König ihres Herzens

A bad rehashing of the Edward VIII story with Jane Seymour glamming it up. CBS wanted another "lavish" mini-series so they just $$$$ all over the place.

First they scored Anthony Andrews, Seymour's leading man from 1982's "The Scarlett Pimpernel" - they sparked well there, despite CBS' best efforts. Here, he doesn't act; he simply imitates Edward VIII - and badly. It's embarrassing to watch.

Then, they scored two other actors: Robert Hardy yet again reprising Winston Churchill - somebody had seen him in 1981's "Winston Churchill: the Wilderness Years." He was the man himself in that production; here we see him only sitting and painting.

And then - for me this was the corker - CBS got David Waller to reprise his role as Stanley Baldwin from "Edward & Mrs. Simpson" - the 1980 British production that did this story right the first time. I saw that one, that was meaty work for everybody involved; here, Waller looked like somebody who just found out he was at the wrong party.

I think it is well told. It is mostly accurate and truthful. The subtlety that speaks to the windsor's story, to me, is well acted. I'm not really sure what else to type. It seems we are required to type a lot!! So maybe if you are interested in the Duke and Duchess of Windsor you will find it interesting.

How true "The Woman He Loved" is debatable. So why do I say the truth is debatable? Well, in recent years, several documentaries have claimed that King Edward VIII did NOT abdicate in order to marry an American divorcee as was publicly announced but because he was so pro-Germany that he could not be trusted to look after the best interests of Britain as WWII approached. This more recent interpretation seems reasonable, as Edward really did admire the Third Reich...to the point of making some very bad decisions. And, many in government did distrust him...so they sent him off to the Caribbean (where he was made governor of the Bahamas) to get him out of the way instead of allowing him to remain in his own country during the war. This film clearly is meant to promote the commonly repeated theme that he was incredibly in love with Wallace and he sacrificed everything for this love.

So why would I watch this film even though I am inclined to believe the new image of the couple? Well, Olivia de Havilland is in the film...and it's her last film appearance. That is what I really wanted to see. Sadly, she was barely in the film at all.

The story begins with the death of Edward in the early 1970s and then bounces back and forth from that time to 1936-7 when she and Edward were a couple. It really doesn't focus much on their life post-marriage.

For me, this was a tough film to love. I have always thought the couple were selfish and foolish....so I really didn't buy into the who romance angle. It also didn't help that Anthony Andrews was stiff and Jane Seymour, in a few scenes, looked positively grotesque with the odd facial appliances they added to her face. Overall, a film that bored me a bit and whitewashed Edward's love of the Reich...and it's really not even part of the story, which it surely should have been.

Seymour--weird facial prostethics. Ghoulish.

Begins with his death.

As a devotee of the lives and times of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, this is, by far, my favorite rendition of these people and their times.

It is beautifully photographed, and competently acted. Specifically, it is not overly dramatic, because the drama was in the situation, not in anyone's dramatized reaction.

"The Woman He Loved" begins as Wallis and Ernest Simpson take up lush lodgings in London. As they negotiate their way into London society, by ingratiating themselves into the upper echelons, it is inevitable that they meet the Prince of Wales, David Windsor, who is destined to be crowned King Edward VIII. Much to the shock of his immediate (and intimate) circle, Wallis becomes the only person outside of his family to address him as "David." The future king is at a loss at how to react, but cannot bring himself to correct her. She appears to be candid, and spontaneous; a typical American, yet her actions are studied and cunning. He is both intrigued and amused, and his lack of restraint provides encouragement so that she behaves even more brazenly. The relationship between Wallis and the future king is filled with anecdotes of personal affection, and times of great tribulation as their relationship deepens to become the infamous 'romance of the century.'

Anthony Andrews IS David Windsor, shy, slight, elite, precise, sympathetic, empathetic, yet equally out-of-touch. Somehow, he is emboldened to speak on social issues, while exhibiting disastrous judgment. Equally well matched, Jane Seymour perfectly captures the all consuming, calculating and ambitious personality of Wallis Warfield Spencer Simpson. Cold, yet charming, demanding yet vulnerable, and always persnickety, Wallis Simpson was a force of nature. How else could a twice-divorced, not particularly beautiful, American commoner, bring the King of England to his knees?

Olivia de Havilland is perfect as Aunt Bessie. She assumes a vital role in the development of their relationship. In essence, she took the place of an entire royal court for Wallis' side; and she was up to the task.

In a world where, in spite of their advantages, David and Wallis felt they did not belong, they found each other. No one can estimate the change in the quality of life when people find "the rest of themselves" but this is what appears to have happened when they met and married. Wallis addressed him as David (in private) but she used his royal appellation of Edward as a design element, to form their initials into "WE." They truly painted themselves as the two of them (WE) against the world.

The personal story of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor is not just a love story; it is a story for the ages. For centuries, men have waged wars to become Kings of England; this man willingly walked away and gave up Throne and Sceptre, Crown and Country, because it was the only way he could marry the woman he loved.

Anthony Andrews imitates Edward, Duke of Windsor (but slightly better than Edward Fox did in 'Edward and Mrs Simpson'), while Jane Seymour is a fairly OK Wallis Simpson, a little bit scheming and a little bit vulnerable. She's backed up by Aunt Bessie (Olivia de Havilland, note-perfect but hardly stretched), while he is supported by Winston Churchill (Robert Hardy, good as ever).

It's the usual story often presented in true TV-movie style, very glossy and very referential to the Royals. So nothing really scandalous or new here, and sadly the film remains flatly unemotional so there is no engagement with the plight of Wallis or Edward.

So it is a reasonable effort, watchable television, but nothing fabulous. 'Edward and Mrs Simpson', having the luxury of more time to tell the story, is better; 'Wallis and Edward', getting the casting and pacing wrong, is worse.