主演:AnnaNeagle AntonWalbrook WalterRilla C.AubreySmith
导演:HerbertWilcox
简介:SixtyGloriousYearsisanexerciseinthecreationoficonography,bothforVictoriaanditsstar,AnnaNeagle(whosubsequentlybecameknownas\'RegalNeagle\').JustasElizabethIcommissionedartiststocreateflatteringiconicimagesforpublicconsumption,sothisfilmperformsasimilarfunction,forNeagleismorebeautifulthanthereallifeVictoria.Controversialevents(suchasthe\'Irishproblem\')areomittedandunpleasantaspectsofVictoria\'scharacter(herpetulance,arrogance,favouritismand\'righttoprivilege\')areglossedoverasendearinglittle\'whims\'.Albertactsasamoderatinginfluencewhenshegoestoofar.ThefilmfollowedayearafterthehighlysuccessfulVictoriatheGreat(d.HerbertWilcox,1937).AgainthescreenplayisbyMilesMallesonandRobertVansittart,andmanyofthesupportingcast(thecreamofactingtalentofperiod)repeattheirroles,thistimeforthecolourcameras.ThiswasthefirstfulllengthTechnicolorfilmofcinematographerFreddieYoung,whocapturesthespectacleofroyalweddings,grandballsandopulentinteriors,withscenesactuallyfilmedatroyalpalaces.Vividbattlescenes,setinAlexanderKorda\'sempireterritory(SevastopolandtheSudan),rivalthoseinTheFourFeathers(d.ZoltanKorda1939).Thetitlemusicsetsthetonearegalchoirsingsoverashotofthecrown.Elgar\'s1901\'PompandCircumstance\'marchisheardduringthediamondjubileecelebrationsand,asVictoria\'scoffinliesinstate,thefilmconcludeswithAnthonyCollins\'statelymusicaccompaniedbythetextofRudyardKipling\'s\'Lestweforget\'.CombinedwiththeemotionalappealofscenesofVictoriaconnectingwithher\'ordinaryfolk\',thisisstirringstuff.Thefilmconnectswithcontemporaryeventsof1938.ThereleaseoftwocelebratoryroyalfilmswasintendedtoboostpublicaffectionforthemonarchyinthewakeofEdwardVIII\'sabdication.Anglo-Germanrelationswereanothertouchysubject.Withanotherwaronthehorizon,influentialvoiceswantedappeasement,andthefilmcouldbeseentofitthatagenda.VictoriaherselfwasofmainlyGermandescent,nicknamed\'thegrandmotherofEurope\',whileAlbertisa\'goodGerman\',charminglyplayedbyAntonWalbrookasacultured,decentman.SixtyGloriousYearsnowseemsundulyformalandreverential.HadmoviesexistedduringVictoria\'sreign(theyonlyemergedattheend)thismighthavebeenthekindoffilmproduced.UnlikeMrsBrown(d.JohnMadden,1997),itisallsovery\'Victorian\'.RogerPhilipMellor