The Queen
Short description
The film centres on the days after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in the late summer of 1997, when Queen Elizabeth II and her family withdraw to Balmoral Castle in Scotland. There, the Queen and Prince Philip agree that the loss should be mourned privately, while much of the British public expects an open and public display of grief from the monarchy. Tony Blair, recently elected as prime minister, senses the depth of the national reaction and works to bridge the distance between the royal family and the country, seeking a compromise between a personal tragedy and the public mood.
Stephen Frears directed the film from a screenplay by Peter Morgan. It was Frears's fifteenth film as director, following Mrs. Henderson Presents the previous year and preceding Chéri. Helen Mirren plays the Queen, with Michael Sheen as Tony Blair and James Cromwell as Prince Philip; Helen McCrory, Alex Jennings and Roger Allam also appear. The production was a British, Italian and French co-production.
Made for about 15 million dollars, the film took roughly 123 million dollars worldwide, a strong return on its budget. On IMDb it holds 7.3 out of 10 from about 119,000 votes, while on TMDB it stands at 6.9 from far fewer votes. A small set of critics' reviews gives it 8.3 out of 10, above both audience scores.
What's left behind the scenes
- Queen Elizabeth II herself refused to watch this film, as she does not wish to relive 'one of the worst weeks of her life' again.
- The jewelry worn by Helen Mirren in the film are exact replicas of the real jewelry of Elizabeth II. For example, in the scene at Diana's funeral, the Queen's jewelry includes: her distinctive three-strand pearl necklace, Queen Victoria's bow brooch, and Queen Mary's button earrings (large pearl earrings topped with tiny diamonds).
- Scenes in the royal chambers were filmed on 35mm film to emphasize their luxury, while scenes from the world of Prime Minister Tony Blair were filmed on 16mm film to make them more like a television picture. This visually highlighted the difference between commoners and the royal family.
- While talking to people personally acquainted with the Queen, Helen Mirren learned that she suffers from obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. It was Mirren who came up with the scene in which the Queen arranges pens on the table in order while on speakerphone during a phone call with Blair. Director Stephen Frears was initially unsure about including this scene, but later admitted that it was a good idea.
- Through a wig and glasses, Helen Mirren easily transformed into the Queen, especially considering her natural resemblance to the monarch. She repeatedly studied the Queen's appearance through photographs and footage, and kept photos of her character in her trailer while working on the film. According to screenwriter Peter Morgan, her portrayal was so convincing that towards the end of filming, members of the creative team, who had previously spoken to Mirren while sitting down, began to stand up straight and keep their hands behind their backs when speaking to her.
- Peter Morgan recreated the events of the first week after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales (1961-1997), based on numerous interviews with anonymous sources close to the Prime Minister and the royal family.
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