Some needed romantic stretchingBy John DeSando, WCBE's "It's Movie Time," "Cinema Classics," and
"I am young, but I am willing to learn, and I mean to devote my life to the service of my country and my people." Queen Victoria (Emily Blunt)
As queens of England go, Victoria was bested only by the great Elizabeth. Emily Blunt's young Victoria in this titular biopic is a young woman taking the throne with the limitations and inexperience of youth but native wit and grit of high order enough to carry her through the nineteenth century, almost as great a century as the seventeenth.
The Young Victoria does a credible job showing Victoria struggling with those powerful politicians like Lord Melbourne (Paul Bettany) who truly watch out for her but inevitably push their own agenda. The only one to be destined a lifetime advisor is Prince Albert (Rupert Friend), whose courtship of the queen takes up most of the film with no small amount of schmaltz and I suspect some stretching of the romantic natures of both principals.
Yet they did have nine children, a testimony to the solidarity of their marriage and a gift from the devoted Albert, who reigned with her only 20 years until he died of typhoid. But not before he took a bullet for her. No wonder they named a pipe tobacco after him?he was a good man, as Melbourne admits to Victoria. But Albert as dashing as Rupert Friend?I doubt it. Victoria attractive as Emily Blunt?I doubt it. Take a look at photos of the real lovers.
The film captures the tapestry of nineteenth-century royal life from sumptuous rooms to ornate costumes. Unfortunately too little effort is spent on the intriguing intrigues of Lord Melbourne and the political acumen of Sir Robert Peele (Michael Maloney). But that may happen in a subsequent version as Victoria matures and producers see if there is still an audience for Masterpiece Theater quality, competition for Cate Blanchett, and little substantive dialogue with much of the monarchical trappings.
So overpowering is that splendor, one can see why the Brits now and then think to let go of a glorious arrangement that ends up expensive and petty in the modern age.
John DeSando teaches film at Franklin University and co-hosts WCBE 90.5's It's Movie Time, Cinema Classics, and On the Marquee, which can be heard streaming at http://publicbroadcasting.net/wcbe/ppr/index.shtml and on demand at http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wcbe/arts.artsmain Contact him at JDeSando@Columbus.RR.com