Grace Kelly

This made for TV movie was shown recently on cable. Not having seen it before, it proved to be an interesting way to learn a bit more about an American icon who went to live a fairy tale life in a foreign country as the princess of Monaco, that tiny place in the South of France.

Directed by Anthony Page, the story presents the life of Grace Kelly, a woman born of well to do parents from Philadelphia, who made a name for herself as one of the most brilliant actresses working in Hollywood films in the fifties. Not only was she a ravishing beauty, but she projected such a regal figure that becoming a princess seems to have been a natural role for her.

The movie presents several aspects of Grace Kelly's life and her relationship with the formidable Jack Kelly, her father. The romance between her and Rainier of Monaco is something out of a romance novel, yet, they appeared much in love when they got married. The interesting thing about the last part of the film is that newsreel material was incorporated into the film making if feel real.

The performances are good. Cheryl Ladd does an amazing job under Mr. Page's sure hand. Lloyd Bridges played Jack Kelly well. Ian McShane is seen as Prince Rainier. Others in the cast include Diane Ladd, Alejandro Rey, William Schallert, and David Paymer, among others.

The film serves as a reminder that perhaps yes, fairy tales can come true.

Ladd is sharp and right on as the Oscar winning actress, although I felt that the film moved too quickly through her life that it was difficult to keep up with things. Bridges is also in fine form as Grace's tough as nails father.

Although the film was a pleasant diversion, not once did I feel I was watching Grace Kelly. As a few other reviewers also noted, the attractive Cheryl Ladd neither looked nor sounded like the actress turned Princess.

And, although a fan of his, an also miscast Ian McShane came off as a rather smarmy, smooth-talking Prince Ranier. As I recall Ranier's appearance, the actor who portrayed Clark Gable (in the film's brief scenes from the movie Mogambo) looked more like the Prince in later years.

On the other hand, Lloyd Bridges and Diane Ladd were very credible as Grace's parents, the robust and athletic Jack and the refined and tactfully outspoken Margaret.

Additionally, the actors portraying Edith Head and the aforementioned Clark Gable gave convincing lookalike performances.

Overall, as Hollywood "bio-pics" go, this was an average yet mildly entertaining film for Grace Kelly admirers. Personally, she was never a favorite of mine and I thought her voice was annoyingly affected.

As a final note, the film's end credits stated that it was made with Princess Grace's approval. Go figure.

In real life we of the general public never saw Ranier do or say very much. But if he was anything like the way Ian McShane portrayed him here, then the prince seems loaded with appealing personality that could have swept Grace off her feet as much or more than anyone she might have met in Hollywood.

Grace Kelly has always been one of my favorite movie stars, but this biopic did her no justice. There was no real conflict or drama, just the basic thumbnail sketch of her life up to her Monaco marriage. It's a lot like something you would find in an encyclopedia entry on Grace Kelly, but just acted out. You're much better off reading one of the various biographies out on the market if one really wants more detail of the late princess's life.

Cheryl Ladd didn't help matters, she does her best Grace Kelly impersonation, but it just doesn't add up. Of course, I'm one of those people that find it distracting when an actor is playing a famous or historical person, but doesn't look a thing like the famous person he/she is playing. Cheryl Ladd just reminds me of Tippi Hedren a lot (which is perverse, when you remember that Hedren was the actress that Hitchcock replaced Kelly with). Ladd plays her as a happy-go-lucky gal that is always at the right place at the right time (ensuring her acting career, princess-hood etc.), all with a trademark affected upper class accent. The script doesn't allow for much else really. But at least it's maybe a notch less annoying than Jennifer Love Hewitt's "The Audrey Hepburn Story". Maybe.