A Reel Retro Review: THE SWAN (1956)

Reel Speak’s Retro Reviews will randomly review a classic film from the TCM library every week, with the intention of introducing some overlooked and perhaps forgotten screen gems from the past to those of us who may be unfamiliar or unawares of their existence. 

 

 

When the name of the late great British actor Sir Alec Guinness (1914-2000) is recalled, everyone thinks of his role as Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi from STAR WARS (1977), and its two sequels. What is often overlooked is that Guinness had a successful Hollywood career for nearly 20 years before he flashed a lightsaber into fame, and was successful in Britain even before he came to Hollywood. His first Hollywood film was THE SWAN from 1956. 

 

In 1910, Princess Alexandria (Grace Kelly), is pressured by her mother Beatrix (Jessie Royce Landis), to marry her distant cousin Crown Prince Albert (Guinness). As Albert visits her estate and tries to court her, he discovers that Alexandria has fallen in love with the house tutor, professor Nicholas Agi (Louis Jordan). 

 

A closed quarters romance with a touch of comedy, THE SWAN spends most of its time with Albert trying in vain to win Alexandria’s heart. The good professor in the meantime has already fallen for her, but is being a gentleman about it…even after Albert discovers that he may be the odd man out. Conflict arises, shenanigans occur, and the characters circle around each other trying to sort it out. 

 

Based on the play by Ferenc Molnar, THE SWAN is a talkie with very little action. The drama is light and the laughs well-timed, but it’s roots as a stage production are obvious, with many scenes staying in one place for what seems like an eternity. Director Charles Vidor keeps the film moving well, only letting things drag in a few places. The script does keep its focus on Alexandria’s dilemma; her union with Albert would enable her family to regain the throne; a position that her family feels was robbed from them during the days of Napoleon. Does she choose Albert for the security of her family, or does she choose true love with Nicholas? That is the hook of the story and it works well. 

 

Filmed over 20 years before STAR WARS, Alec Guinness is charming and funny and a complete delight. Grace Kelly, starring in her second-to-last film before her real-life royal marriage, owns the film as the emotionally vulnerable would-be Queen. 

 

The film is a lot of fun to take in, but the ending is quite bittersweet…wrapping up in a way that is unexpected. It’s not really a twist, but it does smash any possible expectations for a romantic comedy coming out of the 1950’s. It’s an ending that could be disliked, but by far it doesn’t derail a delightful film. 

 

BOTTOM LINE: See it 

 

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Reel Facts: THE SWAN was released on the same day Grace Kelly became the Princess consort of Monaco. Louis Jordan would play the villain Khan in the James Bond film OCTOPUSSY (1983). Sir Alec Guinness would appear in over 30 films after THE SWAN, including an Oscar-winning performance in THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI in 1957.