荣耀六十年1938

讲述了SixtyGloriousYearsisanexerciseinthecreationoficonography,bothforVictoriaanditsstar,AnnaNeagle(whosubsequentlybecameknownasRegalNeagle).JustasElizabethIcommissionedartiststocreateflatteringiconicimagesforpublicconsumption,sothisfilmperformsasimilarfunction,forNeagleismorebeautifulthanthereallifeVictoria.Controversialevents(suchastheIrishproblem)areomittedandunpleasantaspectsofVictoriascharacter(herpetulance,arrogance,favouritismandrighttoprivilege)areglossedoverasendearinglittlewhims.Albertactsasamoderatinginfluencewhenshegoestoofar.ThefilmfollowedayearafterthehighlysuccessfulVictoriatheGreat(d.HerbertWilcox,1937).AgainthescreenplayisbyMilesMallesonandRobertVansittart,andmanyofthesupportingcast(thecreamofactingtalentofperiod)repeattheirroles,thistimeforthecolourcameras.ThiswasthefirstfulllengthTechnicolorfilmofcinematographerFreddieYoung,whocapturesthespectacleofroyalweddings,grandballsandopulentinteriors,withscenesactuallyfilmedatroyalpalaces.Vividbattlescenes,setinAlexanderKordasempireterritory(SevastopolandtheSudan),rivalthoseinTheFourFeathers(d.ZoltanKorda1939).Thetitlemusicsetsthetone:aregalchoirsingsoverashotofthecrown.Elgars1901PompandCircumstancemarchisheardduringthediamondjubileecelebrationsand,asVictoriascoffinliesinstate,thefilmconcludeswithAnthonyCollinsstatelymusicaccompaniedbythetextofRudyardKiplingsLestweforget.CombinedwiththeemotionalappealofscenesofVictoriaconnectingwithherordinaryfolk,thisisstirringstuff.Thefilmconnectswithcontemporaryeventsof1938.ThereleaseoftwocelebratoryroyalfilmswasintendedtoboostpublicaffectionforthemonarchyinthewakeofEdwardVIIIsabdication.Anglo-Germanrelationswereanothertouchysubject.Withanotherwaronthehorizon,influentialvoiceswantedappeasement,andthefilmcouldbeseentofitthatagenda.VictoriaherselfwasofmainlyGermandescent,nicknamedthegrandmotherofEurope,whileAlbertisagoodGerman,charminglyplayedbyAntonWalbrookasacultured,decentman.SixtyGloriousYearsnowseemsundulyformalandreverential.HadmoviesexistedduringVictoriasreign(theyonlyemergedattheend)thismighthavebeenthekindoffilmproduced.UnlikeMrsBrown(d.JohnMadden,1997),itisallsoveryVictorian.RogerPhilipMellor