TODAY: Saturday March 24th. At Thame Cinema 4 All, Players theatre, Nelson Street, Thame; FILM: UK/USA 2011, 98 minutes, 15 certificate, Directed by Simon Curtis, Starring Michelle Williams, Kenneth Branagh, Eddie Redmayne, Judi Dench, Emma Watson, Zoe Wanamaker, Derek Jacobi. (Photograph: Laurie Sparham)
IN 1956, Marilyn Monroe travelled to England to star opposite Laurence Olivier in a Terrence Rattigan scripted romantic comedy The Prince and the Showgirl.
Given the calibre of its two stars, both at the zenith of their careers, and its celebrated screenwriter, the film was expected to be a banker. It turned out to be distinctly underwhelming ? to say that it was dire is probably offering more praise than it warrants.
But what failed to make the grade on screen was far more interesting off screen when the cameras stopped rolling ? or, to be more precise, when they failed to roll at all. Notoriously unreliable, mercurial, prone to periodic lapses into anxiety, depression and substance abuse, Monroe at this point in her career kept cast and crew (and the men with the cheque books, in this case Olivier?s own production company) waiting with nervous anticipation as to whether she would show up on set at all.
The anxious weeks that stretch the movie over budget, and the milieu of life on a Pinewood film set, become the backdrop to this delightful film based on the memoir of Colin Clark, son of establishment art historian Kenneth and brother of Tory diarist Alan.
Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, Clark fancies himself as part of the movie business, and blags his way into a gig as third assistant director in Olivier?s production office. His role soon becomes that of Marilyn?s minder. Tasked with managing the volatile and chaotic siren, he soon becomes her confidante and partner in crime, falling hopelessly in love with the troubled but irresistibly enigmatic and bewitching megastar, who is manipulative and knowing but also emotionally exposed. Their relationship is funny and conspiratorial and surprisingly heartfelt, as Marilyn?s vulnerabilities are poignantly realised.
But the real joy is in the stand-off between Olivier and Monroe: the great Actor at the peak of his career, simultaneously incensed at Monroe?s lack of professionalism and the implications for his budget, but seething with professional envy at her capacity to perform for a camera and light up a big screen in a way he can?t hope to emulate. Monroe, meanwhile, is acutely intimidated by Olivier?s established reputation as a serious actor, something she so longs to be, to which end she bolsters herself with the intrusive presence of her method-acting coach Wanamaker.
Branagh and Williams are hugely enjoyable to watch, supported by a stellar cast of great British stars camping it up and having a ball. A very lovely way to spend an evening.
Doors open 7.30pm – Licenced bar – film: 8pm