Customer Reviews

A Royal Scandal

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I saw this movie a couple of times on afternoon TV at least forty years ago and would give anything to have it on DVD. It's a hilarious farce with Tallulah Bankhead giving an unforgettable (well, obviously) performance, ranging from sharp wit to pure slapstick. Catherine the Great, a part she was born to play, and admirably backed up by a stellar supporting cast. It was prepared and partially shot by Lubitsch, then when he fell ill Otto Preminger took over. Please bring it back!

**** 1945. Directed by Otto Preminger. St.-Petersburg, Russia. XVIIIth century. Catherine the Great has just fired her last lover when she meets the naive Alexei Chernoff who wants to warn her against a possible revolution. This film was meant to be directed by Ernst Lubitsch who chose the script before falling ill. Nonetheless, ROYAL SCANDAL remains a sophisticated comedy à la Lubitsch with witty and energetic dialogues. Tallulah Bankhead, Charles Coburn, Anne Baxter, William Eythe, Vincent Price and Sig Ruman are all given the opportunity to present a one (wo-) man show worth remembering. Highly recommended.

In addition to the present edition, you can find a zone 2 DVD released by the BFI (British Film Institute) at amazon.co.uk or another zone 2 DVD released by Columbia Classics at amazon.fr.

Pauline Kael cheers the terrific performance of
Tallu: "She gave this sex farce a sort of low glitter,"
and adds that Tallulah does wonders with some line
readings. Pic was s'posed to be directed by Lubitsch,
but after a heart attack he turned it over to the
humorless Otto Preminger. (Did Otto ever direct a good
movie? 'Laura,' you say...he followed the Mamoulian
blueprint). To quote Walter Kerr on Tallulah: "She presides
over the party like a fabulous hostess." As Catherine the Great,
Tallulah is mighty funny. With "Lifeboat" we have two visuals
of the legendary Tallulah. The souffle occasionally rises here,
but this rarity is for Tallulah fans and film buffs. Hence
four-stars. Tallulah was/is an original.