MovieChat Forums > The Lost Prince (2004) Discussion > This Film

This Film

posted 16 years ago by gdjudkins
8 replies | jump to latest

I especially enjoyed the young actors who portrayed Prince John. Miranda Richardson also did a good job as Mary. However . . .

Alexandra, especially, was totally unconvincing. They had her speaking English with what I assume was a Russian accent. Alexandra never really learned to speak Russian that well--she didn't start at least until Nicholas proposed to her. In deference to his wife's difficulty with Russian, the imperial couple usually spoke English at home--French, of course.

I do not understand why Mary and George were so cold to their children. Perhaps this explains the future George VI's bad stammer and Edward VIII's becoming such a wasted, unfocused individual. King Edward and Queen Alexandra were certainly loving grandparents--the film got that right anyway--so George couldn't blame his parents for his coldness.

The film was, on the whole good, and I appreciate their bringing this forgotten boy to light.

[–] angelofvic 16 years ago

All of English royalty have always been very cold to their children. They are taken away and raised by governesses and tutors and boarding schools, and see their parents on special occasions and such. The English royal system has always been that way. The children are always much much closer to their nannies and governesses than to their parents, who are like strangers to them. The children are expected to learn to be future monarchs, not be coddled on their mother's knee.
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[–] gdjudkins 16 years ago

I admire the present Queen, but recall her shaking the hand of her son, when Charles was around eight! I doubt if anyone would have been offended had Her Majesty embraced the child, as, no doubt, she did in private. Whatever one can say of the late Princess Diana, she wasn't afraid to show affection to her children in public.

I was surprised, speaking of Prince George, of how he turned out, although he was said to be the most intelligent of the Windsor boys.

Rollo Weeks, in my mind, at least, was the star of the second part of The Lost Prince. I wonder if Prince George was anything like him as a youngster.

[–] toaaste 16 years ago

"All of English royalty have always been very cold to their children." This is a very harsh statement to make without any factual evidence to support it. The cultural attitudes and beliefs that this film strives to reflect no longer exist. While difficult to refrain from, it would be wise not to attempt to interpret the past from a modern viewpoint.

[–] angelofvic 16 years ago

There are centuries of factual evidence to support it. If you are unaware of those facts, that's your loss. Up until Diana, who was since divested of her royalty, all of English royalty have been very cold to their children.
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[–] toaaste 16 years ago

There are also centuries of factual evidence to refute it. That you appear to choose not to acknowledge it is your loss. I am fully aware that various historic Royals were poor parents (Henry VIII and George IV come to mind). King George V and Queen Mary, however, do not belong in this category. What seems strict and unfeeling to our modern perspective was the standard for their time.

It is unfair and untrue to characterize "all of English royalty" as cold and unfeeling. Edward VII, Victoria, William IV, George III, George VI, and their respective consorts were all royal parents that demonstratively and genuinely loved their children, just as much as The Princess of Wales. The only difference is that our modern culture welcomed and expected a level of public exuberance in Diana that had been discouraged in previous generations.

[–] angelofvic 16 years ago

I'm happy to agree to disagree.

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[–] toaaste 16 years ago

I do indeed disagree with the slanderous statement you made in regard to the parenting skills of every English and British Royal parent in history.

[–] ApplePieGirl 15 years ago

I think slanderous is a little harsh! I think that there was just a culturally different attitude to raising children back then...not necessarily 'cold', but maybe not some much of the 'over parenting' that we might see nowadays...not that any of us really know what it was like! I can imagine it was incredibly hard to bring up children in such a public atmosphere though, with an entire country and more watching to see how they turned out...look at Harry and William now. I know there wasn't so much press back then, but with the whole of society watching you...can you imagine?!

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