The Young Victoria (2009)

Director:

Jean-Marc Vallée

Writer (WGA):

Julian Fellowes (written by)

Release Date:

6 March 2009 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | History | Romance

Tagline:

Love rules all

Plot:

A dramatization of the turbulent first years of Queen Victoria's rule, and her enduring romance with Prince Albert. |

Plot Keywords:

Queen Victoria | Character Name In Title

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Emily Blunt	...	Young Victoria
Rupert Friend	...	Prince Albert
Paul Bettany	...	Lord Melbourne
Miranda Richardson	...	Duchess of Kent
Jim Broadbent	...	King William
Thomas Kretschmann	...	King Leopold of Belgium
Mark Strong	...	Sir John Conroy
Jesper Christensen	...	Baron Stockmar
Harriet Walter	...	Queen Adelaide
Jeanette Hain	...	Baroness Lehzen
Julian Glover	...	Duke of Wellington
Michael Maloney	...	Sir Robert Peel
Michiel Huisman	...	Ernest
Genevieve O'Reilly	...	Lady Flora Hastings
Rachael Stirling	...	Duchess of Sutherland

MPAA:

Rated PG for some mild sensuality, a scene of violence, and brief incidental language and smoking.

Runtime:

Germany:100 min (European Film Market)

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English | German

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

Ireland:PG | USA:PG | Finland:K-7 | Netherlands:12 | Singapore:PG | Portugal:M/12 | Norway:7 | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | South Korea:All | Japan:G | UK:PG | Sweden:7 | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Arundel Castle, Arundel, West Sussex, England, UK

Company:

GK Films

Trivia:

The very tall green bed cost £25,000 to build. It was purchased after filming by the Duke and Duchess of Rutland, owners of Belvoir Castle.

Goofs:

Factual errors: All through the film, Lord Melbourne's title is pronounced 'Mel-burn', as in the Australian city. In fact, the title of Viscount Melbourne is derived from Melbourne Hall in Derbyshire, pronounced 'Mel-born', and would have been thus pronounced in the day.

Quotes:

Queen Victoria: I do want to help them, whatever you say. And not just the laboring poor, but the hungry and the homeless, and... There are people who are lost, and whose business is it to see to their welfare?
Lord Melbourne: Well, in my experience, ma'am, it's best to let these things develop naturally. If you interfere, you risk overturning the cart.
Queen Victoria: Well, Prince Albert doesn't agree. He's made a study of the working man's condition, he's full to the brim with ideas for their improvement.
Lord Melbourne: Is he indeed? How inspiring.

Movie Connections:

Version of "Hallmark Hall of Fame: Victoria Regina (#11.2)" (1961)

Soundtrack:

Only You

A great production

This film is about the life of Queen Victoria during her youth and her first few years as the monarch of Great Britain.

"The Young Victoria" has amazing production. Every scene is designed and decorated to immaculate detail. The extravagant costumes, lavish locations and beautifully landscaped gardens all make "The Young Victoria" very impressive. I was the most amazed by the thoughtful cinematography. How every person is placed in relation to the background or foreground is well thought out, every scene is well composed. The scene that strikes me the most was when Victoria talks to Melbourne. Melbourne was positioned in the middle of the door frame from Victoria's angle, while from Melbourne's angle Victoria was situated between the space where Melbourne held his arm on his hips.

Story wise, it is far too compressed to be followed and understood by a person without historical knowledge of Queen Victoria. Many events are rushed through or not even explained. I expected a grand scene of the coronation, and disappointingly it only lasted for a few seconds.

Overall, "The Young Victoria" is a good film, and it would have been even better if it was longer, so that events could be properly explained without rush.