Grace Of Monaco (2014)

 

Grace Of Monaco - 2014

Coming up next we have 2014's fictionalized bio-pic "Grace Of Monaco", a story of Grace Kelly's early days as Princess of Monaco and the role in helping her adopted country keep its sovereignty.

The film's cast includes Nicole Kidman, Tim Roth, Frank Langella, Paz Vega, Parker Posey, Milo Ventimiglia, Geraldine Somerville, Nicholas Farrell, Robert Lindsay, Derek Jacobi, Andre Penvern, Jeanne Balibar, Roger Ashton-Griffiths, and Elizabeth Counsell.

We begin our story in Hollywood.  Glamorous and highly popular actress Grace Kelly is making her way to Monaco to become the bride of that country's ruler, Prince Rainier III.

Several years later, married life and the role of Princess of Monaco are not all that Grace has envisioned for herself.  An offer comes from Alfred Hitchcock for her to star in his upcoming film "Marnie", and Grace jumps at the chance.

When not taking part in official life, Grace and her husband spend time with Aristotle Onassis and his mistress, opera star Maria Callas, on board Onassis's yacht.

Grace suffers personally from the intense scrutiny and pressure placed upon her by the press, the Monegasque population, and by her husband.  She ultimately decides not to participate in Hitchcock's new movie.

She enlists the help of Count Fernando D'Aillieres, a protocol expert, to help immerse herself in the Monegasque culture, history, and language in an effort to connect more closely with its people.

With her family friend Father Tucker always nearby, Grace begins her lessons in earnest.  "I made a commitment with the whole world watching, and, for the sake of my children, I will not be called a failure," she tells the Count.

After a lot of training and lessons, she is deemed ready to tackle the role of Princess of Monaco more aggressively than she has in the past.

France has decided that it wants Monaco for itself as a dependency, and Monaco is fighting hard against Charles de Gaulle to maintain its autonomy.  In retaliation, France organizes a blockade at the Monaco border.  Deciding to get the press on the side of Monaco, Grace goes to the border and offers the guards a basket of goodies.

With so much going on in Monaco, Grace must balance her official and private lives.  Through it all, she makes time to be with her children.

At an official dinner, Grace is suspicious of everyone present, knowing that someone there has an interest in aligning Monaco with France.

It comes as a great shock to Grace and her husband when it is revealed that Rainier's sister, Princess Antoinette, has been in communication with France and is negotiating terms that will see Monaco under French control with Antoinette on the throne.  The Princess is banished, and angrily retaliates at Grace.  "And how long do you think that you're going to last here?" she asks her sister-in-law.  Grace shrugs and replies, "Long enough to see the back of you."

Grace invites de Gaulle to a charity ball for the Monaco Red Cross, featuring a performance by Maria Callas.  With the whole world watching, Grace makes a positive impression on the Monegasque citizens as well as those attending the ball.

During the evening, she makes an impassioned speech.  "I am here.  I'm here doing what I do, trying to make a little difference in the world in the best way that I know how," she says.  The speech and the ball are a huge success, and de Gaulle is significantly pressured by public opinion to leave Monaco alone.

Father Tucker writes Grace a letter which says, "Long after I'm gone, long after the House of Grimaldi has fallen, the world is going to remember your name."  He goes on to say,  "Those that preceded you will be forgotten.  Those that follow you will be inspired by your strength and endurance.  For no matter where you are in years to come, they will continue to whisper your name: the Princess Grace."

Cast rundown:

   Nicole Kidman.....................................Princess Grace

   Tim Roth............................................Prince Rainier III

   Frank Langella.....................................Father Francis Tucker

   Paz Vega............................................Maria Callas

   Parker Posey.......................................Madge

   Milo Ventimiglia...................................Rupert Allan

   Geraldine Somerville............................Princess Antoinette

   Nicholas Farrell...................................Jean-Charles Rey

   Robert Lindsay....................................Aristotle Onassis

   Derek Jacobi.......................................Count Fernando D'Aillieres

   Andre Penvern....................................Charles de Gaulle

   Jeanne Balibar.....................................Countess Baciochi

   Roger Ashton-Griffiths..........................Alfred Hitchcock

   Elizabeth Counsell................................Princess Ghislaine

And that's all for Grace Of Monaco.  Princess Grace's children, Prince Albert II, Princess Caroline, and Princess Stephanie were very opposed to the film, saying that it needlessly glamorized events and was historically inaccurate.  The film was never shown on the big screen in the United States, but was shown in theaters in other countries as well as the Cannes Film Festival.

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