When Princess Elizabeth married Philip Mountbatten in 1947, Britain was still in a period of rationing.
The British had experienced rationing before, but this time around was especially grim; it wasn’t until 1954 that the last of the rations were finally lifted. Restricted items included gasoline, sugar, and meat.
Even clothing was rationed by using a points system. “The number of points that each piece of clothing would be valued at was determined by not only how much labor went into making it, but also how much material was used,” says Wikipedia. “A dress could run someone 11 coupons, whereas a pair of stockings only cost two.”¹
Clothing rationing became so severe that one coat cost almost a whole year’s worth of rations.²
Princess Elizabeth herself was not exempt from this business of austerity. Although she was granted an extra 200 coupons for her wedding, she had to pay for the material in her wedding gown with ration coupons.³
Her wedding was The Event of 1947. A thoroughly-spent Britain was still reeling from the devastating effects of the war: Why did victory feel so much like defeat?
The wedding became a symbol of a longed-for Brighter Future, and folks were eager to buy into it. People sent precious ration coupons to Buckingham Palace to help pay for the wedding, but these were returned to their owners. Transferring coupons was illegal.
It was a time of mixed grief and hope, and was, surprisingly, captured in the Hollywood musical, Royal Wedding (1951).
Fred and Jane: Broadway Stars. Image: WiffleGif
Fred Astaire and Jane Powell star as Broadway celebrities – and siblings – who travel to London to perform for the royal wedding celebrations. En route to England, Powell meets a handsome lord (Peter Lawford), who proves to be Very Distracting, while Astaire does little else but rehearse and create new dance routines.
If you’re thinking the plot bears a Faint Resemblance to Astaire’s pre-Hollywood career, you’d be right. For example, Astaire and Powell perform for fellow passengers on the ship at the captain’s request. A ferocious storm arises, but the siblings, being the Professionals they are, continue their performance despite the furniture sliding around them. The scene is, apparently, based on a voyage the real Astaire siblings experienced in the 1920s.
When they arrive in London, our glam Americans take the British as they find them. Astaire meets a beautiful Londoner (Sarah Churchill, of the Churchills) and her pubkeeper father (Albert Sharpe). Sharpe hates all Americans due to G.I.s Skipping Out on their drink bills; Astaire promptly settles the tab to restore Anglo-American relations.
In this film, Churchill and Sharpe represent the average Londoner. Beneath his crusty exterior, Sharpe is a warmhearted fellow, a man who takes the trouble to send a gift to the royal couple, even though he ain’t exactly Rolling In Dough. As it turns out, anyone who sends a gift is invited to the palace to view the Wedding Loot, and Sharpe dons his finest for the occasion. The royal wedding means that much to him.
As for Churchill, she’s a beautiful, accomplished woman with practical, durable clothes. (She’ll not spend her ration coupons foolishly!) Compare her post-war wardrobe to Powell’s attire:
Now, you may be wondering why a film about a 1947 wedding was released as late as 1951. This was due, in part, to changes of directors and leading women. According to IMDb, actress June Allyson was originally cast in Powell’s role, but she withdrew when she found out she was pregnant. Judy Garland was then hired, a move that caused the original director to quit. A new director, Stanley Donen, was signed, but Garland was eventually fired for absenteeism. The role of Astaire’s sister finally went to Powell.4
As far as plots go, this film is rather thin, but it has innovative numbers, such as the famous scene where Fred Astaire dances on the ceiling.
Fred’s famous ceiling dance routine. Image: Gfycat
Royal Wedding is more than an entertaining, feel-good film. It has wonderful music*, amusing lines, and a charming cast.
It’s also a tribute to post-war civilians who struggled with a costly military victory, but still embraced a young princess and her wedding.
This post is part of The WEDDING BELLS Blogathon, hosted by Hometowns to Hollywood.
Royal Wedding: starring Fred Astaire, Jane Powell, Peter Lawford. Directed by Stanley Donen. Written by Alan J. Lerner. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1951, Technicolor, 93 mins.
