Diane (1956 film): Difference between revisions

Diane
Diane
	Original film poster
Directed by	David Miller
Written by	Christopher Isherwood; John Erskine
Produced by	Edwin H. Knopf
Starring	Lana Turner; Pedro Armendáriz; Roger Moore; Marisa Pavan; Sir Cedric Hardwicke; Torin Thatcher; Taina Elg; John Lupton; Henry Daniell
Cinematography	Robert H. Planck
Edited by	John McSweeney Jr.
Music by	Miklós Rózsa
Production; company	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Distributed by	Loew's Inc.
Release date	January 12, 1956;
Running time	110 min
Country	United States
Budget	$2,660,000
Box office	$1,232,000

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Diane is a 1956 American historical drama film about the life of Diane de Poitiers, produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, directed by David Miller, and produced by Edwin H. Knopf from a screenplay by Christopher Isherwood based on a story by John Erskine. The music score was composed by Miklós Rózsa, and Robert H. Planck was the cinematographer, who filmed in CinemaScope and Eastmancolor. The exceptionally lavish costumes were designed by Walter Plunkett.

The film stars Lana Turner, Pedro Armendáriz, Roger Moore, and Marisa Pavan, and features Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Torin Thatcher, Taina Elg, John Lupton, Henry Daniell, Melville Cooper and an early film appearance by Stuart Whitman. It was Turner's last film under her longtime MGM contract and thus marked another stage in the decline of the studio star system.

Plot

The action is set in 16th-century France.

Diane de Poitiers (Lana Turner) becomes the mistress of Prince Henri (Roger Moore), second in line to the throne. Their liaison continues through Henri's arranged marriage to the Italian Catherine de' Medici (Marisa Pavan).

Unknown to Catherine, her Medici relations arrange the death of the Dauphin and Henri's ascent to the throne as King Henry II. The antagonism of the two women, abetted by Medici scheming, eventually results in the death of Henri. Catherine, now ruling as regent for her three young sons, banishes Diane but spares her rival's life in a gesture of mutual respect.

Cast

Lana Turner as Diane de Poitiers
Pedro Armendáriz as King Francis I of France
Roger Moore as Prince Henri (later King Henry II)
Marisa Pavan as Catherine de' Medici
Sir Cedric Hardwicke as Ruggieri
Torin Thatcher as Count de Brézé
Taina Elg as Alys
John Lupton as Regnault
Marc Cavell as Piero
Henry Daniell as Gondi
Ronald Green as The Dauphin
Sean McClory as Count Montgomery
Geoffrey Toone as Duke of Savoy
Michael Ansara as Count Ridolfi
Melville Cooper as Court Physician
Jamie Farr as Count Ridolfi's Squire
Paul Préboist

Production

The film was based on a fifty-page unpublished manuscript called "Diane de Poitiers" by John Erskine, who died in 1951. Film rights were bought in 1939 by producer Edwin H Knopf, story editor for Sam Goldwyn.^[2] Knopf tried to get financing for the film but was unable.

In 1953 the project was reactivated. Knopf re-secured the film rights from Erskine's estate and took the project to Dore Schary, head of production at MGM, where Knopft had a deal. Schary agreed to finance. Greer Garson was originally mentioned as a possible lead.^[3] Schary also announced he hoped to get Greta Garbo to come out of retirement to play the role.^[4] The part eventually went to Lana Turner as the last role of her M-G-M contract.

Turner said Diane was an interesting woman "one who used her charm intelligently. Actually she was a forerunner of today's modern woman; she was Europe's first outdoor girl, a health fan and an advocate of the cold bath. She wasn't afraid to use her head, but was never caught with her brains showing."^[5]

Reception

Christopher Isherwood deplored the treatment of his screenplay, attributing the problems to interventions by the leading lady.

Miklós Rózsa created an arrangement of his music called "Beauty and Grace," and his score has been issued on compact discs by Film Score Monthly.

Box office

The film was an expensive failure at the box office – according to MGM records it made only $461,000 in the US and Canada and $771,000 elsewhere resulting in a loss of $2,660,000.^[1]

Home media

Diane was released to DVD by Warner Home Video on May 28, 2013 via the Warner Archive DVD-on-demand service.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
^ Parsons, Louella O. (July 25, 1939). "Close-Ups and Long-Shots of the Motion Picture Scene". The Washington Post. p. 8.
^ Pryor, Thomas M. (February 16, 1953). "KNOPF TO PRODUCE STORY BY ERSKINE: Unpublished 'Diane de Poitiers' Will Be Filmed Independently – Garson Eyed for Lead". The New York Times. p. 16.
^ Pryor, Thomas (February 1, 1954). "METRO STRESSING CINEMASCOPE USE: Five of Eight Films to Be Done in April and May Set for Wide Screen". The New York Times. p. 19.
^ Hopper, Hedda (December 18, 1955). "Lana Shies at Glamour, Longs for High Comedy". Los Angeles Times. p. D1.

