Edward & Mrs. Simpson

Edward & Mrs. Simpson
Written by	Frances Donaldson (novel) Simon Raven
Directed by	Waris Hussein
Starring	Peggy Ashcroft Maurice Denham Edward Fox Marius Goring Cynthia Harris Nigel Hawthorne Charles Keating Cherie Lunghi Kika Markham Jessie Matthews Andrew Ray John Shrapnel David Waller
Music by	Ron Grainer
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
Production
Producer	Andrew Brown
Original release
Network	BBC
Release	6 November 1978 (UK) 2 April 1979 (Belgium) 3 April 1979 (Netherlands) 23 January 1980 (USA)

Edward & Mrs. Simpson is a seven-part British television series that dramatises the events leading to the 1936 abdication of King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom, who gave up his throne to marry the twice-divorced American Wallis Simpson.

The series, made by Thames Television for ITV, was originally broadcast in 1978. Edward Fox played Edward, and Cynthia Harris portrayed Mrs. Simpson. The series was scripted by Simon Raven, based on Frances Donaldson's biography of the King, Edward VIII. It was produced by Verity Lambert and directed by Waris Hussein. The incidental music was by Ron Grainer.

The series won the 1980 Emmy award for Outstanding Limited Series, and BAFTA Awards in 1979 for Best Actor, Best Design, Best Costume Design, and Best Series or Serial. It has been released on DVD in Region 2 (UK) by Network, and in Region 1 (United States) by A&E.

Episodes

1) The Little Prince: Edward's life in the 1920s as Prince of Wales, his romances with Freda Dudley Ward and Lady Thelma Furness, his introduction to Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Simpson. DVD chapter titles: Must Have a Bit of Fun; African Misadventure; Rather Unpleasant News; Freda Darling; The House Rules; A Horror in Wales; The Royal Brush Off.

2) Venus at the Prow: The romance between Edward and Mrs. Simpson develops. DVD chapter titles: No Muttering in Corners; Wallis in Wonderland; Don't Be Reckless; Cancel Everything; A Long Convalescence; Both Much Concerned; Long Live the King.

3) The New King: Edward succeeds to the throne upon the death of his father, King George V, in January, 1936, and asks Mrs. Simpson to marry him. Mr. Simpson agrees to a divorce. The King, Mrs. Simpson, and friends cruise the Mediterranean, an event widely reported by the press outside of England. DVD chapter titles: In His Father's Footsteps; That Calls for a Drink; Wallis Must Choose; Ernest Has Found Someone; Life is a Tease, Walter; Exceedingly Discreet; Father's List With Additions.

4) The Divorce: Edward convinces Mrs. Simpson to go forward with her divorce; she would then be free to marry him and be crowned Queen at the coronation scheduled for May, 1937. The King and the government pressure the British press to maintain silence about the King's romance, but news dribbles into Britain and gossip abounds. The New York Journal breaks the story "King will wed Wally". DVD chapter titles: Perfectly Straight Forward; Something Squalid About It All; Watching Like Hawks; There is Rumor; Everywhere Are Doubts; I Call on the Petitioner at Once; The King's Moll.

5) The Decision: Edward is warned that British press silence about his 'friendship' with Mrs. Simpson is about to be broken. The King tells the royal family and the Prime Minister that he intends to marry Wallis Simpson, and will abdicate if he cannot do so as King. DVD chapter titles: Too Much Time with Lawyers; In for a Miserable Time; Damage to the Crown; Opinion in the Empire; About to be Scandalized; Love Compared with Duty; He is Beyond Reason.

6) Proposals: Attempts are made to resolve the problem without Edward's abdicating, including a proposal put forth by the King for a morganatic marriage with Wallis Simpson. The British and Commonwealth governments oppose the marriage in any form. DVD chapter titles: The King Edward Touch; My Two Favourite Americans; A Futile Cause; Hands Off Our King; Replies from the Dominions; Unconstitutional; Parliamentary Questions.

7) The Abdication: The final days of Edward as King. DVD chapter titles: Must Not Divide the Nation; Speak to Me Later; At Last I Understand; One Final Effort; 10 December 1936; The Wireless Address; The Duke of Windsor.

Cast

• Edward Fox as King Edward VIII
• Cynthia Harris as Wallis Simpson
• David Waller as Stanley Baldwin
• Nigel Hawthorne as Walter Monckton
• Peggy Ashcroft as Queen Mary
• Marius Goring as King George V
• Cherie Lunghi as Lady Thelma Furness
• Kika Markham as Freda Dudley Ward
• Jessie Matthews as Aunt Bessie Merryman
• Charles Keating as Ernest Simpson
• Andrew Ray as the Duke of York
• Amanda Reiss as the Duchess of York
• John Shrapnel as Alexander Hardinge
• Maurice Denham as Cosmo Lang, Archbishop of Canterbury
• Ed Devereux as Lord Beaverbrook
• Patrick Troughton as Clement Attlee
• Trevor Bowen as Duff Cooper
• Patricia Hodge as Lady Diana Cooper
• Elsie Randolf as Lady Sybil Colefax
• Bessie Love as Emerald Cunard
• Tony Church as Sir Samuel Hoare

External links

• Edward & Mrs. Simpson at IMDb
• British Film Institute Screen Online