Notes
¹Wikipedia. (Retrieved January 22, 2020.) Rationing in the United Kingdom.
²Ibid.
³Town & Country. (Retrieved January 22, 2020.) The True Story of Queen Elizabeth’s Wedding Dress, by Caroline Hallemann.
4IMDb. (Retrieved January 22, 2020.) Royal Wedding (1951).
*Royal Wedding was nominated for an Oscar: Best Music, Original Song.
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Start singin’? I’ll be singing Too Late Now (well, in my head anyway) all day long.
I really enjoyed this article which has given me a new appreciation for Royal Wedding.
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If you were to sing a song all day, Too Late Now is a pretty good choice. 🙂 Embrace your inner (or outer?) chanteuse, I always say.
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Very interesting! Don’t think I’ve seen this movie. The details you provide have piqued my interest.
It’s amazing that Elizabeth has been on the throne for so many years. She has had a long, long career.
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She has, hasn’t she? A truly remarkable woman, I think.
I hope you get the chance to see “Royal Wedding”. It’s not the best film anyone ever made, but it does have a lot of charm – along with Fred dancing on the ceiling.
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I think I set my expectations too high before seeing it, as I adore Fred Astaire and Jane Powell. However, as you said, it’s an entertaining film with some fun musical numbers and one bona fide classic (Fred’s dance on the ceiling, which Lionel Ritchie copied for a music video).
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I love Lionel Ritchie’s Dancing on the Ceiling tribute. I’m going to be humming that song all day now!
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I’d forgotten how severe the rationing was and how long it lasted. Thank you for this very informative and entertaining review!
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The WWII-era rationing was a grim period, wasn’t it? What a rip-off for a nation…you win the war, but such a price to pay!
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Great review, Ruth! The historical context you gave us was very interesting. I love the dance on the ship and of course, Fred’s dance on the ceiling. It’s a must see!
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Thanks! Like you said, Fred’s ceiling dance is a must see. It never gets old, does it?
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That dancing about the room scene is such a classic! One of my favorite movie dance scenes! 🙂
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Mine too! Fred makes dancing on the ceiling look so easy and utterly cool, doesn’t he?
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Oh my, I loved this post! what with “The Crown,” and the Harry/ Meghan business, I’m all agog over the Royals. They certainly are a fascinating bunch and that little extra they lend to this lovely film feels just right. Loved it!
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Thanks! Like you said, the Royals are a fascinating and well-dressed bunch. I always say I don’t pay them much attention, but who am I kidding? I always want to know what they’re up to.
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This is one I remember only for Astaire’s wall and ceiling dancing. I’ll have to check it out again, sounds like I missed something!
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It struck me, the last time I watched this film, how anti-glam it was, in a way. Except for Fred’s fab wall + ceiling number, of course. 🙂
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I love the historical background you note in this post. It certainly was a difficult period for the UK, with victory perhaps feeling like defeat. It’s a fun film, and I especially get a kick out of the routine Astaire and Powell do with “How Could You Believe Me When I Said I Loved You.” Thanks for a great post.
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Ha! Yeah, I love that number. Power & Astaire are terrific, and I always find myself wishing they had done another musical together.
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I love the review but I’m more intrigued by the drama surrounding Judy Garland–why did the director quit when she was cast? Why was she absent so much? OOOHHH…
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Ah, he had directed her in Summer Stock the year before, and he just. couldn’t. do it. again.
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Ahhh–interesting!
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Thanks so much for writing about this movies! I love the songs and performances in it. I have to admit, I popped it into the DVD player for the last 2 royal weddings, lol.
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I totally understand. I’m someone who has to watch royal weddings Live, not just the highlights afterwards.
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Awesome review! I agree with you that the plot is thin on this one, but I love the part where Astaire dances on the ceiling. And with the hat rack. Magic.
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“Magic” is the perfect description. 🙂
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