The First Gentleman

A British historical drama; A story set in England in 1811 following the Napoleonic wars. The Prince Regent (the future King George IV of England) attempts to marry off his unruly daughter Princess Charlotte to Prince William of Orange who is heir apparent to the Dutch throne, but it is to no avail because she has other ideas. This attractively staged and lusciously costumed drama about star-crossed lovers is based on a play, The First Gentleman by Norman Ginsbury. Humorous touches raise it above the stuffiness of some of the busier scenes though it generally moves at a slow pace and the plotline drags in parts. Cecil Parker is not ideally cast as George, but he carries off humour, vain and excess effectively. Jean-Pierre Aumont as the German heads the cast and is charming, casting his romantic spell. Tom Gill as the boorish prince is outstanding. The third act culminates in stirring romance and startling tragedy.

Cecil Parker steals each scene in this flamboyant British Regency romance. He is the Prince Regent, elder son of King George III, whose daughter Princess Charlotte (Jean Hopkins) is enamoured of Prince Leopold (Jean-Pierre Aumont). Cavlacanti manages to keep the whole thing moving along in a jolly sort of fashion, with some jolly, period-style, scoring and some nice character parts from the likes of Margaretta Scott and the always reliable Hugh Griffith (this time as a Bishop!). A factual depiction? Well apart from the fact that the young couple really did exist, I can't say, but that doesn't really matter - it is an opportunity for a bit of a theatrical romp through early 19th Century British society that I found mildly entertaining - if perhaps twenty minutes too long.

Columbia British had been making George Formby comedies and Vera Lynn musicals.So this was a big departure for them.Costume pictures were in vogue.So that must have been part of the reason.It is an interesting film in that it follows the actual story acurately.Good performance from Cecil Parker.

Unlike the rather severe melodramatic fare being churned out by Gainsborough, this is a much more light-hearted business until the bittersweet ending; lavishly produced and stylishly directed by Cavalcanti from a witty script drawn from Norman Ginsbury's popular play.

Among a large supporting cast Cecil Parker's comical Prince Regent naturally stands out, along with Margaretta Scott and a young Melissa Stribling as two of his mistresses ("Come Isabella, sit on my knee!") and Athene Seyler as the heroine's good-hearted aunt.