The Lady and the Duke (2001)

In French
Lucy Russell, Jean-Claude Dreyfus
4/5

'The Lady and the Duke' (L'Anglaise et le Duc) is the French Revolution as viewed from the outside.

The film is based on the true story of Grace Elliott, an English courtesan living Paris and the once mistress of both the future British King George IV and the French Duc D'Orleans (cousin of King Louis XVI). Grace is a foreigner (a Scot, no less) and a stanch Royalist. Unwilling to leave her adoptive country at the start of the revolution, she finds herself trapped as France is plunged into the Reign of Terror and paranoia engulfs the nation. Labeled a foreign conspirator and an enemy of the people, she is eventually hauled before the Comité for her royalist sympathies.

The film is beautiful to watch, chiefly because all external shots feature actors digitally inserted into period paintings. However, these are not the vibrant oils of Jacque-Louis-David (a Revolutionary Painter); instead they are pale water-colours....which quite frankly is very surreal and eerie, especially when juxtaposed against the slaughter of the Revolution.
For all this though, the film is very subdued. Some would call it dull.
To me, to brings to mind the great old BBC series of the 70's ('Elizabeth R' for example). It feels very theatrical and stage-like. The camera almost never moves, and shots are sometimes strangely composed (a diner scene, for example, were the camera is positioned behind one of the speakers, so that you seldom see their face....even if they are the chief speaker).

I will say that the film is a tad anti-climatic. On the one hand I'm glad of it, since I'm tired period movies that feel they need to tart up history for a modern audience. On the other hand....this woman lived through the French Revolution! How hard could it possibly have been to come up with something a little dramatic?

Don't get me wrong, on the whole I really enjoyed this movie... but I'll admit that it may not be for everyone. Still, watch it for the costumes.

DVD Worthy? Yes, but only if you're not bothered by the sub-titles.
Extras: None.

Costumes: Oh, the costumes! Grace wears some lovely gowns, though the later ones are quite simple. There are some beautiful robes à l'anglaise, and her tailored traveling coat is wonderful.
Another treat is that several scenes feature Grace at her toilette, either dressing or undressing.

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Costumes In Detail
*Additional Screen-Captures & Production Photos*

Grace's Pink Gown

Grace's Embroidered Bodice & Petticoat

Grace's 'Revolutionary' Dress

Grace's White Chemise Gown

Grace's Grey Redingote

Grace's Green Gown

Grace's Striped Robe à l'Anglaise

Grace's Velvet Bodice

Grace's Blue Robe à l'Anglaise

Grace's Green Robe à l'Anglaise

Grace's Cream Pelisse

Grace's Black Mourning Gown

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