Deep down in our heart, we all have a dream. For some, it may be fostering a talent, having a rewarding job, for others—professional fulfillment and recognition. Some are wishing for a happy family life, others, fame and millions of fans. Seventy years ago, a 25-year-old actress Grace Kelly, had a year in her life when she had it all: dream roles, prestigious film awards, recognition from the audience and a marriage proposal from a man she loved who incidentally happened to be a prince. For some, many happy events would fill more than a lifetime. But Grace managed to fit it all into just one year.
…In the summer of 1954 Alfred Hitchcock’s “To Catch a Thief” was filmed on the French Riviera. A beautiful American Frances Stevens (Grace Kelly) and John Robie (Cary Grant) nicknamed “The Cat”, daringly escape from a police chase and stop on a cliff, revealing a gorgeous view of the Mediterranean and Monaco. “What a wonderful day,” Grace-Frances says, stretching with pleasure in the driver’s seat. Pointing to the Principality spread down below, she adds: “Is there a more beautiful place in the world than this…?”
Perhaps the great Hitchcock intuitively sensed that his favourite actress belonged with Royalty. Hard to tell. Whichever way it is, Grace’s lines turned out to be prophetic. Not even two years later, this most beautiful place in the world became her second home.
But let’s rewind it back month by month. What did 1955 actually bring to Grace Kelly?
February
As soon as “The Country Girl”, the seventh film in Grace Kelly’s career, was released in December 1954, awards just came pouring.
It’s the end of December and the role of a cold and cruel Georgie Elgin, brought Grace the National Board of Review Awards and the New York Film Critics Circle Awards. It was then obvious that both the film and its leading actress were destined for the most prestigious film awards in the United States.
And that’s exactly what happened. On February 24, in Los Angeles, Grace Kelly was awarded the Golden Globe for the Best Drama Actress. That was her second Golden Globe. The first one came a year earlier, for a supporting role. Interestingly, Georgie Elgin’s role was initially written for Jennifer Jones. Very popular in the late 1940s and early 1950s, she was forced to drop out of the film industry due to a pregnancy. Grace knew the screenplay by heart, she understood it meant real acting. She thus accepted the role without hesitation, even if Paramount Pictures doubted she’d be able to step up to it. The numerous awards Grace subsequently received clearly proved her right.
March
A month later, Grace Kelly received an award much coveted by any actor—an Oscar. On March 30, the 27th Academy Awards named her Best Leading Role Actress. All in all, “The Country Girl” received seven nominations and two awards the second Oscar was given for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Wearing a mint-coloured silk dress, long white gloves and flowers in her hair, the charming Grace delivered a short speech on the stage: “The emotions overwhelming me right now get in the way of me saying the things I really feel,” ventured Grace in a trembling voice. “I can only thank all those who made this possible from the bottom of my heart.”
It must be said that Grace’s competitors were well worth an Oscar. Audrey Hepburn, already awarded an Oscar a year earlier for her brilliant debut in “Roman Holiday” was nominated for her role in “Sabrina”. A magnificent Judy Garland came with the music show “A Star is Born”. It was thus all the more an honour for Grace, the award coming at the pinnacle of her short (only four year long) film career.
Late April — early May
On April 26, 1954, the 8th Cannes Film Festival officially opened. Paramount Pictures announced “The Country Girl” would be lined up for the main competition. The American delegation was sent to present the new film in France, including the leading role actress. Grace Kelly immediately won over the French media and audience with her beauty, charm and exquisite style. Seventy years later, her photo shoot in a white jabot blouse and sparkly capri trousers is still a reference among the celebrity Cannes Film Festival annals. It must be said that despite the two Oscars, “The Country Girl” never won a single award in Cannes. But this was hardly a concern. The Cannes Film Festival had brought Grace Kelly a truly life-transforming encounter instead.
May
Lots has been written about the first meeting of Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly. It is the journalist Pierre Galante (married to Olivia de Havilland known for her role of Melanie in “Gone with the Wind”) who had chosen the Prince of Monaco and the American movie star for the “Paris Match” cover. Initially, Grace had declined the proposal to attend the princely palace as she had a last minute meeting with the studio that sponsored her trip to France. After all the details were eventually settled, the date of the photo shoot at the Princely Palace was set for May 6.
