It's Central Europe 1910. Minor royal Princess Alexandra (Grace Kelly) is being pushed to marry and her mother is excited for a surprise visit from Crown Prince Albert (Alec Guinness). Albert shows little interest in his distant cousin Alexandra and her mother suggests using the tutor Dr. Nicholas Agi (Louis Jourdan) to generate some jealousy.
Grace Kelly is picture perfect. The problem is that there simply isn't anything behind the facade for the first hour. It's a love triangle, but a slow developing one. Albert seems intent on being a bachelor King and he should do him. Alexandra is desperately trying to be a trophy wife. Nicholas doesn't show interest in her anyways until the hour mark. The first hour has no passion which could have been a takedown of the old loveless royal arranged marriages. Alexandra shows a pulse only after a good long time after that. The first half needs to go. The movie should start and develop some romantic chemistry right from the beginning. The ending does surprise me. It intrigues me, but it's a long road to that point.
Grace Kelly is picture perfect. The problem is that there simply isn't anything behind the facade for the first hour. It's a love triangle, but a slow developing one. Albert seems intent on being a bachelor King and he should do him. Alexandra is desperately trying to be a trophy wife. Nicholas doesn't show interest in her anyways until the hour mark. The first hour has no passion which could have been a takedown of the old loveless royal arranged marriages. Alexandra shows a pulse only after a good long time after that. The first half needs to go. The movie should start and develop some romantic chemistry right from the beginning. The ending does surprise me. It intrigues me, but it's a long road to that point.