Royal Wedding Week: Top 5 Royal Wedding Films

It's all over. The dress has been revealed, the vows said, the partying done (well, as much of a party as you can have sans beer.) So what now? Most people would just recommend that we all get on with our lives. However, if you're not ready to leave royal wedding madness behind, here are 5 movies that will keep the fun going.

5. Love Actually
There's no royalty in Love Actually but if you're looking for British romance, this movie is chock full of it with 10 interconnected love stories starring a virtual who's who of British actors. For those still in marriage mode, the film opens on with a beautiful wedding with a memorable, musical surprise. Or if you're looking for power romance, you can watch Hugh Grant as the prime minister who falls in love with a member of his staff. The movie was shot all over London and includes some great shots of the city that make me want to visit (and find an adorable Brit to call my own.)

 

Chiwetel Ejiofor, Keira Knightley, Hugh Grant & Martine McCutcheon in Love Actually

4. The Princess Bride
The wedding scene in this classic film is memorable and hilarious- even being quoted by Michael Scott on The Office. It is also one of the least romantic scenes as the heroine, Princess Buttercup, is not marrying her one true love. However, the rest of the movie is a wonderful epic romance that will certainly put you in the mood for love. Filmed around the UK and Ireland, the movie includes wonderful views of the Cliff of Moher (as the Cliffs of Insanity) and Hever Castle, which was featured earlier this week for its part in Anne of the Thousand Days.

3. The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
The first Princess Diaries movie gave Anne Hathaway her start as a socially awkward California girl who suddenly finds out she's next in line for the throne of the (fictional) country of Genovia. The sequel finds Anne's character needing to get married before becoming queen due to an obscure law. Searching for her prince with the clock ticking down, the princess must decide between an arranged marriage and true love. The demographic for the film is pre-teen girls, but I think I've made it abundantly clear this week that I'm a sucker for anything with princesses!  Since Genovia is a fictional country, the movie was filmed completely in a California studio but the sets can certainly pass for any number of opulent European palaces. And keep an eye out for a Prince William "cameo" in the below trailer!

2. Royal Wedding
This one is a pretty obvious pick given its title. It was even visually referenced in Lifetime's Will and Kate movie that aired last week. The movie centers on Fred Astaire and Jane Powell as a brother/sister dance act who both fall in love as they're traveling to London for a gig and features one of Astaire's most well known solos, "You're All The World To Me" (where he dances on the walls and ceilings.) The movie is set at the time of the marriage of William's grandparents, Elizabeth and Phillip, though their wedding doesn't play a huge role in the plot. However, its inclusion into the musical shows that Will and Kate's union is not the first royal romance to capture the public imagination.

1. Pretty Much Any Animated Disney Movie
The question of why the royal wedding has captured the attention of so many Americans has been posed in the media in the run up to this week's festivities. In my mind, it all comes down to Disney. Snow White, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid - they're all about girls finding their Prince Charming. The love of tiaras and romance is planted early with these movies and remains into adulthood. Disney has even capitalized on their fairytale romances by creating bridal lines based on their characters. While media scholars can debate whether this has a good or bad effect on society, I can't deny that I still harbor the not-so-secret desire to be a princess who finds happily ever after and lives in a palace. Speaking of palace, if you want some Disney themed travel, check out Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, cited to be the inspiration for Cinderella's castle.

Wedding scenes in Cinderella, The Little Mermaid & Robin Hood

So in conclusion, to prevent royal wedding withdrawal, check out these flicks, travel to some castles and if that's still not enough, hope that Prince Harry gets engaged soon!

Royal Wedding Week: Top 5 Castle Filming Locations in The UK

The British countryside is rife with gorgeous castles. Some are ruins, some are museums, some are still used as residences and many are used as shooting locations for film and television. I mentioned Hever Castle and Blairquhan Castle earlier this week, but here are 5 more castles that you may recognized from your favorite movies.

5. Arundel Castle
Located in West Sussex, Arundel Castle is primarily the family home of the Duke of Norfolk (lucky fellow!) but the Duke has generously allowed for filming in the grand halls and grounds of the castle. The building was used in 2009's The Young Victoria as a stand in for the Chapel Royal, St. James’s Palace and St. Georges Hall at Windsor Castle. Although Arundel was used as a substitute in The Young Victoria, the real Victoria made a visit to the real castle in 1846 with Prince Albert. The castle was refurbished for her visit and upon leaving, the Queen commented on how beautiful it was. Arundel was also used as a stand-in for Windsor Castle in the feature film The Madness of King George,  the TV serials Victoria & Albert and Henry VIII, and a 1988 episode of Dr. Who.

