荣耀六十年

简介：SixtyGloriousYearsisanexerciseinthecreationofinography,bothforVictoriaanditsstar,AnnaNeagle(whosubsequentlybecameknownas'RegalNeagle').JustasElizabethImissionediststocreateflatteringinicimagesforpublicnsumption,sothisfilmperformsasimilarfunction,forNeagleismorebeautifulthanthereallifeVictoria.Controversialevents(suchasthe'Irishblem')areomittedandunpleasantaspectsofVictoria'scharacter(herpetulance,arrogance,favouritismand'righttoprivilege')areglossedoverasendearinglittle'whims'.Albertactsasamoderatinginfluencewhenshegoestoofar.ThefilmfollowedayearafterthehighlysuessfulVictoriatheGreat(d.HerbertWilx,1937).AgainthescreenplayisbyMilesMallesonandRobertVansitt,andmanyofthesupportingcast(thecreamofactingtalentofperiod)repeattheirroles,thistimeforthelourcameras.ThiswasthefirstfulllengthTechnilorfilmofcinematographerFreddieYoung,whocapturesthespectacleofroyalweddings,grandballsandopulentinteriors,withscenesactuallyfilmedatroyalpalaces.Vividbattlescenes,setinAlexanderKorda'sempireterritory(SevasolandtheSudan),rivalthoseinTheFourFeathers(d.ZoltanKorda1939).Thetitlemusicsetsthetonearegalchoirsingsoverashotofthecrown.Elgar's1901'PompandCircumstance'marchisheardduringthediamondjubileecelebrationsand,asVictoria'sffinliesinstate,thefilmncludeswithAnthonyCollins'statelymusicacpaniedbythetextofRudyardKipling's'Lestwefet'.CombinedwiththeemotionalappealofscenesofVictoriannectingwithher'ordinaryfolk',thisisstirringstuff.Thefilmnnectswithntemporaryeventsof1938.ThereleaseoftwocelebratoryroyalfilmswasintendedtoboostpublicaffectionforthemonarchyinthewakeofEdwardVIII'sabdication.Anglo-Germanrelationswereanothertouchysubject.Withanotherwaronthehorizon,influentialvoiceswantedappeasement,andthefilmuldbeseentofitthatagenda.VictoriaherselfwasofmainlyGermandescent,nicknamed'thegrandmotherofEurope',whileAlbertisa'goodGerman',charminglyplayedbyAntonWalbrookasacultured,decentman.SixtyGloriousYearsnowseemsundulyformalandreverential.HadmoviesexistedduringVictoria'sreign(theyonlyemergedattheend)thismighthavebeenthekindoffilmduced.UnlikeMrsBrown(d.JohnMadden,1997),itisallsovery'Victorian'.RogerPhilipMellor