The Swan (1956)

Jessie Royce Landis: Princess Beatrix

Photos 

Quotes 

• Princess Beatrix : But this is the 20th century!

  Symphorosa : I don't like the 20th century.

• Princess Beatrix : My dear child, how do you suppose I came to marry your father? You can't think a man just gets an idea into his head and asks a woman to marry him? Of course not! All your father ever cared for was horses. He wouldn't even look at me. So I looked once or twice at the riding master. Your father proposed the very next afternoon - on horseback.

• Princess Beatrix : [about Albert]  When he does want to hug something, it has to be the bass viol.

• Captain Wunderlich : What was she called?

  Symphorosa : Oh, I can't remember.

  Princess Beatrix : Yes you can dear, "Elaina the Iceburg."

• Princess Beatrix : [very perturbed about Prince Albert spending much of the day observing mechanized milking machines in the estate's dairy barn]  I should think that machine is quite worn out, say nothing of the cows.

• Princess Beatrix : I noticed the roses are already beginning to bloom.

  Head Gardener : They're just at their best, your highness.

  Princess Beatrix : I don't want them at their best until the day after tomorrow. Hold them back.

• Princess Beatrix : [a soccer ball bounces through a window onto the hallway floor]  That tutor. He has no control over the boys whatsoever.

  Symphorosa : Nor the ball either.

  [sic] 

• Princess Beatrix : Dear Aunt Symphorosa - always looking for wallflowers.

• Princess Beatrix : Must you still write with a feather? This is the 20th century.

  Symphorosa : I don't like the 20th century.

• Princess Beatrix : [to Dr. Nicholas Agi]  You're here to give the boys an education, not to fill their heads with a lot of historical gossip.

• Princess Beatrix : A queen can't afford to be shy. She can never be humiliated. She's above it and beyond it.

• Princess Beatrix : Remember how her poor father used to call her his swan? "My proud, white swan," he used to say, and that's how she is, so dignified, so silent, so regal.

• Princess Beatrix : After all, roses are more beautiful than cows.

• Princess Beatrix : Albert, we're serving a little aperitif now and then supper. I thought you'd prefer it privately, just the family.

  Prince Albert : The family circle. Delightful. Give me circles every time. Triangles are such a bore, eh?

• Princess Beatrix : Oh my dear child, this is the one thing, the one opportunity that all your life I've been praying for - for you to become a queen.

• Princess Beatrix : Sometimes I think that doctor is a little too progressive.

• Princess Beatrix : It's happened! Just when I'd given up *all* hope.

  Symphorosa : What is it dear? Someone died?

• Princess Beatrix : Its so awkward without a man in the house. A man can help in so many ways.

  Symphorosa : So many ways.

• Princess Beatrix : They say he's charming, quite charming. Doesn't take after his mother at all!

• Princess Beatrix : You must prove to Albert in these four days that you have all the qualities he's looking for in a wife, a wife who'll share his throne one day. You must be gracious and dignified, warm and charming and amusing. Oh, I know he's seen a great deal more of life than you, but you can make that an advantage, too. Let him see how sweet and unspoiled you are, and, darling, you must try your hardest not to be shy. Men don't like it, especially a man like Albert. After all, that's one of the first duties of a queen. She always puts other people at their ease.

• Princess Beatrix : Oh, my dear boy. You look splendidly well, and what a change from the little Albert I remember.

  Captain Wunderlich : Captain Wunderlich, your highness. His royal highness sends word he will be down in a few moments.