The Swan (1956)

Sadly Over-hyped

It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

The Swan is a magnificently beautiful film in every way--sets, costumes, dancing and music, dialogue, and the actors. Of course Grace Kelly is noted for her blonde regal beauty. Louis Jourdan is the most gorgeous man to ever grace film. The two together, Grace and Louis, are almost too much to watch. They are stunning together.Their characters, Princess Alexandra and Dr. Nicholas Agi, are just as lovely to watch. From the beginning, Dr. Agi's love for the Princess is clearly evident, and as her attraction to him develops, the audience hopes for the romance to culminate in a romantic Royal Wedding. Alas, that does not happen. Alexandra cannot bring herself to follow her heart and to succumb to love for Nicholas. Instead, after the most enchanting waltz, he realizes the truth and prepares to depart the palace the following morning. Does she merely pity him, as he claims, or does she love him but reject him because he is a tutor and not of royal birth? Or is it that Nicholas is Alexandra's first romance and she realizes it will never last? For whatever reason, Nicholas rides out of her life, leaving her heartbroken yet awaiting future happiness.It takes Alexandra's uncle, the Father Carl Hyacinth (Brian Aherne), to provide the insights and truths that guide Alexandra into letting Nicholas go. Carl realizes his niece's inexperienced youth, and assures her that true love will find her in due course. Of course, we are left at the end to wonder of that comes in the form of the (forced) marriage to her cousin Prince Albert (Alec Guinness). We must each answer that question for ourselves.

I can't give it the "awful" rating because it's beautiful filmed and all the acting is splendid. It's a gorgeous film, and it is simply awful. The woman has had no life of her own, she's been ruled by her mother, done what her mother demanded, and never let herself feel. Finally, the situation between the tutor and the Prince she is supposed to marry, becomes explosive and in that explosion she realizes her true feelings -- more than that: she realizes she HAS feelings. And of course she's a princess and she's going to marry the Prince, it doesn't matter who she loves. But that happens in Roman Holiday and the princess is going to feel it and love the man involved for the rest of her life. The ending of this film with Alec Guinness saying she's the swan gliding through life, having no feelings and he's the same, playing their roles. Oh god, it's horrible. How can anyone call that romantic???? It's a total denial of life.

Boring, ridiculous, despicable, annoying.I guess I'm stupid.I don't understand this film.Yeah yeah, duty over desire, but that does not even apply, she doesn't have to marry him??!! The prince surely doesn't seem in love with her, he needs a queen, and towards the end he seems to take pity on her, who turned from a plank to a teenager in love (very unconvincingly). Maybe that what he's supposed to be? Her rescuer?The family schemes to get the prince, so the professor becomes a token, despicably so. Then his advances soften her, but she wants to be a queen, she's so sorry, can he forgive her. No, he says. He gets all angry with everybody and holds socialist speeches, which are somehow connected with his admiration for Napoleon (lol!). She likes that for some reason, or his hurt pride, or whatever. So now she's in love, with a vengeance. I can actually accept that, putting aside the improbability of its sudden appearance. The way she's in love is believable. Then the prince insults the professor, he wants to retort, she stops him with a kiss - that ends it for him---huh??? Says she kissed him out of pity, like she would kiss a dog - huh??? Well I love my dogs! With passion!:-)So then he leaves and everybody manipulates her thoughts and so she is a swan again, who actually are rather aggressive animals on land, while I have found geese to be much gentler! I thought the ending was tragic. Nothing funny or romantic in it. And just for her I say that, as I don't understand the professor beyond the kiss. And I don't care. I guess he just didn't want to bother with her fickleness, or a kiss was all he wanted... You know, I like Alec Guiness, but even the uncle is more dashing than him with his moustache-twirling and his padded chest (or so it looked - ridiculous!) - shudder.All hail to the aunt!So, first hour boredom extraordinaire, then a little one-sided romance and a lot of overacted drama about it, very confusing, at the end back to the ice swan - great. Fantastic. Call that entertainment?But, as I mentioned, I just didn't get it.Just my two cents.

Wonderful, romantic yet realistic movie. All characters are given dialogue which allows a wide range of emotions -- and the fine cast gives true life and realism to every scene! Sets and costumes are magnificent! (Was a real palace used here...or was it constructed on a studio back lot??) This is movie not just for romantics, but also for those who want to know how the other half, (or other 1/200th!) live and think!I would like to see this movie re-made! I suggest ANNE HATHAWAY as Princess Alexandra, JOHNNY DEPP as Tutor Nicolas, and ERIC PIERPOINT as Prince Albert!