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Marilyn Monroe, Laurence Olivier, Sybil Thorndike, Richard Wattis, Jeremy Spenser ... see more see more... , Esmond Knight , Paul Hardwick , Rosamond Greenwood , Aubrey Dexter , Maxine Audley , Harold Goodwin , Jean Kent , Daphne Anderson , Gillian Owen , Vera Day , Margot Lister , Charles Victor , David Horne , Gladys Henson , Andrea Malandrinos , Dame Sybil Thorndike , Rosamund Greenwood , Terence Rattigan

The title of the Anglo-American The Prince and the Showgirl could well have alluded to the genuine stations in life of stars Sir Laurence Olivier and Marilyn Monroe. Based on the Terence Rattigan play... read more read more... The Sleeping Prince, the film casts Olivier as Charles, prince regent of Carpathia, who is in London to attend the 1911 coronation of King George V. Monroe is deceptively dizzy American chorus girl Elsie Marina, who while performing in a West End revue catches Charles' eye. The prince arranges for Elsie to attend an "intimate supper" at his hotel suite. Though Elsie successfully wards off Charles' advances, she drinks too much bubbly and ends up falling asleep. Comes the dawn, and Prince Charles is anxious to show the awkward Elsie the door. She, however, has fallen in love with the prince, and sticks around long enough to upset a plan to overthrow the Carpathian throne, and to patch up a feud between Charles and his son Nicholas (Jeremy Spencer). Olivier directed as well as starred in The Prince and the Showgirl; he knew he had his work cut out for him in dealing with the mercurial Marilyn Monroe, but he managed to hold his temper and to extract a delightful comic performance from the actress. Alas, the film was a box-office disappointment, leading many Hollywood insiders to moan and wail that Monroe was "washed up" in films -- at least until her spectacular comeback in Billy Wilder's Some Like It Hot (1959). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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57% liked it

4,094 ratings

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80% liked it

5 critics

Unrated, 2 hr. 7 min.

Directed by: Laurence Olivier

Release Date: June 13, 1957

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DVD Release Date: January 8, 2002

Stats: 179 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (179)

  • jjnxn
    July 12, 2007
    jjnxn
    slow, olivier and marilyn never really connect
  • garyX
    April 9, 2007
    garyX
    Lawrence Olivier never looks comfortable in this unconvincing comedy of manners. Not my cup of tea.
  • alush1
    June 11, 2008
    alush1
    Just for Olivier
  • Otageemeur
    November 26, 2011
    Otageemeur
    "The Prince and the Showgirl" is a movie version of the play "The Sleeping Prince", the movie is directed by Sir Laurence Olivier himself. I frankly think it is an average movie, despite having two of the most famous actors of the time. Of course, Marilyn and Laurence did a good ... read morejob in their respective roles, but I don't truly get the character played by Marilyn (Elsie Marina).
    The story is about a showgirl meeting the Grand Duke of Carpathia in the early 1910's. Elsie will try to make the Grand Duke being a little more lovable to its surrounding, especially his son who wants the power.
    It's an OK movie, but it is very interesting to look at it after "My Week With Marilyn" ;).
  • PinkMinkPrincess
    June 19, 2011
    PinkMinkPrincess
    I Love the Goddess Marilyn, but she didn't seem like she was even trying in this Film, her Facial expressions never quite seemed to fit what she was saying.Their were Rumors of her being difficult on this Film, & it really shows in her lackluster performance.
  • emilie8605
    April 12, 2007
    emilie8605
    Another Marilyn movie that I taped off the T.V. I loved this old movie! His accent was great to listen too. I loved how he would try anything to impress her, including singing in the play that she starting in. Just shows you what love can make you do. :)
  • pippinfresh
    September 13, 2006
    pippinfresh
    This isn't really the type of movie I would imagine Laurence Olivier being in, let alone directing. But, I did really enjoy it. Marilyn Monroe is her usual ditzy character, but I really enjoyed it in this movie. Not to say that I don't enjoy Marilyn Monroe, it's just that she pla... read moreyed the same role pretty much her whole career.

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Critic Reviews

Steve Crum
February 19, 2008
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

Fascinating on several levels, particularly pairing of Olivier and Monroe.

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Bosley Crowther
March 25, 2006
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Dave Kehr
January 1, 2000
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
July 22, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Philip Martin
May 5, 2003
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

No review available.

Bill Thompson
February 12, 2003
Bill Thompson, Post and Courier (Charleston, SC)

No review available.

Brandon Judell
December 26, 2002
Brandon Judell, PopcornQ

No review available.

Derek Adams
June 24, 2006
Derek Adams, Time Out

Click to read the article Full Review

May 24, 2003
Film4

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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The Prince and the Showgirl Trivia

  • Who directed The Prince And the Showgirl?  Answer »
  • Who portrayed Elssie Marina in The Prince And the Showgirl ?   Answer »
  • Marilyn Monroe won the Golden Plate Award for her role in The Prince And The Showgirl?  Answer »
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