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The Lost Prince

  • TV Mini Series
  • 2003
  • TV-PG
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
Daniel Williams in The Lost Prince (2003)
BiographyDrama

The story of Prince John, the autistic and epileptic youngest son of Queen Mary and King George V, who spent his whole life hidden away from public view and died at the age of 13 in 1919.The story of Prince John, the autistic and epileptic youngest son of Queen Mary and King George V, who spent his whole life hidden away from public view and died at the age of 13 in 1919.The story of Prince John, the autistic and epileptic youngest son of Queen Mary and King George V, who spent his whole life hidden away from public view and died at the age of 13 in 1919.

  • Stars
    • Daniel Williams
    • Matthew James Thomas
    • Rollo Weeks
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.6/10
    2.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Stars
      • Daniel Williams
      • Matthew James Thomas
      • Rollo Weeks
    • 29User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 3 Primetime Emmys
      • 8 wins & 21 nominations total

    Episodes2

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    TopTop-rated1 season2003

    Photos87

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    Top cast57

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    Daniel Williams
    Daniel Williams
    • Prince John (younger)
    • 2003
    Matthew James Thomas
    Matthew James Thomas
    • Prince John (older)
    • 2003
    Rollo Weeks
    Rollo Weeks
    • Prince George (older)
    • 2003
    Gina McKee
    Gina McKee
    • Lalla
    • 2003
    Tom Hollander
    Tom Hollander
    • George V
    • 2003
    Miranda Richardson
    Miranda Richardson
    • Queen Mary
    • 2003
    Bill Nighy
    Bill Nighy
    • Stamfordham
    • 2003
    Bibi Andersson
    Bibi Andersson
    • Queen Alexandra
    • 2003
    Ron Cook
    Ron Cook
    • Lloyd George
    • 2003
    Frank Finlay
    Frank Finlay
    • Asquith
    • 2003
    David Westhead
    David Westhead
    • Fred
    • 2003
    John Sessions
    John Sessions
    • Mr. Hansell
    • 2003
    Ingeborga Dapkunaite
    Ingeborga Dapkunaite
    • Tsarina Alexandra
    • 2003
    Algina Lipskis
    Algina Lipskis
    • Anastasia
    • 2003
    Ivan Marevich
    Ivan Marevich
    • Tsar Nicholas
    • 2003
    Holly Boyd
    • Tatiana
    • 2003
    Fritha Goodey
    • Fine-looking woman
    • 2003
    Vanessa Ackerman
    • Olga
    • 2003
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews29

    7.62.2K
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    Featured reviews

    Eric-1226

    Touching movie that plays like a post-card version of your high school history classes

    (Aired over two nights this week on the Canadian station, CBUT, which we get here in Seattle...)

    Superbly photographed and exquisitely acted, this movie primarily focuses on England's Prince John, youngest son of George V and Queen Mary who, in his tragically short life, suffered not only from periodic epileptic seizures but was also handicapped by what appeared to be some form of retarded mental development.

    The creators of this film were kindly and charitable in not showing the boy's ailments in too negative a light. Enough was shown though to give the viewer to understand that the poor lad had problems - so much so that his immediate family and caretakers felt that he clearly wasn't cut out for royal service. As a result he was whisked away to a sort of royal "nether-world" out in the English countryside, away from public view, where hopefully he would not become an object of curiosity, scorn, ridicule, etc.

    Sad though the plight of the boy was, you couldn't help but feel that he and his dysfunctional condition was a metaphor for the plight of the entire royal or aristocratic system which held sway over most all of Europe at the time. The boy's ailments and weaknesses eventually lead to his downfall, and all of this plays out simultaneously with the royal families of Europe (most of whom are shown being connected through marriage or bloodline) attempting to cope – quite ineffectually – with the onslaught of the tragedy of World War One.

    The film includes several scenes of interaction between the British royal family and the Russian royal family (the Czar and Czarina and their wonderful kids). They are closely related, which makes their death (or shall we say murder, at the hands of the Bolsheviks, which is graphically depicted) all the more chilling, tragic and thought provoking.

    There is so much to contemplate in this movie that I'd rather not sit here and prattle on about it, but instead would rather simply recommend that people go rent a copy and just watch it. It may not be for everyone, as it is a bit long and covers many facets of early 20th century history that will glide right over your head if you weren't paying attention in history class. But even if you ignore entirely the historical aspects of the movie, it is nonetheless a very touching picture: sad, compelling, and ultimately life-affirming, with wonderful performances and beautifully photographed images that will stick in your mind for a long time to come.
    8didi-5

    the Queen's forgotten uncle

    This short drama focused on the epileptic Prince John, son of George V and Queen Mary, and brother to the present Queen Elizabeth's father, George VI.

    We see the story of John from the perspectives of himself and of his nurse, Lalla (the emotionless Gina McKee). As he becomes more out of control and an embarrassment to his family, the little boy becomes more special to the viewer. Johnny is a crank but a lovable one.

