Red, White & Royal Blue: A Historian's Analysis -- pt. 1: The Historical Context of RW&RB
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- Опубліковано 18 вер 2024
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We start our detailed analysis of the recent gay romcom, Red White & Royal Blue, by considering the expansive historical background that gives meaning to the fictitious love affair between a British prince and a son of the US President -- from the constant scrutiny of royals' bodies and love lives, to the political symbolism of royal marriages, to the reactions to homosexuality in the palace, to the awkward and paradoxical role of the American presidency and the so-called "first family," and finally to the shifting and fraught diplomatic relationship between Britain and America in the two World Wars. We conclude with a comparison between RW&RB and its post-war forerunner, "The Americanization of Emily."
--Watch the introductory video of this series ("I know I Owe You an Explanation") without ads here: / red-white-royal-98784602
--or watch it on youtube here: • Red, White & Royal Blu...
music: J.S. Bach, "Shafe Konnen Sicher Weiden," performed by Marco Cera. Marco Cera's youtube channel: / @marcocera993
I am so glad your type of analysis is being done while the movie is so fresh, and we can quiz the writers and directors as to their intentions. Because there is always the question of whether the creators deliberately chose elements that serve as symbols, did so unconsciously, or this was just a stroke of luck which happens to make the movie great. I'm sure it would be a combination of all three but to what degree each?
I could see an author trying to write the "all-American novel" with lofty goals, and yet the readers get bogged down in symbolism they don't get. Or turned off by too-obvious symbolism.
I am glad you and others have recognized how truly awesome this movie is from the get-go. Not a Wizard of Oz or It's a Wonderful Life where only decades later do they get the acclaim they deserve, but the creators are gone.
This is SUCH a fascinating deep dive into different historical elements of the US and Great Britain and how they may play into RWRB. Very detailed and informative~
This is beyond interesting! I have never been so invested in British royal history haha. Your analysis of the film makes me want to watch it again with more attention. Can't wait for the next episode!
Wonderful! Looking forward to discovering the rest of your podcasts.
Another really great video! This is so fascinating, and there is so much of British history I didn’t know.
I watched Mary & George and recently went to Scotland and visited some of the Castles there, so I’ve been familiarizing myself with that time period a bit, but there are so many other historical figures I knew nothing about.
I never quite realized how many parallels there were between Alex and Henry and real historical figures. Whether it was intentional or not, it’s still super interesting. I’m excited for the next installment in the series! 😊
I have seen Doune and Edinburgh Castle -- it's very interesting how they are represented! At Doune, everyone was taking either the Monty Python tour or the Outlander tour!
@@Historiansplaining We went to both of those. The audioguide for Doune was quite funny.
We saw Stirling Castle as well, which was properly my favorite. They do 1-hour free guided tours several times a day, that covers a lot of both the military and royal history of the castle. Highly recommended, if you're ever around there again 😊
I just remembered, they filmed the scene where George is lured into a castle and almost murdered in Doune Castle
Thanks for a wonderful and interesting review of a lovely movie! Impressive!
That was wonderful. I loved all the history behind both the British and US relationships. I didn’t realize that the king had to agree to the marriage. Plus I did notice that Henry was on the stage at the end with the Democratic political party even though it was with Alex and I figured that might be a no-no and cause a bit of a scandal.
Been waiting for the next installments! You’re a genius!
You probably love this movie more than I! I have watched it 100+ times since mid April when the DVD arrived. It is my favorite movie ( step down "Lord of the Rings", "Music Makers", "West Side Story", "Citizen Kane")! I have never felt anyone savor an opus as much as I have - and on so many levels, as you in this you tube video ( part 2). I really don't think it is that good a movie but the TOTAL far outweighs the sum of its parts - after each viewing I think there is something more, something I've missed, and there always has been. I would love hear everything you have to say about RW&RB over a liter of Malbec - of course I'd comment/praise/object to every word you'd have to say. I stumbled on to this posting and am almost afraid to view part one but eagerly look forward to part three. Most Gratefully. Ciao
Once again, many thanks for this mega-interesting and enlightening analysis of the many symbolisms in RWRB. I enjoyed it tremendously and to be honest I have only two points of disagreement with you: first, I think that the parallels between Prince Henry and Princess Diana and Prince Harry are a bit exaggerated. Harry's bride was ostensibly welcomed and they had a St. George's chapel properly royal wedding. The notes about Diana's compassion are of course spot on, but I see Henry's visits to the children as having more to do with Henry's unresolved mourning for his father who had died of cancer,
The second point is about the New Year's party. It wasn't an official White House party, but Alex' party. There was nothing official or protocolar about it, just fancy tent outside of the WH with young people dancing to young music and Alex and Nora as hosts.
And thanks for mentioning Frederick the Great! Not only a gay man, but also an enlightened statesman and a superb military leader who consolidated Prussia as an European power.
Again, I can't wait for the next installment. Thanks!!
Thank you! I agree that the parallels btw Harry and Henry are superficial, and the most obvious, like the Meghan relationship, are just coincidence according to Casey. There are more parallels with Diana, though, some of which I'll probably bring up in the next video. Henry's hospital visits definitely relate to his grief; many people also perceive Diana's warmth toward the public as relating to the lack of warmth in her marriage.
You're absolutely right that the two parties in the first act have very different statuses, and are not parallel in that sense -- but they are set up as parallel in the context of the narrative, with the wedding being Henry's "turf," where he functions well, and where Alex is nervous & uncomfortable, and then the NYE party on the WH grounds being Henry's first time on Alex's turf (more literally), where Alex shines and Henry is nervous & uncomfortable. So it is more a comment on their contrasting personae, but I think it is also an indirect comment on their different nations and their stereotypical images.
@@Historiansplaining Thank you for your comprehensive response. It pleases me to say that your analysis has helped me discover quite a number of hidden details within this adorable movie and I'm really looking forward to read in the following weeks or months the rest of your chapters. Thank you!
The New Year's party was White House centric. In the book it is officially called the Young America New Year’s Eve Gala.
Henry's presence was probably part of the PR around them being friends.
Prince Albert Victor, whom you mentioned was not the son of HM, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. He was the son of their son, Bertie, later HM, Edward VII and his wife Alexandre, (Danish Princess) and therefore, the Grand son of Victoria and Albert. After his death, his brother, George became George V, after King Edward died. Wonderful series. The depth of detail is wonderful. I have read the book many times and regularly watch the film. You have added a new depth to the film. Thank you for your thoughtful insights
Absolutely right, thank you!
There’s an interesting picture of queen Elizabeth II standing with every president she’s met since her coronation and it really cemented for me the rift Alex and Henry face, for Alex being first son is transient he won’t always be in the White House but for Henry he “will live and die in these walls” (Kensington) Alex is undeniably incredibly smart but I don’t think he grasps that there isn’t a day Henry can be just himself. There’s not a day when it won’t matter who he is with. Henry represents the old world cynical and tired and Alex the new of boundless enthusiasm.
It’s also interesting that queen Elizabeth shared a close friendship with the obamas that the Obamas didn’t share with the prime minister. Perhaps a reflection that the close felt
Alex won’t always represent this country as first son or even as a senator or president if that’s his goal but Henry will always have to represent his. Also that queen Elizabeth shared a close relationship with the Obamas
Sophia was born a Stuart as a granddaughter of King James VI & I, married a Hannover, and was the mother of King George I. Victoria, the Queen-Empress, was born a Hanover and was the last Hanoverian sovereign.
Something I noticed about the floating dock in the lake scene, Henry is laying alone right near the edge, not comfortably in the middle. It's like he's already ready to jump away.