External links

Diane at IMDb
Diane at Rotten Tomatoes
Diane at AllMovie
Diane at the TCM Movie Database
Diane at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films

[Mannix-1] The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.

[2] Parsons, Louella O. (July 25, 1939). "Close-Ups and Long-Shots of the Motion Picture Scene". The Washington Post. p. 8.

[3] Pryor, Thomas M. (February 16, 1953). "KNOPF TO PRODUCE STORY BY ERSKINE: Unpublished 'Diane de Poitiers' Will Be Filmed Independently – Garson Eyed for Lead". The New York Times. p. 16.

[4] Pryor, Thomas (February 1, 1954). "METRO STRESSING CINEMASCOPE USE: Five of Eight Films to Be Done in April and May Set for Wide Screen". The New York Times. p. 19.

[5] Hopper, Hedda (December 18, 1955). "Lana Shies at Glamour, Longs for High Comedy". Los Angeles Times. p. D1.

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[2]

[3]

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|1956 film by David Miller}}
+{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2018}}
 {{Infobox film
 | name           = Diane
@@ Line 9: / Line 11: @@
 | music          = [[Miklós Rózsa]]
 | cinematography = [[Robert H. Planck]]
-| editing        = [[John McSweeney Jr]]
+| editing        = [[John McSweeney Jr.]]
 | studio         = [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]]
+| distributor    = [[Loews Cineplex Entertainment|Loew's Inc.]]
 | released       = {{Film date|1956|01|12}}
 | runtime        = 110 min
 | country        = United States
-| awards         =
-| language       = English
 | budget         = $2,660,000<ref name="Mannix">{{Citation | title = The Eddie Mannix Ledger | publisher = Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study | place = Los Angeles}}.</ref>
-|gross = $1,232,000<ref name="Mannix"/>
+| gross          = $1,232,000<ref name="Mannix"/>
 }}
-'''''Diane''''' is a 1956 American [[historical film]] [[drama film|drama]] about the life of [[Diane de Poitiers]], produced by [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]], directed by [[David Miller (director)|David Miller]], and produced by [[Edwin H. Knopf]] from a [[screenplay]] by [[Christopher Isherwood]] based on a story by [[John Erskine (educator)|John Erskine]]. The music score was composed by [[Miklós Rózsa]], and [[Robert H. Planck]] was the [[cinematographer]], who filmed in [[CinemaScope]] and [[Eastmancolor]]. The exceptionally lavish costumes were designed by [[Walter Plunkett]].
+'''''Diane''''' is a 1956 American [[historical drama|historical drama film]] about the life of [[Diane de Poitiers]], produced by [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]], directed by [[David Miller (director)|David Miller]], and produced by [[Edwin H. Knopf]] from a screenplay by [[Christopher Isherwood]] based on a story by [[John Erskine (educator)|John Erskine]]. The music score was composed by [[Miklós Rózsa]], and [[Robert H. Planck]] was the [[cinematographer]], who filmed in [[CinemaScope]] and [[Eastmancolor]]. The exceptionally lavish costumes were designed by [[Walter Plunkett]].
 The film stars [[Lana Turner]], [[Pedro Armendáriz]], [[Roger Moore]], and [[Marisa Pavan]], and features [[Sir Cedric Hardwicke]], [[Torin Thatcher]], [[Taina Elg]], [[John Lupton]], [[Henry Daniell]], [[Melville Cooper]] and an early film appearance by [[Stuart Whitman]]. It was Turner's last film under her longtime MGM contract and thus marked another stage in the decline of the studio star system.
@@ Line 27: / Line 28: @@
 The action is set in 16th-century France.
-Diane de Poitiers (Lana Turner) becomes the mistress of Prince Henri (Roger Moore), second in line to the throne. Their liaison continues through Henri's arranged marriage to the Italian [[Catherine de' Medici]] (Marisa Pavan). Unknown to Catherine, her Medici relations arrange the death of the Dauphin and Henri's ascent to the throne as [[Henry II of France|King Henry II]]. The antagonism of the two women, abetted by Medici scheming, eventually results in the death of Henri. Catherine, now ruling as regent for her three young sons, banishes Diane but spares her rival's life in a gesture of mutual respect.
+[[Diane de Poitiers]] ([[Lana Turner]]) becomes the mistress of Prince Henri ([[Roger Moore]]), second in line to the throne. Their liaison continues through Henri's arranged marriage to the Italian [[Catherine de' Medici]] ([[Marisa Pavan]]).
