The Prince and the Showgirl

The Prince and the Showgirl (originally titled The Sleeping Prince) is a 1957 British romantic comedy film starring Marilyn Monroe and Laurence Olivier, who also served as director and producer. The screenplay written by Terence Rattigan was based on his 1953 stage play The Sleeping Prince. The Prince and the Showgirl was filmed at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire. Plot In London in June 1911, George V will be crowned king on 22 June and in the preceding days, many important dignitaries arrive, including the 16-year-old King Nicholas VIII of the (fictional) Balkan country of Carpathia, with his father the stiff and pompous widower prince regent Charles, and his maternal grandmother the widowed queen dowager of Carpathia (inspired by King Michael I of Romania, King Carol II of Romania and Queen Marie of Romania). As the British Government had decided that keeping Carpathia in the Triple Entente is critical amid the rising tensions in Europe, they wish to pamper the royals during their stay in London and assign civil servant Northbrook for the task. Northbrook takes Charles to the musical performance The Coconut Girl. During the intermission, Charles meets the cast backstage and is smitten with performer Elsie Marina, to whom he sends a formal invitation for midnight dinner at the Carpathian embassy. Elsie meets Northbrook at the embassy before Charles arrives and expects a large party but soon realizes Charles' true intentions are to seduce her over a private supper, something a girl with her abundant feminine charms has been through too many times to fall for, and she attempts to leave. Northbrook persuades her to remain, promising to provide an excuse for her to escape after supper. When Charles makes a clumsy pass at her, she immediately rebuffs him and explains that she had hoped that he would sway her with romance, passion, and "gypsy violins." In response, Charles changes his style and tactics, complete with a violinist. The two eventually kiss and Elsie admits that she may be falling in love, turning aside Northbrook's pre-agreed attempt to help her leave the embassy. When Elsie passes out due to being encouraged to drink too much vodka Charles has four servants carry her on their shoulders like a log into an adjoining bedroom where she spends the night.