Review of The Prince and the Showgirl (1957) by Peter S — 16 Jan 2017

This is one of the worst films I've ever seen. There are so many reasons why this film doesn't work, so I'll just stick to the main points. So Sir Laurence Olivier has undeniable talent and Marilyn Monroe is probably why most people would ever watch this movie.

Like many other people, I knew I had to see this after watching the short but delightful and excellent my week with Marilyn. This movie could've been excellent, but has too many shortcomings and it actually ruins the movie a little if you see my week with Marilyn beforehand, as the only reason Marilyn completed the movie was because of the friendship she developed with the 3rd assistant director.

First: it is a romantic comedy that it is not particularly funny or romantic. Olivier sounds exasperated for much of the movie, with most of it being directed at Monroe, and Monroe just continues playing her part as normal.

The script just isn't funny either. Secondly: Olivier's mangled accent. I have not heard him speak in his normal voice yet, which I'm sure is quite fine, but the only other person I've heard who speaks with as much of a mangled accent as Olivier is Tommy Wiseau.

Thirdly, the script is repetitive and laughable. The amount of times Monroe and Olivier say, "I wish we could have more time together" is equivalent to how many times Tommy Wiseau says "Hi" or laughs in his infamous misguided masterpiece, the room.

They also share probably the most awkward kiss ever recorded on screen. Finally, the movie is way too long for such a thin plot. If this movie came out today, it would have at least 25 minutes cut out.

An embarrassingly bad movie can go for 90 to 100 minutes, but with a movie like this which is essentially plotless, it just doesn't work. Oh yeah, if you watch my week with Marilyn, you find out that Olivier never wanted to direct again after working with Monroe.

It shows in this movie. This is not to say that romantic comedies that involve an older man getting involved with a younger woman cannot work. There are so many movies that have that plot, and they work so well, even if the relationship doesn't last.

However, due to the many, many shortcomings this poor, overly long misguided film represents, it cannot be considered a good film or a classic by any means. One star for how much you can laugh at the movie's repetitive and stupid dialogue and Marilyn Monroe.