Photo by Wolfiewolf on Flickr

4. Dover Castle
Another Dr. Who filming location (in 1971's "The Mind of Evil"), Dover Castle is a 12th century castle situated strategically on the famed white cliffs of Dover. It is the largest castle in England and has the only underground barracks built in the country. During WWII, these barracks and tunnels were used as a military hospital and headquarters. As a set, Dover Castle was used as a substitute for the Tower of London in The Other Boleyn Girl, To Kill a King, and Lady Jane. It was also featured in Zeffirelli's Hamlet starring Mel Gibson and in The Wind in the Willows produced by Monty Python's Terry Jones.

Photo by *saxon* on Flickr

3. Broughton Castle
Built in 1300 by John Broughton, this castle was later passed by inheritance to the Fiennes family (ancestors of actors Ralph and Joseph) in 1451. In a strange turn of events, Joseph Fiennes filmed in his ancestral home when it became the set for Shakespeare in Love. The interiors of the castle were used as Viola's (Gwyneth Paltrow's) house and the exteriors can be viewed in the balcony scenes that echo Romeo & Juliet.  The castle has also been used as a stand-in for Jane Grey's home in Lady Jane, Queen Charlotte's apartments in The Madness of King George, and execution grounds in The Scarlet Pimpernel. American stars have also been center stage at Broughton as Three Men and A Little Lady with Tom Selleck, Steve Guttenberg and Ted Danson and Made of Honor with Patrick Dempsey have filmed scenes at the castle and around Banbury, Oxfordshire.

 

Photo by David Stowell on Wikimedia Commons

2. Doune Castle
This 14th century castle in Central Scotland has been the setting for several films starting with 1952's Ivanhoe starring Richard Burton. It is also currently being used for filming the TV series Game of Thrones. But perhaps greatest role Doune has played in pop culture is a variety of places in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Because of difficulties with filming permits, the producers were forced to used tight angles to make the castle appear as different locations. Scenes filmed at Doune include the opening of the film where King Arthur argues with soldiers at the garrison, the "Knight of the Round Table" musical number, the kitchen where Sir Galahad the Chaste is chased by women and the wedding disrupted by Sir Lancelot. The castle has become a bit of a mecca for Python fans and in recent years, an annual "Monty Python Day" has been organized on the grounds.

Photo by pyntofmyld at Flickr

1. Alnwick Castle
Alnwick Castle in Northumberland is still used as the residence of the Duke of Northumberland and as such is the second largest inhabited castle in England. It also has the largest number of film and television credits of any of the castles on this list. It can be see Becket, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Ridley Scott's Robin Hood, Elizabeth starring Cate Blanchett, and the TV series The Black Adder amongst many others. But like Doune Castle, there is one role Alnwick Castle has played that will always be itsmost well known and iconic and that is the role of Hogwarts in all 8 of the Harry Potter films. The Hogwarts of J.K. Rowling's book is a magical place limited only by the reader's imagination. To find a real life setting for Hogwarts in film was undoubtedly no easy feat for the production designers, but Alnwick steps admirably into the role. In the films, it is aided by CGI and special effects, but its real life appearance is still incredibly impressive.

Photo by Thirsty Robot on Flickr

Wordless Wednesday/RWW: Westminster Abbey, London, England

Photo by Wolfiewolf on Flickr

Royal Wedding Week: Top 5 Films About British Royalty

Did you happen to catch the fantastically awful Lifetime movie William & Kate last week? It was fantastically awful in that wonderful Lifetime movie way. I highly recommend it if you have a taste for cheese like I do and especially if you want to play the drinking game.

But William & Kate is just another addition to a long list of movies focused on the private lives of royals and some of them are actually good! Here's a top 5 of movies focused on British royalty.

