Rent The Duchess (2008)
3.5 of 5 from 411 ratings
1h 45min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- A chronicle of the life of 18th century aristocrat Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, an ancestor of Princess Diana who was alternately celebrated and reviled for her extravagant political and personal life. From Georgiana's passionate and doomed affair with Earl Grey to the complex ménage à trois with her husband and her best friend, Lady Bess Foster, The Duchess is a very contemporary tale of fame, notoriety and the search for love.
- Actors:
- Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Dominic Cooper, Charlotte Rampling, Hayley Atwell, Simon McBurney, Aidan McArdle, John Shrapnel, Alistair Petrie, Patrick Godfrey, Michael Medwin, Justin Edwards, Richard McCabe, Calvin Dean, Hannah Stokely, Andrew Armour, Emily Jewell, Bruce Mackinnon, Georgia King, Luke Norris
- Directors:
- Saul Dibb
- Writers:
- Jeffrey Hatcher, Anders Thomas Jensen
- Others:
- Michael O'Connor, Michael Carlin, Jan Archibald, Daniel Phillips, Art Direction: Michael Carlin; Set Decoration: Rebecca Alleway, Rebecca Alleway
- Studio:
- Pathe
- Genres:
- Drama
- Collections:
- 10 Films to Watch if You Like All Is True, 2009, A Brief History of Film Weddings: Part 1, CinemaParadiso.co.uk Through Time, Drama Films & TV, Films to Watch If You Like..., Historical British Prime Ministers On Screen, inema Paradiso's 2023 Centenary Club: Part 2, A Brief History of Film...
- Awards:
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 16/03/2009
- Run Time:
- 105 minutes
- Languages:
- English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
- Subtitles:
- English Hard of Hearing
- DVD Regions:
- Region 2
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 2.35:1
- Colour:
- Colour
- Bonus:
- Making of Documentary: The Real Duchess, Casting A Marriage, Locations, A Political Woman, The Empress of Fashion
- Deleted scenes with introduction by Saul Dibb
- Production photography gallery
- Original theatrical trailer
- Audio description
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Reviews (5) of The Duchess
Stellar cast, surprisingly full performance by Keira Knightley - The Duchess review by CP Customer
It's true that Keira Knightley pouts her way through this whole film but her performance as the extraordinary Duchess Georgiana of Devonshire is still remarkably good.
I thought this film would be moderately entertaining and it was more for its historic merit that I rented it. I was pleasantly surprised, then, that the script and plot weren't at all fatuous and that the story was told in a subjective way that lets the viewer make up his or her own mind about whether Georgiana was the English answer to Marie Antoinette: a privileged, vapid, aristocrat who had been handed enormous wealth on a plate, or a cuckolded woman who overcome almost insurmountable difficulties in her marriage to lead an inordinately difficult life under the thumb of a repressive, adulterous husband.
Definitely worth a viewing. I loved it.
3 out of 3 members found this review helpful.
Superb Production - The Duchess review by Rob S
Excellent cast and interesting story playing a bit like a 17th Century Princess Diana. Georgiana courted the press even back then and was quite well known and followed by the public. The Duke (her husband) is portrayed as a real pig and makes some very tough and hypercritical decisons. The film follows their lives through thick and thin and even the introduction of a 2nd woman into the marriage (very Camilla like).
The Blu Ray itself has a very good transfer with terrific level of detail in the intricate costumes and fabulous interiors. Sound wise it' s quite dull as dialogue driven plus I found the score rather repetitive and annoying.
Recommended if you like period dramas.
Overall Movie 4/5, Image 4.5/5, Sound 3/5
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Keira Knightley shines brilliantly as Georgina - The Duchess review by PT
The Duchess sees Keira Knightley at her wonderful best as Georgina. Miss Knightley's transformation from a happy young lady into a tormented soul is superbly acted. Brilliantly supported by her tormentor Ralph Fiennes.
The cinematogrophy is superb, with actual locations adding to the quality. A very moving and class piece of cinema.
1 out of 2 members found this review helpful.