+Unknown to Catherine, her Medici relations arrange the death of the Dauphin and Henri's ascent to the throne as [[Henry II of France|King Henry II]]. The antagonism of the two women, abetted by Medici scheming, eventually results in the death of Henri. Catherine, now ruling as regent for her three young sons, banishes Diane but spares her rival's life in a gesture of mutual respect.
 ==Cast==
-* [[Lana Turner]] - [[Diane de Poitiers]]
+* [[Lana Turner]] as [[Diane de Poitiers]]
-* [[Pedro Armendáriz]]  - [[King Francis I of France]]
+* [[Pedro Armendáriz]] as [[King Francis I of France]]
-* [[Roger Moore]]  - Prince Henri (later [[Henry II of France|King Henry II]])
+* [[Roger Moore]] as Prince Henri (later [[Henry II of France|King Henry II]])
-* [[Marisa Pavan]]  - [[Catherine de' Medici]]
+* [[Marisa Pavan]] as [[Catherine de' Medici]]
-* [[Sir Cedric Hardwicke]]  - Ruggieri
+* [[Sir Cedric Hardwicke]] as [[Cosimo Ruggeri|Ruggieri]]
-* [[Torin Thatcher]]  - Count de Brèze
+* [[Torin Thatcher]] as [[Louis de Brézé|Count de Brézé]]
-* [[Taina Elg]]  - Alys
+* [[Taina Elg]] as Alys
-* [[John Lupton]]  - Regnault
+* [[John Lupton]] as Regnault
+* [[Marc Cavell (actor)|Marc Cavell]] as Piero
-* [[Henry Daniell]]  - [[Albert de Gondi|Gondi]]
-* [[Ronald Green (actor)|Ronald Green]] - [[Francis II of France|The Dauphin]]
+* [[Henry Daniell]] as [[Albert de Gondi|Gondi]]
+* Ronald Green as [[Francis II of France|The Dauphin]]
-* [[Sean McClory]]  - [[Gabriel, comte de Montgomery|Count Montgomery]]
+* [[Sean McClory]] as [[Gabriel, comte de Montgomery|Count Montgomery]]
-* [[Geoffrey Toone]]  - Duke of Savoy
-* [[Michael Ansara]]  - Count Ridolfi
+* [[Geoffrey Toone]] as Duke of Savoy
-* [[Melville Cooper]]  - Court Physician
+* [[Michael Ansara]] as Count Ridolfi
+* [[Melville Cooper]] as Court Physician
+* [[Jamie Farr]] as Count Ridolfi's Squire
+* [[Paul Préboist]]
 ==Production==
+[[File:Lana Turner costume sketch by Walter Plunkett, 1955.jpg|thumb|right|upright|alt=Drawing of a woman in a dress|Costume sketch of Turner by [[Walter Plunkett]] for ''Diane'']]
-The film was based on a fifty-page unpublished manuscript called "Diane de Poitiers" by John Erskine, who died in 1951. Film rights were bought in 1939 by producer Edwin H Knopf, story editor for [[Sam Goldwyn]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Louella O.|last= Parsons|title= Close-Ups and Long-Shots Of the Motion Picture Scene|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=25 July 1939|page= 8}}</ref> Knopf tried to get financing for the film but was unable.
+The film was based on a fifty-page unpublished manuscript called "Diane de Poitiers" by John Erskine, who died in 1951. Film rights were bought in 1939 by producer Edwin H Knopf, story editor for [[Sam Goldwyn]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Louella O.|last= Parsons|title= Close-Ups and Long-Shots of the Motion Picture Scene|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=July 25, 1939|page= 8}}</ref> Knopf tried to get financing for the film but was unable.
-In 1953 the project was reactivated. Knopf re-secured the film rights from Erskine's estate and took the project to [[Dore Schary]], head of production at MGM, where Knopft had a deal. Schary agreed to finance. [[Greer Garson]] was originally mentioned as a possible lead.<ref>{{cite news|title=KNOPF TO PRODUCE STORY BY ERSKINE: Unpublished 'Diane de Poitiers' Will Be Filmed Independently -- Garson Eyed for Lead|first=Thomas M. |last=Pryor|newspaper=New York Times|date=16 Feb 1953|page= 16}}</ref> Schary also announced he hoped to get [[Greta Garbo]] to come out of retirement to play the role.<ref>{{cite news|title=METRO STRESSING CINEMASCOPE USE: Five of Eight Films to Be Done in April and May Set for Wide Screen|first=Thomas|last=Pryor|newspaper=New York Times |date=1 Feb 1954|page= 19}}</ref> It eventually went to Lana Turner.
