Classic Hollywood stars like Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn have an unparalleled following today in Japan as today’s Japanese culture continues to be enthralled by these western icons. Grace Kelly holds a particular place in the hearts of Japanese women after living the dream of becoming Princess Grace.
Princess Grace – Nicole Kidman
It is no wonder that the Japanese movie distributors for Grace of Monaco, Gaga Films, pulled out extra stunts to promote this Nicole Kidman film that has been limping since its panned opening at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. Despite having a phenomenal cast, gorgeous costumes, exquisite jewels and breathtaking cinematography, the movie has been the target of vicious criticism, some of which was not entirely deserved. A new Japanese movie trailer may be an attempt to rebrand this ‘endangered film’.
Unfortunately, there may be no salvaging the butchery of this feature film that completely fictionalizes the historic crisis of 1962. The events in the Grace of Monaco film take place six years after Grace Kelly’s celebrated Wedding of the Century, as she strived to reconcile her past, her present and her future. The plot centers around Princess Grace (Kelly), played by Nicole Kidman, who is being lured by director Alfred Hitchcock (Roger Ashton) to return to Hollywood to star in “Marnie”. The conflict ensues between her newfound role as a mother of two, monarch of a European principality and wife to Prince Rainier III (Tim Roth) who is in the midst of losing his throne and country as General De Gaulle positions France to take over the small principality in a modern David and Goliath story.
The real story that is revealed in the new book “My Days with Princess Grace of Monaco” (by Joan Dale, a member of Grace’s inner circle) would have made a far better movie. The outrage of Prince Albert of Monaco, who is Princess Grace’s son and the present ruler of Monaco, has a lot to do with the mischaracterization of both of his parents in the movie. Their true characters are clearly evident in Joan Dale’s memoirs, as she was Princess Grace’s closest friend during the time of the crisis depicted in the film, and her husband was Prince Rainier’s closest advisor charged with implementing Monaco’s vision for the future. It seems that his success in the economic development of Monaco was actually blamed as the actual cause of the crisis, although the Dales do not appear as characters in the film.
While the Grace of Monaco movie had its first showing in North America at the Atlantic Film Festival in Canada this week, there is still no release date set by the American distributor, The Weinstein Company. Harvey Weinstein had been at odds with the French director Olivier Dahan over the overall direction/editing of the European released version. However, all eyes are on Japan as publicity for the film is being augmented by a traveling road show of the Nicole Kidman/Grace Kelly costumes in Grace of Monaco as well as a special Grace Kelly Photo Exhibit sponsored by one of the big department stores in Japan. In addition, there is another exhibition honoring the wedding of Prince Albert to Princess Charlene, who happen to be expecting the potential heir to throne of Monaco in December – which coincidently may be the rumored date for a Grace of Monaco theatrical release in the USA.
Princess Grace’s last visit to Japan
Princess Grace (age 51 ) and Prince Rainier (along with Princess Stephanie) traveled to Japan in 1981 in what was to be one of her last official trips abroad.
