LOVE RULES ALL.
In the late 1830s, young Princess Victoria (Emily Blunt) is preparing to assume the British throne, but faces constant manipulation from her mother and her uncle, the King of Belgium. Or, How Queen Victoria found her groove. This project, which came about after a meeting between the Duchess of York and producer Graham King, has an engaging script that pays close attention to detail and sets and costumes that match this dedicated approach. Very interesting to follow Victoria’s political progress, and the complicated romance between her and Albert is convincingly portrayed. Good cast; Jim Broadbent is very amusing.
2009-U.S. 104 min. Color. Widescreen. Produced by Sarah Ferguson, Tim Headington, Graham King, Martin Scorsese. Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée. Screenplay: Julian Fellowes. Costume Design: Sandy Powell. Cast: Emily Blunt (Victoria), Rupert Friend (Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha), Paul Bettany (Lord Melbourne), Miranda Richardson, Jim Broadbent, Thomas Kretschmann… Mark Strong, Jesper Christensen, Julian Glover.
Trivia: Ferguson’s daughter, Princess Beatrice, the great-great-great-great-granddaughter of Victoria, has a small role.
Oscar: Best Costume Design. BAFTA: Best Costume Design, Makeup & Hair.
Last word: “Fifteen years ago, I decided to make a movie of Victoria’s love life – her wonderful love together with Albert. I took it to Hollywood and the script that was given to me was more like Victoria’s Secret than Victoria. (laughs) I tore it up because you have to be true to history. This is the greatest untold love story of all time, and it’s true. You can’t make it up or make it more juicy. It is juicy. It’s the most beautiful story ever. So 5 years ago, I decided to go back to my friend Tim Headington, and say to Tim, ‘Tim, I need to do this.’ I just felt it in my heart. I had to. Something was driving me and it was so important to me that I fought hard for the world to see Victoria as I read in the diaries and what I loved. Tim Headington introduced to me to Graham King and Graham King said, ‘I’ll make the movie.’  That was the greatest moment of my life.” (Ferguson, Movies Online)
