Susan Granger’s review of “The Young Victoria” (Apparition)
Just imagine this unique production meeting: Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, pitches the human drama and historical romance of Queen Victoria’s formative years to Graham King who brings in Martin Scorsese, his “The Departed” colleague – with Julian Fellows (“Gosford Park”) writing the eloquent screenplay and Canadian Jean-Marc Vallee (“C.R.A.Z.Y.”) smoothly directing the genteel biopic.
In 1837, when vulnerable yet defiant 18 year-old Princess Victoria (Emily Blunt) succeeds her uncle, William IV (Jim Broadbent), as Queen, she’s enmeshed in a manipulative power struggle involving her over-protective mother, The Duchess of Kent (Miranda Richardson), and her mother’s obstinate, obnoxious cohort, Sir John Conroy (Mark Strong), with the Prime Minister, scheming Lord Melbourne (Paul Bettany), who maneuvers the wives of his political allies into Victoria’s personal entourage. Meanwhile, her meddlesome uncle, King Leopold of Belgium, (Thomas Kretschmann) dispatches to England his nephew, Prince Albert (Rupert Friend) of the House of Saxe-Coburg, with orders to woo and win her hand in marriage. What no one realizes is that feisty, self-possessed Victoria and her charismatic suitor Albert are a passionate love-match, soon settling into residence at then-brand new Buckingham Palace, where Victoria reigned as Queen for 63 years and remains England’s longest-serving sovereign.
Patrice Vermette’s sumptuous production and Sandy Powell’s lavish costumes dazzle, photographed at Belvoir Castle in Leicestershire by Hagen Bogdanski with the kind of glorious, tasteful visual opulence popularized by Merchant/Ivory films. (Victoria’s tall green bed was purchased after filming by the Duke and Duchess of Rutland, who own Belvoir Castle.) But the emotionally accessible characters propel the story, particularly disarming Emily Blunt, who delivers a subtly sensational performance. In supporting roles, Julian Glover, Michael Maloney, Harriet Walter, Jesper Christansen and Jeanette Hain are memorable. Anglophiles may find it titillating that Sarah Ferguson’s daughter, Princess Beatrice, a great-great-great-great granddaughter of Queen Victoria, can be glimpsed as one of the ladies-in-waiting. Although it’s somewhat lacking in tumultuous, bodice-ripping intrigue, on the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “The Young Victoria” is an elegant, entertaining 8. Long live the Queen.
