Royal Wedding

Director: Stanley Donen

Overview

"Two real-life events were incorporated into the plot of the 1951 MGM musical Royal Wedding. One, the marriage of Fred Astaire's sister Adele to a British nobleman, had occurred years earlier. The other, the wedding of England's Princess Elizabeth and Pri

Product Details

Release Date:	07/18/2000
UPC:	0096009015138
Original Release:	1951
Rating:	PG
Source:	Platinum Disc
Sound:	[Dolby Digital]
Language:	English
Time:	1:30:00
Sales rank:	19,389

Special Features

Interactive menus; Scene selector; Dolby Digital; Trivia quiz; Biography

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Fred Astaire	Tom Bowen
Jane Powell	Ellen Bowen
Peter Lawford	Lord John Brindale
Sarah Churchill	Anne Ashmond
Keenan Wynn	Irving Klinger/Edgar Klinger
Albert Sharpe	James Ashmond
Viola Roache	Sarah Ashmond
Henri Letondal	Purser
James Finlayson	Cabby
Alex Frazer	Chester
Jack Reilly	Pete Cumberly
William Cabanne	Dick
John Hedloe	Billy
Francis Bethencourt	Charles Gordon
Andre Charisse	Steward
Bess Flowers	Woman Guest
Richard Lupino	Singing Elevator Boy
Stanley Mann	Cabdriver
Phyllis Morris	Singing Woman
Leonard Mudie	Singing Doorman
Kerry O'Day	Linda
Albert Pollet	Steward
David Thursby	Singing Bobby
Wilson Wood	Drinker
Vera-Ellen	Actor
Marjorie Main	Actor
Alice Pearce	Actor
Wilson Benge	Eddie
Bea Allen	Dancer in Haiti Number
Clinton Sundberg	Actor
Gale Robbins	Actor
Margaret Bert	Ellen's Maid
Jack Chefe	Ship's Officer
Carmen Clifford	Dancer in Haiti Number
James Conaty	Royal Attendant
Oliver Cross	Backstage Guest
Joan Dale	Dancer in Haiti Number
Jack Daley	Pop
Italia DeNubila	Dancer in Haiti Number
Helen Dickson	Woman in Carriage with Lord John
Marietta Elliott	Dancer in Haiti Number
Herbert Evans	Royal Attendant
James Fairfax	Harry
Jack Gargan	Bartender
Mae Clark	Phone Operator
Betty Hannon	Dancer in Haiti Number
Wendy Howard	Chorus Girl
Tommy Hughes	Singing Man
Charlotte Hunter	Dancer in Haiti Number
Kenner G. Kemp	Backstage Guest
Albert Sendrey	Composer

Technical Credits

Alan Jay Lerner

Alan Jay Lerner	Screenwriter
Arthur Freed	Producer
Warren Newcombe	Special Effects

Scene Index

Side #1 --
1. Introduction [12:53]
2. Crossing [12:55]
3. In London [4:33]
4. Night Out [3:54]
5. Still Rehearsing [13:10]
6. In Love [9:09]
7. Dancing on the Ceiling [8:19]
8. New Show [9:23]
9. The Wedding [12:15]
10. End [5:10]

Menu

Side #1 --
Play Movie
Chapters
Questions
Biography

Editorial Reviews

Royal Wedding is an excellent example of a film the strengths of which are so strong as to make its considerable weaknesses almost irrelevant. Among those weaknesses, the most problematic is the screenplay. Alan Jay Lerner's story is commonplace, even if set against the backdrop of the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip. The dialogue is generally good, but the plot offers little in the way of suspense or surprise. The real sizzle and fire come from elsewhere: the cast, the score, and the dancing. Fred Astaire is marvelous, demonstrating in his musical numbers that no other male performer -- even those with technically superior voices -- was better at interpreting a song. His dance numbers here include two of his best: the "Sunday Jumps" gym sequence with the classic hat rack duet and the much heralded "You're All the World to Me," in which he dances up the walls and across the ceiling of his room. Jane Powell is not his equal as a dance partner, but she comes off very well in the amusing "How Could You Believe Me When I Said I Love You When You Know I've Been a Liar All My Life." Powell also gets to handle the beautiful and unfortunately overlooked ballad "Too Late Now," which contains a melody of admirable purity. Stanley Donen's direction is assured, glossing over the film's shortcomings and knowing how to showcase its assets. Royal Wedding may fall just shy of being a classic, but its highlights are among the best the musical film has to offer.