The Northfield News

IN ANOTHER twist on how to market a film during award season here in Hollywood, a former member of the British royal family, once married to Queen Elizabeth II’s second son, Prince Andrew, Sarah (Ferguson), Duchess of York, was in town to help promote “The Young Victoria,” a film which she produced with American cinematic royalty, the Oscar winning director, Martin Scorsese. Her presence thrilled the audience mainly comprised of guild-voting members and her self-deprecating sense humor had everyone’s rapt attention.

Exquisitely directed by Canadian Jean-Marc Vallee and written by Oscar winner Julian Fellowes, the film traces the early childhood of Queen Victoria in the 1830’s, including the background drama and manipulation of her ascension to the throne, and the courting and subsequent marriage to Prince Albert, her German-born first cousin. Emily Blunt (“The Devil Wears Prada”) leads the stellar cast that also includes Rupert Friend, Miranda Richardson, Mark Strong and Oscar winner Jim Broadbent.

To hear the Duchess speak of her involvement the film’s genesis seems odd and serendipitous. What does one do after leaving the British royal family? You write two books on the kingdom’s longest reigning monarch (“so far”) and then decide to produce another costume drama with your credentials and maybe even some ex-familial connections you still have. Ferguson went to producer Oscar-winning producer Graham King with a number of movie ideas. He jumped at the opportunity to produce with her a film about the early years of Queen Victoria. At the time, King was producing “The Departed” with Martin Scorsese and when King approached Scorsese, the idea of this angle appealed to him too. It took several years to raise the money and King, also at the presentation, emphasized the film’s shoestring budget several times despite its filmmaking team and with everyone working for less money. But you would never know it from the impeccable attention to detail, including costumes (by two time Oscar winner Sandy Powell), set design and locations. King joked that when pre-production began and since Sarah hadn’t produced a film before, he had to play to Sarah’s strengths. Location scouting would be her first natural responsibility as a producer. And about how she did it, she added: “Well, I know a lot of the owners (of castles) and I could be self-deprecating about it, but the truth is that a lot of them are my friends, and are really wonderful, brilliant, people."

Off the topic, but of great interest with an obvious ancestral connection to the film, Ferguson joked that she married “the better looking one.” Despite the world media’s scrutiny on her private and personal life, she takes great pride and comfort in her relationship with her ex-husband’s family. "Since Andrew and I are divorced to each other, not from each other...one of the best decisions I've made in life is choosing to remain friends with the Queen. She is the grandmother to my children.”

The film opens in limited release in the US on December 18th.