The Duchess
Short description
The Duchess is a historical drama set in late eighteenth-century England, centred on Georgiana Spencer, who becomes the Duchess of Devonshire after her mother arranges her marriage to the wealthy and emotionally distant Duke. The match brings her status, a grand household and public attention, but not the affection she wants, and the couple's failure to produce a male heir weighs on the marriage. Georgiana's wit and style make her a leading figure in fashionable society, and she becomes involved in Whig politics, campaigning for Charles Fox. Her friendship with Bess Foster, a woman taken in by the household, develops into a complicated arrangement involving her husband. Georgiana's attachment to the politician Charles Grey brings her private life into direct conflict with her public position.
Saul Dibb directed and co-wrote the film with Anders Thomas Jensen and Jeffrey Hatcher. It was Dibb's first feature as director, later followed by Suite Française and Journey's End. Keira Knightley plays Georgiana, with Ralph Fiennes as the Duke, Charlotte Rampling as Lady Spencer, Hayley Atwell as Bess Foster, Dominic Cooper as Charles Grey and Simon McBurney as Charles Fox. The production involved British, American and European companies including BBC Film and Pathé.
Made for about 18 million US dollars, the film took roughly 43 million worldwide, a solid return on its budget. On IMDb it holds 6.9/10 from around 91,000 votes, and on TMDB 7/10 from a much smaller number of votes. A critics' rating of 6.4/10 from 170 reviews places it slightly below the audience scores.
What's left behind the scenes
- The film was based on Amanda Foreman's 1998 biographical book, “Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire,” which she wrote based on her own doctoral dissertation. Producer Gabriella Tana and her partner, executive producer Carolyn Marks-Blackwood, acquired the rights to it almost immediately after publication.
- Susanna Bier wrote one of the first drafts of the screenplay and was originally supposed to take the director's chair.
- American distributor Paramount Vintage acquired the rights to the film for $7 million even before production of the project began.
- The Tuscan red dress worn by Keira Knightley in the film was made in three copies due to a complex stunt planned in the script. It took 36 meters of silk to make the three dresses, and each was trimmed with handmade green and gold lace.
- The film's advertising campaign relied heavily on a connection to Princess Diana, who was a direct descendant of the Duchess of Devonshire. At the same time, Keira Knightley strongly disagreed with all such references and hints, insisting that her character was interesting in herself, without any comparisons.
- This is the second film featuring Keira Knightley that opens with scenes of her character walking across grass carrying something in her hands. In 'Pride & Prejudice' (2005), the actress walks across a lawn with a book in her hands, while here she carries a hat with the names of the race participants.
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
