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The Affair of the Necklace

Play trailer Poster for The Affair of the Necklace R 2001 2h 0m History Drama Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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15% Tomatometer 62 Reviews 42% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Romantic drama based on the controversial true story of Jeanne De La Motte Valois, a countess whose name was stripped from her by the Royal Family during the late 18th Century. The story of her fight to restore her name and proper place in society is filled with mystery, intrigue and desire, with an infamous diamond necklace at the center of it all.
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The Affair of the Necklace

The Affair of the Necklace

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Critics Consensus

A film about court intrigue, The Affair of the Necklace turns out to be more dull than juicy. Swank seems flat and miscast in the central role of Jeanne.

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Critics Reviews

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Ella Taylor L.A. Weekly 10/02/2002
Jeanne is no fun at all. Go to Full Review Rick Groen Globe and Mail 03/22/2002
1.5/4
A cheap bauble of a flick. Go to Full Review Eric Harrison Houston Chronicle 02/08/2002
C
The film has a desperate, disjointed feel that suggests the filmmakers realized it wasn't working and kept trying, ineffectually, to fix it. Go to Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews 02/08/2015
2/4
...what really sinks the film is its script... Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 12/01/2005
D-
Much of the dramatic juice and intrigue have been drained out of this old-fashioned costume drama, that in the hands of director Charles Shyer and actress Hilary Swank becomes stiff, stuffy, and banal affair. Go to Full Review Alan Dale Blogcritics.org 02/01/2005
Swank's honest mistake is in trying to be worthy of a project that's beneath her. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Susi N 11/20/2024 Disappointing to say the least. Christopher Walken is the only credible character in this sad and boring adaptation of one of the really important stories of the French Revolution. Hilary Swank just doesn’t cut it and along with Simon Baker are badly miscast. It is 23 years old but the script belongs in the 50’s. Don’t waste your time or money. See more Steve D 02/11/2023 You screwed up badly if you can't even make Swank believable. See more 01/16/2017 Interesting story. Beautiful cinematography. Yet another sociological take on the excess that led to the French Revolution. And yet, the movie is somehow flat. It is okay watching. But it really could have been done better See more 02/06/2016 I only gave this two stars because the costumes and scenery was well done. As someone who respects and appreciates history, I was appalled at the absurd depiction of a known thief, liar, and prostitute (Hilary Swanks character) twisted to be a victim. Jeanne De La Motte was manipulative, conniving, and low class. In real life, her father was a drunkard, her mother a maid, and her only claim to royalty was speculative. I could not feel sorry for her character and the vilification of Marie Antoinette was also false. Hilary Swank was awkward a and to claim this story as true is about as successful as this movie did in the theater See more 10/18/2014 I'm not sure why I never saw this movie. I enjoyed it. The intrigue kept me engaged throughout. See more 02/12/2013 Rather dull and undramatic historical piece that plays loose with the facts and seems uncertain about its tone. See more Read all reviews
The Affair of the Necklace

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Cast & Crew

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Charles Shyer

Director

Hilary Swank

Comtesse Jeanne de la Motte-Valois

Jonathan Pryce

Cardinal de Rohan

Simon Baker

Retaux de Villete

Adrien Brody

Count Nicolas de la Motte

Brian Cox

Baron de Breteuil

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The Affair of the Necklace

HILARY SWANK in Alcon Entertainment's sumptuous romantic drama "The Affair of the Necklace," also starring Jonathan Pryce, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. JOELY RICHARDSON in Alcon Entertainment's sumptuous romantic drama "The Affair of the Necklace," starring Hilary Swank and Jonathan Pryce, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. CHRISTOPHER WALKEN in Alcon Entertainment's sumptuous romantic drama "The Affair of the Necklace," starring Hilary Swank and Jonathan Pryce, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. HILARY SWANK and JONATHAN PRYCE in Alcon Entertainment's sumptuous romantic drama "The Affair of the Necklace," distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. HILARY SWANK and SIMON BAKER in Alcon Entertainment's sumptuous romantic drama "The Affair of the Necklace," also starring Jonathan Pryce, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. SIMON BAKER and ADRIEN BRODY in Alcon Entertainment's sumptuous romantic drama "The Affair of the Necklace," starring Hilary Swank and Jonathan Pryce, distributed by Warner Bros. Director CHARLES SHYER on the set of Alcon Entertainment's sumptuous romantic drama "The Affair of the Necklace," starring Hilary Swank and Jonathan Pryce, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. HILARY SWANK in Alcon Entertainment's "The Affair of the Necklace," distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. HILARY SWANK in Alcon Entertainment's sumptuous romantic drama "The Affair of the Necklace," also starring Jonathan Pryce, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. HILARY SWANK and SIMON BAKER in Alcon Entertainment's sumptuous romantic drama "The Affair of the Necklace," also starring Jonathan Pryce, distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Romantic drama based on the controversial true story of Jeanne De La Motte Valois, a countess whose name was stripped from her by the Royal Family during the late 18th Century. The story of her fight to restore her name and proper place in society is filled with mystery, intrigue and desire, with an infamous diamond necklace at the center of it all.
Director
Charles Shyer
Producer
Charles Shyer, Redmond Morris, Andrew A. Kosove, Broderick Johnson
Screenwriter
John Sweet
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
Alcon Entertainment
Rating
R (Some Sexuality)
Genre
History, Drama, Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 30, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 1, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA)
$430.3K
Runtime
2h 0m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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