Edward & Mrs. Simpson
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Movie Reviews of Edward & Mrs. Simpson
Movie Review: Edward and Mrs. Simpson
Summary: 5 Stars
I enjoyed this just as much as I did at the original airing on TV in 1978...only this was better. I didn't have to wait until next week to watch the next episode.Movie Review: Edward & Mrs. Simpson
Summary: 5 Stars
I really enjoyed the Series, also the extra insert of documentary at the end of the real Edward and Mrs Simpson.Movie Review: The continuing fascination with British Royality
Summary: 4 Stars
We have recently developed a fascination with the era of the 20s and 30s both here and in Britain. This in part may be due to experiencing the worst financial crisis of our life in the last two years. The era pre and post 1929 crash and depression and WWII serve as a window into what these two societies were like and how they managed to come out of these exceptionally trying times to thrive in years to come. That said, about the Masterpiece Theater "Edward and Mrs. Simpson", a very well done series and worth the watch with some caveats.
The story line is well told by many other reviewers so I will not repeat it here only to say it is a good history lesson about how the British view their royalty and the love affair between the King to be played brilliantly by Edward Fox and Mrs. Simpson also brilliantly played by Cynthia Harris. I agree with all the other reviewers that both of these excellent actors capture the character of the selfish nearly childish, self absorbed playboy Prince of Wales and the social climbing somewhat devious getting her man at all cost, Mrs. Simpson. The settings are period correct and the transfer from the original screening to DVD was very good.
As mentioned by some reviewers the storyline did drag at points and more time could have been spent on the Prince and Mrs. Simpson rather than all the stogy British parliamentary figures. It is understandable that as part telling the story that has fascinated people since the abdication to this time, we would want more salacious details, more sumptuous gowns, and jewels as the upper royal class was prone to wear even to breakfast. Queen Mary with multiple strands of pearls mid day may have been a window into the reason for the decline in the Royal family's popularity. Being American I know the British would strongly disagree as they do not like anyone criticizing their Royalty. The long drawn out dialogue and hand ringing by the aids to the King (This is where Royalty trumps logic. They refer to him as King yet he has yet to be crowned so would he not still be the Prince? Understanding the British Royal "system" as an American could consume a lot of time!) although at times boring and slow showed how much time they spent trying to figure out Mrs. Simpson's motives once she was divorced and what the Kings intentions were towards her in terms of marriage. As much as it was slow paced and somewhat boring towards the middle of the series, it did contribute to the historical understanding of why he could not marry Mrs. Simpson as King, leaving the question of abdication as the only solution.
More interplay between Edward and Wallace during this time would have offered up more insight into the character of these two individuals and who was really the driving force in Edward's future. Wallace seemed very insecure about letting him out of her sight for any length of time given his reputation for being a play boy and the fact he was under great pressure by his family and a cast of many self serving politicians to do the right thing and just keep her as his consort. Historically that does seem to be the British solution. Edward could have married a woman he did not love, pop out a couple of Royalty and gone about with his affair and still be king. This is the Prince Charles modern day solution. All this leads to the question of whether or not Edward would have made a good King or was the country better off with his brother on the throne? If you are looking for this series to provide insight into this question you may be disappointed. It leaves this up to the viewer to decide if anyone could be that crazy in love with a cloying older woman that he would give up the position to which he were born and bred to assume. Maybe you have to be British or have studied the Royal family to get all the innuendos and subtleties.
The miniseries is worth the time to wade through the slow parts and perhaps understand how the British handle crisis around their Royal family. Now it is on to another miniseries about Albert and the Queen mum!
As a final comment, I realize the British are very sensitve about criticism of their Royality by anyone but themselves. Having several good British friends I hope they will forgive me any treading on forbidden water by an American!
Movie Review: A Fine Historical Drama
Summary: 4 Stars
Having long been intrigued by the tale of Edward VIII, the English king who gave up the throne to be with the woman he loved an American divorcée named Wallis Simpson imagine my surprise at discovering that there existed this miniseres. Not only was there a miniseries about the subject but that one of my favorite actors (Edward Fox) was playing the famed King himself. The result is a rather grand, if slightly overlong, historical drama.
