Saraband for Dead Lovers Movie Review

Forget H.R.H. Charles, The Prince of Wales, and return to the days when H.R.H. Prince George-Louis of Hanover was so mean to his wife Sophie-Dorothea that he divorced her 20 years before he ever became H.M. King George I and imprisoned her in the castle of Ahlden for the last 32 years of her life. She was forbidden to see her children after the divorce, and her ex-husband hated the future King George II just because he looked like his mother. Strong stuff, and who better to play George-Louis and Sophie-Dorothea than Peter Bull (1912–84, one of Britain's best heavies from 1934 on) and Joan Greenwood (1921–87, one of Britain's most regal leading ladies from 1940 on)? Saraband for Dead Lovers was released a couple of months before Prince Charles’ birth in 1948, and like it or don't, he owes his very existence to the sad and lonely woman so rarely mentioned in the history books. As a vivacious teen, Sophie-Dorothea didn't want to marry a cold fish like George-Louis, and she frequently asked her father if a divorce were ever possible. After 11 years of this so-called marriage, she fell in love with Count Philip Koenigsmark of Sweden (who better than eminently attractive Stewart Granger, 1913–93?). The lovers planned to run away together, and then…in agreement with many scholars, Saraband speculates on what happened next. Saraband is an intelligent historical romance, with colorful court schemers (Flora Robson is outstanding as Countess Platen) and well-mounted spectacle. And Greenwood and Granger strike considerable sparks as the dead lovers from another time. Over three centuries later, when will the descendants of the Hanoverians ever learn?

1948 96m/C GB Stewart Granger, Joan Greenwood, Francoise Rosay, Flora Robson, Frederick Valk, Peter Bull, Anthony Quayle, Megs Jenkins, Michael Gough, David Horne, Miles Malleson, Allan Jeayes, Guy Rolfe; D: Basil Dearden; W: John Dighton, Alexander MacK-endrick; C: Douglas Slocombe. VHS