+In 1953 the project was reactivated. Knopf re-secured the film rights from Erskine's estate and took the project to [[Dore Schary]], head of production at MGM, where Knopft had a deal. Schary agreed to finance. [[Greer Garson]] was originally mentioned as a possible lead.<ref>{{cite news|title=KNOPF TO PRODUCE STORY BY ERSKINE: Unpublished 'Diane de Poitiers' Will Be Filmed Independently – Garson Eyed for Lead|first=Thomas M. |last=Pryor|newspaper=The New York Times|date=February 16, 1953|page= 16}}</ref> Schary also announced he hoped to get [[Greta Garbo]] to come out of retirement to play the role.<ref>{{cite news|title=METRO STRESSING CINEMASCOPE USE: Five of Eight Films to Be Done in April and May Set for Wide Screen|first=Thomas|last=Pryor|newspaper=The New York Times |date=February 1, 1954|page= 19}}</ref> The part eventually went to Lana Turner as the last role of her M-G-M contract.
-Turner said Diane was an interesting woman "one who used her charm intelligently. Actually she was a forerunner of today's modern woman; she was Europe's first outdoor girl, a health fan and an advocate of the cold bath. She wasn't afraid to use her head, but was never caught with her brains showing."<ref>{{cite news|title=Lana Shies at Glamour, Longs for High Comedy|last=Hopper|first= Hedda|newspaper= Los Angeles Times|date=18 Dec 1955|page= D1}}</ref>
+Turner said Diane was an interesting woman "one who used her charm intelligently. Actually she was a forerunner of today's modern woman; she was Europe's first outdoor girl, a health fan and an advocate of the cold bath. She wasn't afraid to use her head, but was never caught with her brains showing."<ref>{{cite news|title=Lana Shies at Glamour, Longs for High Comedy|last=Hopper|first= Hedda|newspaper= Los Angeles Times|date=December 18, 1955|page= D1}}</ref>
 ==Reception==
@@ Line 57: / Line 64: @@
 [[Miklós Rózsa]] created an arrangement of his music called "Beauty and Grace," and his score has been issued on compact discs by [[Film Score Monthly]].
-===Box Office===
+===Box office===
-The film was an expensive failure at the box office - according to MGM records it made only $461,000 in the US and Canada and $771,000 elsewhere resulting in a loss of $2,660,000.<ref name="Mannix"/>
+The film was an expensive failure at the box office – according to MGM records it made only $461,000 in the US and Canada and $771,000 elsewhere resulting in a loss of $2,660,000.<ref name="Mannix"/>
-==DVD==
+==Home media==
 ''Diane'' was released to DVD by Warner Home Video on May 28, 2013 via the Warner Archive DVD-on-demand service.
 ==See also==
-*[[List of American films of 1956]]
+* [[List of American films of 1956]]
 ==References==
@@ Line 71: / Line 78: @@
 ==External links==
 * {{IMDb title|id=0049140|title=Diane}}
+* {{Rotten Tomatoes|diane}}
 * {{Amg movie|13619|Diane}}
+* {{tcmdb title|id=73065}}
+* {{AFI film|id=51484|title=Diane}}
 {{David Miller|state=expanded}}
 {{Isherwood}}
-[[Category:American drama films]]
+[[Category:American historical drama films]]
-[[Category:American films]]
 [[Category:1956 films]]
 [[Category:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films]]
+[[Category:CinemaScope films]]
 [[Category:Biographical films about French royalty]]
-[[Category:1950s drama films]]
+[[Category:Cultural depictions of Catherine de' Medici]]
-[[Category:English-language films]]
+[[Category:1950s historical drama films]]
+[[Category:1950s English-language films]]
 [[Category:Films directed by David Miller]]
 [[Category:Films set in the 16th century]]
-[[Category:Film scores by Miklós Rózsa]]
+[[Category:Films scored by Miklós Rózsa]]
+[[Category:1956 drama films]]
+[[Category:1950s American films]]

v t e Christopher Isherwood
Prose fiction	The Memorial (1932) Mr Norris Changes Trains (1935) Goodbye to Berlin (1939) Prater Violet (1945) The Berlin Stories (1945) The World in the Evening (1954) Down There on a Visit (1962) A Single Man (1964) A Meeting by the River (1967) Jacob's Hands: A Fable (1997)
Non-fiction	Journey to a War (1939) Christopher and His Kind (1976)
Plays	The Dog Beneath the Skin (1935) The Ascent of F6 (1937) On the Frontier (1938)
Screenplays	Little Friend (1934) Rage in Heaven (1941) Forever and a Day (1943) Adventure in Baltimore (1949; story) The Great Sinner (1949) Diane (1956) The Loved One (1965) The Sailor from Gibraltar (1967) Frankenstein: The True Story (1973)
Adaptations	I Am a Camera (1951 play) I Am a Camera (1955 film) Cabaret (1966 musical) Cabaret (1972 film) A Single Man (2009) Christopher and His Kind (2011)
Other	Don Bachardy Sally Bowles Jean Ross Edward Upward W. H. Auden Stephen Spender Aldous Huxley Swami Prabhavananda James P. White Katherine Bucknell Chris & Don (2008)