The Duchess (2008)
Biography, Drama, History |
The Duchess is a British drama film directed by Saul Dibb. It is based on Amanda Foreman’s biography of the late 18th-century English aristocrat Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire. It was released in September 2008 in the United Kingdom. The film won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design, and was nominated for Best Art Direction.
The young Georgiana is contracted in marriage to William Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire, with the expectation that she produce his male heir. Georgiana is quickly disillusioned by her husband, especially when Charlotte, a motherless child, comes to live with them while Georgiana is pregnant. William expects Georgiana to tolerate the presence of the child who turns out to be his own illegitimate offspring. He also suggests that she “practise mothering” on the young girl. When Georgiana gives birth to a girl, William is displeased. In his mind he has fulfilled his obligations to her as her husband but, by failing to provide him with a legitimate male heir, she has failed in her obligations as his wife.
Georgiana socialises with the young Lady Bess Foster at Bath and kindly invites her to live with them, since Bess has nowhere else to go. William has an affair with Bess, causing Georgiana to feel robbed of her only friend and betrayed by Bess. Bess explains to Georgiana that her motive is to regain her three sons and continues to live with them.
Director: Saul Dibb
Writers: Jeffrey Hatcher (screenplay), Anders Thomas Jensen (screenplay), Saul Dibb (screenplay), Amanda Foreman (book)
Stars: Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Charlotte Rampling, Dominic Cooper, Hayley Atwell, Simon McBurney, Aidan McArdle
►Cast:
| Keira Knightley | … | Georgiana |
| Ralph Fiennes | … | The Duke |
| Charlotte Rampling | … | Lady Spencer |
| Dominic Cooper | … | Charles Grey |
| Hayley Atwell | … | Bess Foster |
| Simon McBurney | … | Charles Fox |
| Aidan McArdle | … | Richard Sheridan |
| John Shrapnel | … | General Grey |
| Alistair Petrie | … | Heaton |
| Patrick Godfrey | … | Dr. Neville |
| Michael Medwin | … | Speechmaker |
| Justin Edwards | … | Macaroni |
| Richard McCabe | … | Sir James Hare |
| Calvin A. Dean | … | Devonshire House Servant (as Calvin Dean) |
| Hannah Stokely | … | Devonshire House Maid |
| Andrew Armour | … | Burleigh (as Andy Armour) |
| Emily Jewell | … | Nanny |
| Bruce Mackinnon | … | Sir Peter Teazle (as Bruce MacKinnon) |
| Georgia King | … | Lady Teazle |
| Luke Norris | … | Footman |
| Eva Hrela | … | Charlotte (Age 3) |
| Poppy Wigglesworth | … | Charlotte (Age 9) |
| Emily Cohen | … | Harryo |
| Mercy Fiennes Tiffin | … | Little G |
| Sebastian Applewhite | … | Augustus |
| Angus McEwan | … | Lord Robert |
| Kate Burdette | … | Lady Harriet |
| Laura Stevely | … | Lady Elizabeth |
| Benjamin Noble | … | Lord Ambrose (as Ben Garlick) |
| Max Bennett | … | Lord Walter |
| Camilla Arfwedson | … | Lady Charlotte |
| Fiona Sheehan | … | Young Girl in Theatre |
| Sarah Wyatt | … | Servant Girl |
| Thomas Arnold | … | Dealer |
| Gilbert Wynne | … | Althorpe Servant |
| Richard Curzon | … | Heaton’s Clerk |
| Sophia Johnston | … | Guest at Lady Melbourne’s Ball |
| Katerina Tana | … | Guest at Lady Melbourne’s Ball |
| Ailsa Baker | … | Aristocrat at political rally |
| Daniel Bardwell | … | Gamer |
| Cristóbal Blanco García | … | Aristocrat |
| Cris Blanco | … | Aristocrat at Political Rally |
| Philippa Burt | … | Party Guest |
| Leigh Daniels | … | Dancer |
| John K. Duncan | … | Devonshire Servant |
| Julie Eagleton | … | Aristocrat |
| Steve Hardy | … | Tenant |
| Helen Holman | … | Theatre Patron |
| Emily Jardine | … | Prostitute |
| James MacColl | … | Bath Servant |
| Dale Mercer | … | Bess’s Dance Partner |
| Tobias Nicholls | … | Devonshire Servant |
| Carl Robinson | … | Footman 2 |
| John Robinson | … | Aristocrat at Theatre |
| Rose Romain | … | Maid |
| Mark Shrimpton | … | Devonshire House Servant |
| Michael Thomson | … | Red Coats Soldier |
| Nigel Wright | … | Servant |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia