Monday, May 31, 2010
Royal on Film
It may be too little too late but tonight on TCM the 1928 silent film classic "Four Sons" was featured. Devoted movie fans might be aware of the film but they may not be aware (at least I wasn't) that he had an actor in the cast with very prestigious royal connections. Listed as simply playing "a captain" in the Imperial German army was Archduke Leopold Maria Alphons of Austria (Archduke Leopold of Austria on the cast list). He was the son of Archduke Leopold Salvator of Austria and Infanta Blanca of Spain (daughter of Duke Carlos of Madrid) who was the son of Archduke Karl Salvator of Austria (of the Tuscan branch of the Hapsburg family) and Princess Maria Immaculata of the Two-Sicilies. The sad but touching film tells the story of a German widow and her four sons, one of whom ends up in the US Army in World War I.
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I've often thought it would be good to have actual royals playing royals of the past in historical films.
ReplyDeleteThat came close to happening in the 1970's with the film "Nicholas and Alexandra". Princess Grace had very much wanted to play the part of Empress Alexandra (I think she would have been great) and Rainier was inclined to let her at that point but the people of Monaco objected to the idea and Princess Grace gave in to please her people.
ReplyDeleteOh, wow! That would have made for a great film! Grace was so regal, and had a certain poignant quality about her that would have suited the role of the tragic Alexandra.
ReplyDeleteI certainly think so and I have often tried to imagine Princess Grace in the part. I think she would have been great, as you say, she seemed to have just the right qualities. Movie-goers missed out on that one but the Monegasque, perhaps understandably, did not want to share their princess.
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