This agreeably murky tale of court intrigue, corruption and sexual manipulation is a rare excursion for Ealing into historical drama. Peter Bull and Joan Greenwood are perfectly cast as the dissolute Prince George-Louis and his reluctant bride Sophie Dorothea. Shooting in colour for the first time allowed the studio to give full rein to the period costumes and (Oscar-nominated) sets. The design provides an evocative backdrop to the princesses' tragic story. As her lover, Stewart Granger demonstrates why he was soon poached by Hollywood.
Inspired by the tragic life and death of Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be executed in the UK, this was the Siren from Swindon's bid for a serious acting career. Desperate to shake off her buxom dumb-blonde image, Dors brought compassion and sensitivity to the role, but this didnít stop the studio...
