Rent Prince Regent (1979)
4.1 of 5 from 55 ratings
6h 40min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
The life and times of Britain's king-in-waiting, from his debauched youth and two marriages to his father's madness and his belated ascent to the throne. George, Prince of Wales (1762-1830) waited almost 60 years to become King, despite his father George Ill's long battle with mental illness. In his youth the prince (Peter Egan) is a notorious womaniser, gambler and drinker, who runs up huge debts with extravagant renovations of his private palace, Carlton House. At 21 he falls for the charms of Maria Fitzherbert (Susannah York), a twice-widowed Catholic commoner six years his senior. Despite her unsuitability on almost every count, he rushes into a secret marriage. But his father the King (Nigel Davenport), insists he make a 'proper' marriage with his cousin Princess Caroline of Brunswick (Dinah Stabb), in exchange for support in clearing his debts. That marriage is a disaster as young George refuses to give up Maria - and takes a series of other lovers. When George III succumbs to his first bout of madness in 1788, there's a constitutional crisis. Without a King's Speech, there can be no State Opening of Parliament, and plans are drawn up for a Regency. Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger (David Codings) reluctantly agrees with the prince's staunch ally and his own fierce rival Charles James Fox (Keith Barron) that there is only one suitable candidate to assume the duties of the living King. But the King recovers his wits, and the Regency is delayed for another 20 years. Not till our own times would an heir to the British throne wait so long for his coronation. - Actors:
- Peter Egan, Bosco Hogan, Nigel Davenport, Frances White, Keith Barron, Clive Merrison, Susannah York, Dinah Stabb, David Horovitch, Barbara Shelley, Caroline Blakiston, David Collings, Murray Head, Katy Durham-Matthews, Chrissy Iddon, John Bott, Sam Sewell, Ronald Markham, David Pinner, Michael Heath
- Directors:
- Michael Simpson, Michael Hayes
- Producers:
- Colin Tucker
- Writers:
- Robert Muller, Nemone Lethbridge, Reg Gadney
- Studio:
- Simply Media
- Genres:
- British TV, TV Dramas
- Collections:
- A Brief History of Coronations on Screen, A History of British Queens in Film, Drama Films & TV, Historical British Prime Ministers On Screen, A Brief History of Film..., Top 10 Films and Shows About British Princes
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Reviews (1) of Prince Regent
A King Redeemed - Prince Regent review by CV
I don't remember this series at all in 1979 but was delighted to have watched it now. Interesting to hear King George's frequent statements against female politicians as the year the series was made, Margaret Thatcher entered the first year of her premiership! The series of eight substantial episodes covers strictly the Regency period which also covers King George III, magnificently played by Nigel Davenport who commands such presence even on a small screen. But the whole is really dominated by the ever engaging character portrayed by Peter Egan. Whatever prejudice one has for this king, who is always imagined as a frivolous dandy, one is won over to a sympathetic understanding and even a fondness for this "merry" monarch as he seemed always to have had good intention and generosity of spirit. The condition of the series is excellent and the aging processes are incredibly well done in make-up and acting style. Well done Cinemaparadiso for preserving these wonderful forgotten series!
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