The Duchess (2008 film)
| The Duchess | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Saul Dibb |
| Produced by |
Michael Kuhn Gabrielle Tana |
| Screenplay by |
Jeffrey Hatcher Anders Thomas Jensen Saul Dibb |
| Based on |
Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire by Amanda Foreman |
| Starring |
Keira Knightley Ralph Fiennes Hayley Atwell Charlotte Rampling Dominic Cooper |
| Music by | Rachel Portman |
| Cinematography | Gyula Pados |
| Edited by | Masahiro Hirakubo |
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Production
company |
Qwerty Films
Magnolia Mae Films |
| Distributed by | Pathe Distribution (UK) StudioCanal (Germany) |
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Release date
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Running time
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110 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom Italy France United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | £13.5 million |
| Box office | $43,306,325 |
The Duchess is a 2008 British drama film directed by Saul Dibb. It is based on Amanda Foreman's biography of the 18th-century Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire. It was released in September 2008 in the UK.
Set in the late 18th century, the story follows the life of Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire. Well known for her beauty and fashion sense, she is also remembered for her extravagance and gambling habits. Despite the blatant infidelities of her husband, the cold and much older William Cavendish, the 5th Duke of Devonshire, Georgiana thrives, becoming a fashion icon, a doting mother, a shrewd political operator, and darling of the common people. In befriending Lady Bess Foster, Georgiana is crushed when Bess and The Duke begin an affair. Despite Georgiana's anger, the Duke wants Bess to remain living with them. Bess later explains to Georgiana that the reason she began the affair with the Duke was so that she could get her children back. The Duke wants a male heir, which the Duchess has not yet provided. The idea is that Bess can, since she already has three sons, of whom the Duke is very fond, treating them as if they were his own.
In response to the betrayal she experiences at home, Georgiana allows herself to develop feelings for Charles Grey. However, when she asks the Duke permission to have him as a lover, the Duke is enraged and in a fit of violence, rapes Georgiana. The rape leads to a pregnancy and a son, William Cavendish, is born. After producing a male heir, Georgiana (with the help of Bess) begins a love affair with Charles Grey, which leads to another pregnancy. The Duke threatens not only to end Charles' political career but also to forbid Georgiana from seeing her children again if she does not end the relationship. For the sake of her children, Georgiana reluctantly stops seeing Charles. She is then sent to the countryside where she secretly gives birth to their daughter, Eliza Courtney. However, she is forced to give the child over to Charles' family, the Greys.
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