The Prince and the Showgirl (1957)

In this decidedly over-exaggerated, 1957 Romantic-Comedy (Ha! Ha! So funny I forgot to laugh) - "American Vulgarity Personified" (that's Monroe's character) meets and is swept off her feet by "Utterly Pretentious Political Refinement" (that's Olivier's character).And what inevitably takes place between this truly tiresome, mismatched twosome has got to be one of the most sickening displays of contrived, slap-dash, screwball shenanigans ever recorded on film.IMO - Not only did Olivier prove (as a director) that he couldn't effectively direct this particular genre of film - But (as an actor) he also proved that he was totally clueless (as a man) about how to really give Monroe (the ultimate, 1950s sex symbol) an honest-to-goodness kiss like he really meant it. It was all just quick, delicate pecks on the lips without ever once demonstrating any intense, sexual intimacy, whatsoever.Anyway - Speaking about the creamy-white, skin-tight dress that Monroe wore throughout most of the story - Man-oh-man! - Did that glitzy outfit ever emphasize the monumental proportions of her ample ass, big-time. Yep. It sure did.

Totally wonderful Monroe-Olivier vehicle proving that Olivier could do comedy besides Shakespeare and Monroe showed many of the characteristics she would display with Tony Curtis two years later in "Some Like it Hot."As the queen dowager, or mother-in-law, Sybil Thorndike is a scene stealer in every sense of the word.There is some political intrigue in this dandy film and club actress Monroe is able to cope with it and even advise Olivier.The set decorations are marvelous really depicting 1911 England among the royalty.I enjoyed the way Monroe made a mess of addressing the various British royalty and her knowledge of German sure came in handy.The regent, Olivier, has a well-polished but rebellious son who challenges his father, despite the fact that within 18 months, he shall become king. It's the old story of the father not showing love for his son which Monroe is adept at fixing.How Monroe stays on the scene by being a lady-in-waiting to Thorndike, who takes a like to her, and subsequently attending the coronation of George V1 and attending the coronation ball is a wonder in itself.The couple come far from their chance meeting at the place Monroe is acting in, to a disastrous night of folly together, to love and the ultimate ending of that they were still living in two separate worlds.

From Terence Rattigan's " The sleeping prince" . Came to London in 1911 ti preside to the in coronation of George V , the archduke of Carpathia wants to be escort for the night , he finds an American showgirl. Olivier's acting is flawless and Monroe strikes. Question : which of the two stars has take advantage on the other? If " The prince and the showgirl" is already watchable today , it's because of Marilyn Monroe , because at one time of the story that little split comes out as if Olivier , from that moment was too busy to play an aristocratic better than a true one. If he had act like he had in front of him a similar beauty , there was nothing else to do than turn the guard down and give up: Marilyn enlightened up the scene , just with her being an alive presence , she was with her life to dissolve the cold of the perfection of his partner.

The Prince and the Showgirl (1957) ** 1/2 (out of 4) The Regent of Carpathia (Laurence Olivier) arrives in London and requests the company of an American showgirl (Marilyn Monroe) thinking that he can get his way with her but soon he realizes that she's more than you might think. THE PRINCE AND THE SHOWGIRL isn't a good film by any stretch of the imagination but it's making of is probably more entertaining than the actual film. With that said, it's certainly quite charming in spots but there are just way too many flaws for it to work as a whole. To some shock, the best thing that can be said about the movie is the performance of Monroe. I thought the actress did a very good job with her character and I think it's probably one of the most likable I've seen from the actress. She brings a certain warmth to the part and she really does make you like her character. Everyone knows the troubled history with the production (see the wonderful MY WEEK WITH MARILYN) but I must say that director Olivier did good getting what he did from the actress. As for Olivier, I really don't want to call his performance bad but it's certainly stiff and over-the-top at times. I'm guessing this was done on purpose so that's why I can't call it a bad performance but it's certainly not something you'd expect to see from one of the greatest actors in history. It also seems that he's quite mad in certain scenes and this here really doesn't seem like a performance. Again, I do wonder if the trouble going on behind the scenes had something to do with this. Sybil Thorndike is also extremely good in her supporting part. As I said, there are several flaws in the movie including the fact that it goes on at least twenty-minutes too long. I thought there were several scenes in the movie that should have been trimmed or cut out all together. Another problem is that for a comedy there simply aren't any laughs to be found. The dry, slow moving pace also doesn't help. THE PRINCE AND THE SHOWGIRL features some wonderful cinematography by Jack Cardiff and it really captures Monroe at one of her most beautiful periods and add this in with the performance and it makes the film worth sitting through.