As in the case of many a historical drama, the cast is fine one. Edward Fox gives one of the finest performances of his career as the famed King Edward VIII from the dashing playboy Prince Of Wales to the man who gives up the throne for the woman he loves. Cynthia Harris gives a nice performance as the woman he loved Wallis Simpson though she does have a tendency to overact. Thankfully both Fox and Harris share a nice chemistry between them that makes them quite convincing as the famed couple.
The supporting cast is fine as well. David Waller gives a fine performance as the Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin who tires to keep the government together in the midsts of the crisis caused by the title characters as does Peggy Ashcroft as the famed Queen Mary. From Nigel Hawthorne as Edward's friend Walter Monkton to Wensley Pithey as Winston Churchill to Charles Keating as Wallis husband Ernest Simpson to Marius Goring and Patrick Troughton as opposition leader Clement Attlee the cast is a fine one and makes this drama well worth seeing.
Things are strong behind the camera as well. The sets by Allan Cameron and the costumes by Jennie Tate perfectly capture the spirit of the 1930's in which this famed story took place. The score and opening song by Ron Grainer also captures the atmosphere of the 1930's as well. Even better, the script by Simon Raven (from the biography Edrward VIII by Frances Donaldson) is a true highlight. With its attention to details and events the script gives a detailed study of a royal romance that doesn't quite end happily. The dialouge in particular makes the production stand out and gives the whole production an epic quality thanks to the wonderful direction of Waris Hussein.
If the miniseries has any fault it is that it seems overlong. At seven fifty minute episodes (or right around six hours) it feels as though it could have been trimmed down at times. There aren't many slow moments in the miniseries but one wonders if those scenes trimmed could have made Edward & Mrs. Simpson slightly shorter.
Despite is length Edward & Mrs. Simpson is a fine drama. From its two leading actors to the supporting cast, production values, direction and writing this is a fine example of the art of the miniseries. For fans of fine historical dramas look no further then Edward & Mrs. Simpson.
Movie Review: Was SHE worth giving up a crown?
Summary: 4 Stars
"The King of England and the woman for whom he gave up a throne" has nearly passed into legend, as has the much re-recorded abdication speech give by Edward VIII in which he explained in his own voice (kings by tradition had no right to express personal opinions in public) that all he wanted was to be with the woman he loved. Whether or not she was a scheming Lady Macbeth who wanted to be a queen will never really be known, but it makes an interesting challenge for an actress who plays the part of the American, twice-divorced Mrs. Simpson.
I was delighted to learn that A&E has restored the 1978 mini-series, "Edward & Mrs. Simpson" in a boxed set of two DVDs (AAE 71753). In seven episodes of 50 minutes each, it tells the tale of how Edward (Edward Fox) first runs into Wallis Simpson (Cynthia Harris), becomes obsessed with her, drives all of the higher-ups in the British government half mad seeking ways to satisfy their master and at the same time stopping a marriage which could not constitutionally exist.
As scripted, Simpson is no sympathetic character but a woman used to getting what she wants, even if it is the next King of England. Unhappily, Edward (who is called David throughout the series) is shown to be a spoiled brat who often puts his pleasures before his duties; and by the time one might really feel sorry for him, some can only say, "What did you expect?" and "You got what you thoroughly deserved."
As fine as Fox and Harris are as actors, there is none of that special "chemistry" needed to convince us that these two were (or at least that he was) so madly obsessed with each other. And while there is much talk about how fascinating Wallis was to all who met her, the viewer hardly sees anything matching that description.
But what a pleasure it is to see consummate actors do their stuff, especially supported by such British stars as Nigel Hawthorne, Peggy Ashcroft (as the outraged Queen Mary), John Shrapnel, David Waller (as the long-suffering Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin), Patricia Hodge (from the Rumpole series), and too many others to mention here.
A final irony is found in the bonus feature, "Wallis Simpson" from A&E's Biography series, when we are told that Simpson was carrying on another affair all through her stalking of Edward! It would be interesting to know how this would have changed the script if this information were known back then.
In sum, although I think that just under six hours is far too long to carry this story and keep things sparking (150 minutes would have been about right), I can still recommend this set for the acting, the period décor, and the discussions it is bound to stimulate among the viewers.