LAURENCE OLIVIER

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BBB.  United Kingdom/USA, 1957.  Warner Bros., Marilyn Monroe Productions.  Screenplay by Terence Rattigan, based on his play The Sleeping Prince. Cinematography by Jack Cardiff.  Produced by Laurence Olivier.  Music by Richard Addinsell.  Production Design by Roger K. Furse.  Costume Design by Beatrice Dawson.  Film Editing by Jack Harris.  

Magnificent performances atone for a sluggish pace and lack of energy. Marilyn Monroe gives an deliciously insightful performance as a worldly and wise cabaret singer who is invited by a visiting foreign prince (Laurence Olivier, who also directed) to dine with him in his palace. Thinking he’s in for a nice quick night of easy romance, this dapper host is quite surprised when Monroe shows a knack for getting involved in the politics brewing about her, not to mention that she eventually wins his heart. Sybil Thorndike has a hilarious supporting role as Olivier’s old mother, who mistakenly believes Monroe to speak fluent French and never seems to notice that their conversation is one-sided.