    Daniel Williams and Matthew Thomas both make an impact as Prince John at different ages, while Tom Hollander and Miranda Richardson are excellent as his repressed and bewildered parents. There's also key roles of interest for Bill Nighy (Stamfordham), Frank Finlay (the PM, Herbert Asquith), and David Barrass (Kaiser Bill).

    Aside from the problems accorded by John's illness and confinement, we also see how events unfold in Russia for George V's cousins, the ill-fated Romanov family.

    'The Lost Prince' is another winner for writer/director Stephen Poliakoff, and well worth your time. Enjoyable whether you know the story or the intricacies of the Royal family, or not.
    8Britlaw1

    Poliakoff does it again

    Stephen Poliakoff wrote and directed this which was shown over two weekends recently here in the UK. It was certainly a sumptuous production, I've rarely seen a costume drama more lavishly dressed.

    It is broadly about the period 1908 to about 1920 seen through the eyes of the little known Prince John, youngest son of King George V and Queen Mary. Possibly autistic or with milder learning difficulties and known to be epileptic, this play shows his child's eye views of his grandfather the King (Edward VII) and the visit of the Tzar to the UK, following on to his own father's succession, through the Irish crisis and on to the the First World War. His father becomes King and he is packed off to the country, as his shortcomings emerge, with his faithful nurse Lala with only occasional visits from the aloof Queen Mary his mother, who just cannot understand him or his needs. His brother George, very bright and determined, is used as a foil to explain a lot of action as is the King's Secretary, Lord Stamfordham.

    Miranda Richardson is superb as Queen Mary, catching her regality and vunerability in one, though Tom Hollander did less well as the King, he was a little young, the King being in his late forties/early fifties during this time, and Michael Gambon, a Poliakoff favourite (and the new Dumbledore apparently) does little more than a cameo as Edward VII. Gina McKee excels as Lala, determined to make Johnnie's parents just even notice him.

    The King and Queen are here portrayed much younger than the geriatrics they are usually seen as in Abdication dramas. Great stuff!

    And what became of them all, well you'll have to watch but Prince George became the Duke of Kent and was killed in an RAF aircrash in 1942, George V died in 1936 and Queen Mary died in 1953, the year Johnnie's niece, Elizabeth was crowned.
    10kos5

    A beautiful piece of work.

    The Lost Prince is one of those wonderful pieces that you rarely see. Beautiful, touching, moving, and heartbreaking are only a few words to describe it. It was informative also because I had never before known of the epileptic Prince John. I fell in love with Johnny the first time I saw him.

    The acting was fantastic. I loved Lalla. Gina Mckee did an excellent job in portraying her. Miranda Richardson(Queen Mary) also did a wonderful bit of acting as the seemingly heartless Queen. I was reduced to tears at the end.

    If you've never heard of the wonderful little Prince, or you'd just like to watch a different perspective on the Royal family, see the The Lost Prince, you'll be glad you did.
    10jeffkauf

    Outstanding

    This production is outstanding in every way: style, substance and sensitivity. A remarkable glimpse at a remarkable time in Western history told via a very personal and touching biography. Director, Stephen Poliakoff has done what is rare: the combination of otherwise cold dates, places and faces brought to the level of high art. As far as casting is concerned, again quite outstanding. Every role seems as though it were created for the talented actor that inhabited it. Special kudos to Miranda Richardson as Queen Mary, Gina McKee as Prince John's nanny Lala and Bill Nighy as Stamfordham: King George's private secretary. Lastly, congratulations to Adrian Johnston for a lovely and most appropriate musical score.

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    Related interests

    Ben Kingsley, Rohini Hattangadi, and Geraldine James in Gandhi (1982)
    Biography
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      King George V had six children, two of whom used the name George. His second son was Prince Albert Frederick Arthur George, known to the family as Bertie, who became King George VI. He had a bad stutter that began in early childhood and lasted into adulthood. His third son, Johnnie's closest sibling in this movie, was Prince George, Duke of Kent. He grew up to live a life that was considered scandalous, and died in a plane crash in 1942.
    • Goofs
      When the Romanovs are in England, Alexandra speaks English with a Russian accent. In real life, Alexandra was a German princess raised in England by her grandmother, Queen Victoria. She spoke English with a British accent.
    • Quotes

      Prince George: [Speaking about Prince John] He was the only one of us who was able to be himself.

    • Connections
      Featured in Masterpiece Theatre: The Lost Prince: Part 1 (2004)
    • Soundtracks
      Rondo for Glass Armonica
      (uncredited)

      Composed by Joseph Schmittbauer (as J.A. Schmittbauer)

      (Queen Alexandra's birthday cake)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 19, 2003 (United Kingdom)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • BBc (United Kingdom)
      • PBS
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 失落的王子
    • Filming locations
      • Black Park Country Park, Black Park Road, Wexham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK(Russian lake, royal car)
    • Production companies
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
      • TalkBack Productions
      • WGBH
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 30m(90 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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