5. The Lion in Winter (1968)
Peter O'Toole stars in The Lion in Winter as King Henry II who must decide on his successor while surrounded by the machinations and manipulations of his family and court. Henry Plantagenet reigned from 1154-1189 and Richard was chosen as his successor but the particular events of the film are largely fictional. The reason the film makes this list is the brilliant acting. It's chock full of amazing performances including an Academy Award winning turn by Katherine Hepburn as Eleanor of Aquitaine and the film debuts of Anthony Hopkins and Timothy Dalton. The Lion in Winter was shot both in studio and on location in Ireland, Wales and France. Keep an eye out for the stunning stonework of the Montmajour Abbey.

Katherine Hepburn in The Lion in Winter

4. Anne of the Thousand Days (1969)
Anne Boleyn is certainly the best known of Henry VIII's wives and one of the best know historical queens (perhaps coming in second only to her daughter Queen Elizabeth I.) Despite her short tenure in both roles, her story has romance, scandal and tragedy - the perfect source material for a good movie. Most recently portrayed by Helena Bonham Carter, Natalie Portman and Natalie Dormer, the role in Anne of the Thousand Days is played by Geneviève Bujold along side Richard Burton as King Henry VIII. The film captures not only the drama of Anne and the King's relationship, but also the opulence of the Tudor court. The lush costumes won an Academy Award and many of the stunning locations were real Tudor castles and gardens, including Anne's real childhood home Hever Castle.

3. Elizabeth (1998) and Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)
The Elizabethan era was a prosperous time when music, literature and theater thrived and a strong woman ruled over it all - a fascinating time to say the least. These 2 films recount Elizabeth I's 44 year reign over England's Golden Age. The first film covers Elizabeth's transformation from a young woman to a strong, willful Queen while the second focuses on the conflict between Protestant England and Catholic Spain as well as Elizabeth's relationship with Sir Walter Raleigh. Cate Blanchett's nuanced portrayal of the Queen drew raves and earned her of the distinction of being the only female actor to be nominated for an Oscar twice for playing the same role. And, as with Anne of a Thousand Days, the costumes and sets match the extravagance of the time. Many of these sets representing the royal palace were staged at the majestic Durham Cathedral, which was voted on the best-loved buildings in England.

Cate Blanchett as Queen Elizabeth I

2. The Queen (2006)
Helen Mirren's Academy Award winning performance in The Queen was not her first royal role (she played the current Queen's namesake in Elizabeth I), but portraying a living monarch was no doubt a daunting prospect. The film is set in the not so distant past and revolves around the Queen's struggle to deal with the media scrutiny and her family's pain in the wake of Princess Diana's death. Elizabeth II was roundly criticized at the time for staying sequestered at her summer residence, Balmoral Castle, instead of returning to London, the epicenter of a grieving nation. Of course, Balmoral Castle was not available for filming as it is a in-use royal residence so Blairquhan Castle was used as a stand in.

Helen Mirren in The Queen

1. The King's Speech (2010)
Another Oscar winning performance on this list, Colin Firth plays King George VI, Queen Elizabeth II's father and king of England from 1936-1952. World War II was the defining event of these years and Great Britain needed a strong leader in those trying times. The King's Speech follows George VI as he unexpectedly becomes king after his brother's abdication and tries to become a strong figurehead capable of inspiring his nation. In order to do this, he needs to overcome his stammer with the help of speech therapist Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). The production designers enhanced the film by expertly recreating depression-era London, particularly with the striking space used as Logue's consulting room (found at 33 Portland Place.)

You can read more about the production design for The King's Speech at The Guardian and if you're still in need of a royal fix, you can check out Frommer's "Best of Royal London for Free".

Royal Wedding Week: Music Monday: "William & Kate" - Ann Vriend

At last! Royal Wedding Week is here. I can't tell you why I'm so in love with all the Royal Wedding madness; it's just everything my little raised-on-Disney-movies heart desires. And at least I know I'm not alone. Nearly 35% of the world population is expected to watch the wedding in some way.

As it's Music Monday, let's take a look at some of the music news surrounding the festivities. William and Kate have decided to keep the music at the ceremony traditional but the after-party promises to be a lot more fun with tunes by ABBA and Culture Club. In between the two, upon their arrival at Buckingham Palace as newlyweds, the couple will be serenaded by the Welsh Guards.

The Royal Wedding has also inspired some original music. Among others, we have Roadmap Music's "William and Kate." Sung by Canadian singer/songwriter Ann Vriend, the song is a sweet little look at the couple's relationship. I particularly love the stick figure animation in the video. Adorable!

Stay tuned to this blog all week for one new Royal-Wedding-themed post a day!