Wallis & Edward

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Wallis Simpson was the been-around-the-block American siren who lured a King of England from his throne, forever changing history. Or was she? The layered and gripping Wallis & Edward a lushly produced British film, dares to look at the infamous affair from the point of view of Mrs. Simpson, and rather sympathetically at that. Simpson, played with an enticing wry humor by the splendid Joely Richardson, is quite happy with her second husband, Ernest, when we meet them at the beginning of the story. Mutual friends introduce them to the Prince of Wales, a callow, rather feckless playboy (played by Stephen Campbell Moore), who becomes transfixed by Mrs. Simpson's refusal to fawn over him. And the chase is on. Richardson is a wonder in the role, bringing sympathy and anguish to the choices faced by her character. If some of the plot points seem a bit hard to swallow--that, say, Ernest, after having a man-to-man with the prince, is the one who encourages a divorce and essentially hands over his wife to Edward--the overall execution is delightful, and, no small feat for a story so well known, completely involving until the end. The behind-the-scenes scheming of the monarchy and those invested in its continuation is sometimes chilling, but always entertaining. At a gala ball, where the Simpsons have arrived as reluctant guests, Edward's mother, the Queen--so laden in jewels virtually none of her hair, neck, or shoulders is visible--sniffs at the vulgarity of the American who dares to wear "rubies and emeralds." There'll always be an England--and there'll always be a fascination with the affair that brought down a King. --A.T. Hurley