The Affair of the Necklace *** (2001, Hilary Swank, Simon Baker, Jonathan Pryce, Adrien Brody, Christopher Walken, Brian Cox, Joely Richardson) – Classic Movie Review 10,935

‘Her Birthright Was Stolen. Her Dignity Taken. Her Rights Denied. Deception Was The Only Option.’

Director Charles Shyer’s 2001 American historical film The Affair of the Necklace is a plush and handsome if dramatically mild period drama, with sterling acting from a notable cast. They include Hilary Swank, Simon Baker, Jonathan Pryce, Adrien Brody, Christopher Walken, Brian Cox, and Joely Richardson.

Scheming 18th century French ex-aristocrat Jeanne St Remy de Valois (Hilary Swank), made broke through the pre-revolutionary troubles in France, vows to regain her wealth and title of Countess De La Motte – no matter what the cost. So she schemes to steal a priceless necklace.

A suitably resolute Swank is on good form, an over-acting Jonathan Pryce enjoys himself as Cardinal Louis de Rohan, and a scene-stealing Christopher Walken makes the most of his not-enough screen time as the villainous Count Cagliostro. Brian Cox has the twin tasks of playing as Baron de Breteuil and narrating the film. It also stars Simon Baker as Rétaux de Villette, Adrien Brody as Nicholas de Lamotte, and Joely Richardson as Marie Antoinette.

The Affair of the Necklace is not the best of its kind, but, opulent looking and strongly cast as it is, it is still quite likeable and very watchable. It helps a lot that David Newman’s score, Ashley Rowe’s cinematography, Milena Canonero’s costume design, and the period settings are all so extremely attractive. It is craftsmanlike, meticulous and luscious.

It is written by John Sweet,  based on the Affair of the Diamond Necklace, which helped to stoke up the French people’s disillusionment with the monarchy as one of the eventual causes of the French Revolution.

It was an Oscar nominee for Best Costume Design (Milena Canonero).

It was filmed in France and the Czech Republic at locations including the Palace of Versailles, Vaux-le-Vicomte, Alincourt, Compiègne, and Paris in France, and St Barbara Church, Lednice, and Valtice in the Czech Republic. Interiors were filmed at the Barrandov Studios in Prague.

Also in the cast are Simon Kunz, Simon Shackleton, Geoffrey Hutchings, Hayden Panettiere, Paul Brooke, Peter Eyre, Hermione Gulliford, Frank McCusker, James Vaughan, Jonathan Newth, Kristina Bill, James Larkin, Diana Quick, Helen Masters, Victoria Shalet, Christophe Paon, Michael D’Oz, Miranda Pleasence, John Grillo, Mélodie Berenfeld, Niky Wardley, Ben Miles, Bill Thomas, Emma Wride, and Stephen Noonan.

It proved difficult to sell. On a budget of $30,000,000, it grossed only $471,210 in the US, with $1,198,113 worldwide.

The Affair of the Necklace is directed by Charles Shyer, runs 118 minutes, is made by Alcon Entertainment, is distributed by Warner Bros (United States) and Summit Entertainment (International), is shot by Ashley Rowe’s cinematography, and is scored by David Newman, with costume design by Milena Canonero.

Release dates: November 30, 2001 (limited) and December 7, 2001 (US).

The cast are Hilary Swank as Jeanne de Saint-Rémy de Valois, Hayden Panettiere as Young Jeanne de Saint-Rémy de Valois, Jonathan Pryce as Cardinal Louis de Rohan, Christopher Walken as Count Cagliostro, Simon Baker as Rétaux de Villette, Adrien Brody as Nicholas de Lamotte, Joely Richardson as Marie Antoinette, Brian Cox as Baron de Breteuil/ Narrator, Simon Shackleton as King Louis XVI, Hermione Gulliford as Nicole Leguay d’Oliva, imon Kunz, Geoffrey Hutchings, Hayden Panettiere, Paul Brooke, Peter Eyre, Hermione Gulliford, Frank McCusker, James Vaughan, Jonathan Newth, Kristina Bill, James Larkin, Diana Quick, Helen Masters, Victoria Shalet, Christophe Paon, Michael D’Oz, Miranda Pleasence, John Grillo, Mélodie Berenfeld, Niky Wardley, Ben Miles, Bill Thomas, Emma Wride, and Stephen Noonan.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 10,935

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