The Queen (2006)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Stephen Frears

Writer:

Peter Morgan (written by)

Release Date:

15 September 2006 (Italy)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

Tradition Prepared Her. Change Will Define Her.

Plot:

After the death of Princess Diana, HM Queen Elizabeth II struggles with her reaction to a sequence of events nobody could have predicted.

Plot Keywords:

Queen | Royal Family | Monarchy | Prime Minister | Speech

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 58 wins & 51 nominations

Cast

Helen Mirren	...	The Queen
James Cromwell	...	Prince Philip
Alex Jennings	...	Prince Charles
Roger Allam	...	Robin Janvrin
Sylvia Syms	...	Queen Mother
Tim McMullan	...	Stephen Lamport
Robin Soans	...	Equerry
Lola Peploe	...	Janvrin's Secretary
Douglas Reith	...	Lord Airlie
Joyce Henderson	...	Balmoral Maid
Pat Laffan	...	Head Ghillie
Amanda Hadingue	...	Queen's Dresser
John McGlynn	...	Balmoral Head Ghillie
Gray O'Brien	...	Charles' Valet
Dolina MacLennan	...	Balmoral Switchboard Operator

Also Known As:

La regina (Italy)
The Queen (France)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language.

Runtime:

103 min | Turkey:94 min (TV version)

Country:

UK | France | Italy

Language:

English | German | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Ireland:PG | UK:12A | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Finland:K-3 | Netherlands:AL | France:U | Singapore:PG | Australia:M | Germany:o.Al. | Portugal:M/12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Brazil:Livre | Argentina:Atp | Norway:A | Denmark:A | Sweden:Btl | Canada:G (British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/Nova Scotia) | South Korea:12 | Peru:PT | USA:PG-13 (certificate #42527) | Malaysia:U | Norway:10 (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Blairquhan Castle, Blairquhan, South Ayrshire, Scotland, UK

Company:

BIM Distribuzione

Trivia:

The writer Peter Morgan reconstructed the events of the week after the death of Princess Diana through extensive interviews with many unnamed sources close to the Prime Minister and the royal family. Many of these sources were able to corroborate the accounts of others, giving Morgan enough information to imagine intervening scenes.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene before the Queen addresses England, she is advised to make the change "and as a grandmother." She writes the correction, clearly caps her pen and begins putting it back. In the very next shot, she caps the pen a second time.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Reporter: After weeks of campaigning on the road, Tony Blair and his family finally strolled the few hundred yards to the polling station this election day morning. Amongst the Labour faithful up and down the country, there is an enormous sense of pride in Mr. Blair's achievements, and the confidence that he is about to become the youngest prime minister this century.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Have I Got News for You: (#32.1)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Creag Ghuanach

Helen The Great

Let's start by saying that the film itself is a perfect reflection of the days we live in. A deep human drama with a tabloid sensibility. A tradition that's lasted over a thousand years shaken by a world who demands public spectacle. Humbleness or humiliation? Asks Queen Elizabeth to her Prime Minister. Talk Show audiences wouldn't know the difference and we are all, one way or another, talk show audiences. From Jerry Springer to Oprah Winfrey. How did it really feel like? We all want to know, we all want to see the sorrow, the confession or the denial on the catch of the day's face. Michael Sheen is a adorable, yes I think adorable is the right word, as Tony Blair, the labor link between the people and the monarchy. Helen McCrory as Mrs Blair is another standout. Just look at her walking backwards trying to to be true to royal protocol. I had to adjust to the fact that the Queen Mother was played by Sylvia Syms. Sylvia Syms! Queen Mom, a wonderful old battleship who's seen it all and fought her entire life for things to change so they could stay the same. It is however Helen Mirren, in a performance that could only be described as miraculous, that takes us body and soul through the painful ordeal of those seven days surrounding the death of Princess Diana, the "people's princess" a natural master in a world of tabloids and self humiliation disguised as humbleness. Helen Mirren gives us more than a glimpse into the hermetic heart of a living queen. Not a single false note, not a single cheap shot. A performance that is as poignant as it is entertaining. I was as besotted with Helen's Queen as her Labor Prime Minister was. I can't wait to meet her again.