Grace of Monaco: A Fashionable Film Set in the 1960's

No Official U.S. Release Date - Yet

About the Film

Set in the early 1960's, Grace of Monaco tells the story of Grace Kelly (portrayed by Nicole Kidman) and her life with and marriage to Prince Rainier III (portrayed by Tim Roth).  The film has already been released in France and many other European countries, but no U.S. release date has been set as of the publishing of this post.  The screenplay was written by Arash Amel, who also wrote the screenplay for Rampage, and is currently working on I Am Legend 2.  

Grace of Monaco is directed by French director Olivier Dahan, best known for La Vie en Rose (2007) starring Marion Cotillard, who won many awards for her role in the film, including the Oscar for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role and the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical.  Dahan's previous success shows he has the chops to do well in the U.S. with a film; but how will this one do?  Reviews overseas, especially after its release at the Cannes Film Festival, have been anything but positive. 

The Fashion - Oh, Yes!

  
There are perks to the film, however, that cannot be taken away, no matter how critics of the story feel, or how much stir it may be causing.  For instance, Gigi Lepage will be the lead fashion designer for Grace of Monaco. Grace Kelly, who went from Hollywood actress to a real Princess, was a beautiful woman.   

Princess Grace (left), Nicole Kidman (right)

Nicole Kidman as Princess Grace

Nicole Kidman is sure to be wearing some incredible 1960's-style designs and the film will have some fantastic fashion moments.  Lepage has designed for many French films of different genres, and she was the personal costume designer to Catherine Deneuve in The Musketeer (2001).  With Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco, as her muse and Kidman as her model, the looks will be many and should be stunning.

Grace Kelly the Actress

Grace Kelly Receives Oscar for "The Country Girl"

Who will not love a story about Grace Kelly? Born in 1929, she went on to become one of the most beautiful and, well, graceful actresses Hollywood has ever known.  Kelly won the Golden Globe for Mogambo (1953), and was nominated for the Oscar for the role, as well.  She then starred in Alfred Hitchcock's Dial M for Murder (1954), and was nominated for a BAFTA award, among several other awards.  Kelly won the Oscar and the Golden Globe for The Country Girl (1954), and also won several awards for her role in Hitchcock's Rear Window (1954).  She was Hollywood's "it" girl in the 1950's and rose to fame quickly; she received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in February of 1960.  Grace Kelly was fascinating, and would have been a catch for any man.

Grace Kelly met Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1955, and in 1956 they were married.  Together they had three children.  In a tragic turn of events, the Princess was in a car accident in 1982 after her car went off a steep embankment.  It is believed she suffered a stroke, which was the cause of the accident.  She died from her injuries at the young age of 52.  Her youngest child was in the car, but only had minor injuries and recovered. 

The Trailer & What to Expect

The UK trailer for Grace of Monaco indicates that we can expect to see some drama and conflict in the life of the Princess of Monaco, including an internal struggle with desires to return to her former Hollywood life.  While many will never know the whole, true story (what goes on behind closed doors normally stays there), and this is more than likely a spin on the real story, it is still intriguing for many and will be filled with great fashion moments.  Americans, I think, will find this story more interesting to watch than those who have previewed it so far - the American fascination with royals and their lifestyles is unceasing, and when it comes to this film, it should be no different.

Kidman does favor the actress in some ways:  porcelain skin, blonde hair (in the film) and she carries herself with poise and grace.  Perhaps some have been so critical of the story itself that they have not looked deeper into the biopic to see it for a bit more; the portrayal of a glorious life that all girls dream of: fame to royalty.  Yet through all that, nothing is always what it seems, and nothing is ever perfect.  Even those with extreme fame and royal lives can end up with unhappy endings, even tragic ones. 

Watch the official U.K. trailer here:  

Below are a couple of other looks (Kidman as Princess Grace) from the film that are eye-catching and completely reminiscent of the Princess.  The elegance and the 60's vibe and hairstyles are enough for me to see the film and probably love it - even though the almost 46-year old Kidman is much too old to be playing the spectacularly vibrant, 30ish Grace Kelly of the late 50's and early 60's. 

Share your thoughts on the fashion in the trailer and the pictures.  Do you plan to see the film?  I hope you will follow me if you love fashion in film and television.  

The Film Fashionista 

Rated PG-13 or R (TBD) for Thematic Material, Sexual Content, Brief Language, and Some Unsettling Images 

103 Mins.

 

pictures courtesy of vintagerox.me, movieinsider.com, imdb.com

movie, actor and director information courtesy of imdb.com 

Grace Kelly/Princess Grace of Monaco biography information courtesy of bio.com and imdb.com