The Prince and the Showgirl (1957)

Directed by
Laurence Olivier

Writing credits
Terence Rattigan (also play The Sleeping Prince)

Tagline
Some countries have a medal for Everything.

Cast
Marilyn Monroe ... Elsie Marina
Laurence Olivier ... Charles, the Prince Regent
Sybil Thorndike ... The Queen Dowager
Richard Wattis ... Northbrook
Jeremy Spenser ... King Nicolas
Esmond Knight ... Hoffman
Paul Hardwick ... Major Domo
Rosamund Greenwood ... Maud
Aubrey Dexter ... The Ambassador
Maxine Audley ... Lady Sunningdale
Harold Goodwin ... Call Boy
Andreas Malandrinos ... Valet with Violin) (as Andreas Melandrinos)
Jean Kent ... Masie Springfield
Daphne Anderson ... Fanny
Gillian Owen ... Maggie

Plot
When Grandduke Charles, the prince-regent of Carpatha, a fictitious Balkan country which could start a European war by switching alliances, visits London for the coronation of the new British king in 1911, and spends his one evening off at the Coconut Girl club, the reputed stickler for protocol is so charmed by a clumsy American understudy that he orders his British attaché to invite her to the embassy for a private supper. Being overlooked and understanding German, she learns of the repressive attitude of the regent and the plans of his reformist, pro-German minor son, king Nicholas, to take over power by surprise, but doesn't dodge and tries to reconcile father and son. The queen-dowager decides to make her lady-in-waiting for the coronation day, so she stays in the picture to everyone else's surprise.

Trivia
Laurence Olivier was reputedly so driven mad by Marilyn Monroe's difficult behaviour that he practically abandoned directing for the screen, only returning in 1970 to make Three Sisters (1970).