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The Swan

  • 1956
  • Approved
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
3.1K
YOUR RATING
The Swan (1956)
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:20
1 Video
78 Photos
Romantic ComedyComedyDramaRomance

When a crown prince visits, the princess's mother tries to push the prince into marrying her daughter by presenting a "rival" at the ball - her children's handsome tutor.When a crown prince visits, the princess's mother tries to push the prince into marrying her daughter by presenting a "rival" at the ball - her children's handsome tutor.When a crown prince visits, the princess's mother tries to push the prince into marrying her daughter by presenting a "rival" at the ball - her children's handsome tutor.

  • Director
    • Charles Vidor
  • Writers
    • John Dighton
    • Ferenc Molnár
  • Stars
    • Grace Kelly
    • Alec Guinness
    • Louis Jourdan
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    3.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Charles Vidor
    • Writers
      • John Dighton
      • Ferenc Molnár
    • Stars
      • Grace Kelly
      • Alec Guinness
      • Louis Jourdan
    • 53User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    The Swan
    Trailer 2:20
    The Swan

    Photos78

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    Top cast53

    Edit
    Grace Kelly
    Grace Kelly
    • Princess Alexandra
    Alec Guinness
    Alec Guinness
    • Prince Albert
    Louis Jourdan
    Louis Jourdan
    • Dr. Nicholas Agi
    Agnes Moorehead
    Agnes Moorehead
    • Queen Maria Dominika
    Jessie Royce Landis
    Jessie Royce Landis
    • Princess Beatrix
    Brian Aherne
    Brian Aherne
    • Father Carl Hyacinth
    Leo G. Carroll
    Leo G. Carroll
    • Caesar
    Estelle Winwood
    Estelle Winwood
    • Symphorosa
    Van Dyke Parks
    Van Dyke Parks
    • George
    Christopher Cook
    • Arsene
    Robert Coote
    Robert Coote
    • Capt. Wunderlich
    Doris Lloyd
    Doris Lloyd
    • Countess Sibenstoyn
    Edith Barrett
    Edith Barrett
    • Elsa - Beatrix's Maid
    Giuseppe Addobbati
    Giuseppe Addobbati
    • Footman
    • (uncredited)
    Leon Alton
    Leon Alton
    • Ball Attendee
    • (uncredited)
    Don Anderson
    Don Anderson
    • Ball Attendee
    • (uncredited)
    Herman Belmonte
    • Ball Attendee
    • (uncredited)
    Paul Bradley
    Paul Bradley
    • Ball Attendee
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Charles Vidor
    • Writers
      • John Dighton
      • Ferenc Molnár
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews53

    6.43K
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    Featured reviews

    Sunset69

    A lovely Film

    Alec Guinness and Grace Kelly and Louis Jourdan make a beautiful trio.

    A very beautiful of Princess Alexandra who's to be married with the Crown Prince Albert, and instead falls inlove with the charming,handsome Tutor/Professor Nicholas Agi(Louis Jourdan). There's one choice she has to make: either let down the throne to marry the Professor or to restore the lost throne with the Prince. A good, funny beautiful movie, Two thumbs up!
    gregcouture

    Princess Grace's "Swan Song"

    Before her marriage to Prince Rainier, Grace Kelly made this next-to-last film for M-G-M, the royalty (though, alas, in somewhat of a decline from its glory days) of Hollywood's studio "system." I thought it, along with "High Society," a graceful exit for the lovely Miss Kelly, and M-G-M surrounded her with thorough professionals both before and behind the CinemaScope cameras. I especially enjoyed Alec Guinness, Jessie Royce Landis, and the wonderful Estelle Winwood, as well as Brian Aherne and Louis Jourdan. It's not available on DVD (and may possibly never be) and, I fear, the VHS version is formatted to fit the full screens of non-widescreen TVs. Too bad...It's a handsome production which, no doubt, won't visually impress very much when diminished by, ugh!, "formatting." What's wrong with "letterboxing," may I ask? Maybe it's the word itself!
    7funkyfry

    Good melodrama

    Excellent romantic interlude film, with shining performances of a wonderful, witty, and intelligent story and script. Sad and funny.

    Guinness is perfection as the gentlemanly "fish" prince, and Jourdan and Kelly convince as lovers separated by circumstances of birth. Realistic, somwhat perplexing conclusion with a lovely soliloquy delivered with style by Guinness. A delight!
    8kindtxgal

    The Swan

    Absolutely completely well done film by the future Princess Grace of Monaco, Grace Kelly and supporting staff including dreamy Louis Jordan, staunch Alec Guiness, and a surprise entry as Queen, Agnes Moorehead.

    Each actor worked so well together and yet in each one's style. Complete delight to watch the story unfold, ebb & flow, and then glide just like a swan to a restful ending. A fantastic use of comedy for interjections into a plot line that could easily been bogged down in monarchical dribble.

    What an orchestra of a movie. I was put off a bit by the overly flowery love declarations from Jourdan to Kelly, but outside of that, everything was a delight to watch.

    What clinched this movie for me is Guiness's description of a swan: gliding and graceful in water, but cumbersome and put off as a goose on land. The need for them to shine forever on the water in order for their beauty to be appreciated. Ahhhh.... wonderful.
    vestavia1

    A Charming Story!

    I read a review proclaiming Grace Kelly was a young girl from Wisconsin, who made a hit in Hollywood, and became a real life princess. The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native met her Prince at a photo match arranged by Paris Match in Monte Carlo, Monaco. She later transcended the realm of film and married the reigning prince of one of Europe's oldest principalities. Grace Kelly, later HSH Princess Grace of Monaco was as lovely as she was talented. She totally restructured Hollywood, giving it an old world elegance. This is the same charming appeal she brought to the film, "The Swan." She plays Princess Alexandra who finds herself torn between obeying her overpowering mother and marrying her cousin, Prince Albert, or following the dictates of her own heart. The battle for her heart is waged by two dashing gentlemen, the prince, Alec Guinness, and the poor but respectable tutor, Louis Jourdan. It is a movie that is entertaining and for those with a romantic disposition!

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    Related interests

    Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal in When Harry Met Sally... (1989)
    Romantic Comedy
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This movie was shot on-location in North Carolina, at the 1895 Biltmore Estate of George Vanderbilt (situated in Asheville) and at Lake Junaluska.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Prince Albert: Your father used to call you his swan, at least so I'm told. I think that's a good thing to remember. Think what it means to be a swan: to glide like a dream on the smooth surface of the lake and never go on the shore. On dry land, where ordinary people walk, the swan is awkward, even ridiculous. When she waddles up the bank, she painfully resembles a different kind of bird, n'est-ce pas?

      Princess Alexandra: A goose.

      Prince Albert: I'm afraid so. So there she must stay, out on the lake. Silent, white, majestic. Be a bird, but never fly. Know one song but never sing it, until the moment of her death. And so it must be for you, Alexandra. Head high, cool indifference to the staring crowds along the bank. And the song - never.

      Princess Alexandra: Take me inside, Albert.

      [Albert takes her hand, and they go inside the palace together]

    • Connections
      Featured in MGM Parade: Episode #1.32 (1956)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 26, 1956 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Der Schwan
    • Filming locations
      • Biltmore Estate - 1 Approach Road, Asheville, North Carolina, USA
    • Production company
      • Loew's
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 44m(104 min)
    • Sound mix
      • 4-Track Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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