis de Wolff, Miles Malleson.
Directed by Herbert Wilcox.
King’s Rhapsody is one of the many (twenty-seven) films made by Herbert Wilcox with his wife, Anna Neagle. They were very popular in the late 30s, all throughout the 40s and into the early 50s. At this time Anna Neagle was fifty.
She teams with Errol Flynn as she had the previous year in Lilacs in the Spring. Errol Flynn acts with his wife Patrice Wymore. There is a good supporting cast led by Martita Hunt.
The film is based on a musical by Ivor Novello – which may have been dated in the 1950s but seems even more dated in later decades. It belongs to the operetta style of the 1920s and 1930s.
In fact, Anna Neagle has more of a supporting role with Patrice Wymore as the princess. Errol Flynn – only five years from his death, aged forty-five, is showing the signs of high living. However, he has an on-screen charm and flair.
The film is set in one of those small European monarchies (just before the marriage between Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly). However, seen by an English audience in later decades, it is reminiscent of the relationship between Prince Charles and Camilla Parker- Bowles and with Diana, Princess of Wales. In the 1950s, however, the mistress gives up and the prince falls in love with the princess.
1.The popularity of this kind of operetta material? Characters, small kingdoms in Europe, pomp and ceremony? Romance?
2.The Cinemascope and its lavish use of the mountainside, the kingdom, the mediaeval touches, pageantry?
3.The musical score, the songs and their style, as performed by Patrice Wymore and Anna Neagle? The dance sequences? The film as a musical?
4.The situation, the kingdom, the need for the continuity in the monarchy? The flashback where Richard watches his son being crowned – and the ending with his reconciliation with Christiane?
5.Richard, his leaving the kingdom, his relationship with Marta? Not married? The need for his return to the kingdom? The visit of the prime minister and his mother? Being persuaded to go back? Taking Marta with him? His life as a playboy, the performance with the dog for his mother? The arranged marriage, his signing the documents, the pressure on him? His continued relationship with Marta? The marriage ceremony? Marta’s coming, being humiliated? The non-consummation of the marriage? The quick transition to the birth of the child, his being out with Marta, hearing the guns? His return, the revolt of the people – and the film not giving enough attention to what the issues were? His attempts at reform, the Queen Mother and the prime minister forcing him out? Marta and her leaving the kingdom? His being in exile in Paris, seeing Marta, thinking she was married? Her urging him to return for the coronation, his watching, the reconciliation with Christiane?
6.Marta, her relationship with the king, mistress, companion, sharing the king’s experience, her being humiliated by the queen, her decision to leave, the discussion with Christiane, urging her love for the king, seeing the baby? In Paris, pretending to be married? Reasonably happy?
7.Princess Christiane, Astrid and her confidences? The arranged marriage? The exiling of Marta – and the king’s later rebuking her for this? Her using it to humiliate Marta? The marriage, pretending to be Astrid with the king? Neglected, functions and ceremonies? The birth of the boy? The final reconciliation with Marta? With the king?
8.The Queen Mother, the power behind the throne, arranged marriages, the hardness of the aristocracy of Europe? In league with the prime minister, his political ambitions and pressures?
9.King Paul, his daughter, arranged marriages, trade agreements?
10.The people of the kingdom, the nobles – and popular operettas and movies version of aristocracy and royalty in central Europe?