But that day turned tricky to start with. Due to a strike, Cannes had an electricity cut. Grace was thus obliged to wear the only dress that did not need ironing—a thick silk taffeta with a large flower print. It was not her favourite dress, but she had to make do with what she had. There was no way of drying her hair with a hairdryer, either. So Grace just combed it up smoothly, adorning it with an artificial flower tiara. Due to this little misadventure, Grace had almost missed the 3 o’clock appointment at the Palace. But the Prince was also delayed. It was the butler who introduced her to the grand apartments while waiting for the Monaco sovereign.
An hour later, Prince Rainier III finally arrived. They met each other and the photo shoot was organized. Rainier and Grace were then strolling through the gardens, admiring a small menagerie and chatting away. A purely formal meeting thus lasted an hour and a half, making the two truly interested in each other. This encounter obviously had much more in store for both…
The Prince and Grace Kelly eventually met again during a cocktail party at the festival that was to close on May 10. The actress was then to return to the United States where a new role was awaiting her.
During the same period, Metro Golden Mayer bought out the rights to film “The Swan” where Grace was to play… a princess. Just another fateful sign…
Summer
In June, while on holiday in Jamaica, Grace took part in yet another, now legendary photo shoot with her older sister Peggy. Back in spring, Howell Conant was commissioned to shoot Grace Kelly for a movie star “Photoplay” cover. Shot against a bright pink background, Grace looked perfectly beautiful and unattainable.
Her Jamaica pictures, however, were the opposite—natural, lively, without a drop of makeup, incredibly attractive. These new portraits of Grace Kelly had an exploding effect with Conant’s career rapidly taking off. Movie stars were lining up to have their photograph taken by him.
Conant was to become Grace Kelly’s good friend and personal photographer. Starting in 1955, their collaboration lasted until 1982. He was thus trusted with some of the most famous photoshoots of Grace, her husband and children.
On June 27, the youngest of John and Margaret Kelly’s four children, Lisanne, was getting married. Just back from Jamaica, Grace was a maid of honour at her sister’s wedding. Did it even cross her mind that she could be the next one?
Since they met at the Palace, Grace and the Prince of Monaco were writing to each other. It all started with a polite thank you for the invitation, with the letters becoming more and more heartfelt and regular. Being in the public eye, however, both Rainier III and Grace preferred to keep it a secret for the time being.
On August 3, “To Catch a Thief” had its premiere in Hollywood. Hitchcock was meant to understand that this film might not be as thrilling as some of his other ones. The leading actors were irreproachable, however. Grace Kelly and Cary Grant were proclaimed “a perfect celebrity match”. A blue chiffon dress and a masquerade golden ball gown, specially designed by Edith Head for Grace, truly went down in cinema history.
Autumn
By the end of August, the cast was decided and “The Swan” was being filmed. It was set in the Vanderbilt family property, a luxurious Biltmore estate in North Carolina. Grace was playing a girl who was deciding whether she was ready to marry a prince. Perhaps, by this time, she was asking herself that question for real…
This penultimate Grace Kelly film was not acclaimed with any special awards or audience attention, however. But the actress was truly beautiful and very convincing. Her cold exterior was hiding a great sensuality and ardour. The exquisite Grace in her delicate lace gowns was the very embodiment of nobility and genuine royal beauty.
A few months after “The Swan” filming, Metro Golden Mayer designer, Helen Rose, will create a legendary white gown later called the most elegant bridal dress of all time.
December
On December 6, Grace Kelly attended the first Audience Award ceremony for “The Swan” in Beverly Hills, accompanied by such movie stars as Walt Disney, Natalie Wood, Peggy Lee, Alec Guinness and Debbie Reynolds. At the same time, the Prince of Monaco was planning a visit to the United States. He was going to Philadelphia to get introduced to John Kelly’s family. On December 8, Rainier III thus boarded a sailing boat on its way from The Havre to New York.
Accompanied by his confessor and personal physician, the Monaco sovereign arrived at Grace’s home in the East Falls for Christmas. A couple of days later, Grace was given an official marriage proposal which she happily accepted. The romance which had already lasted for several months, was thus crowned with a declaration of mutual love.
The end of Grace’s fantastic 1955 was celebrated in an atmosphere of absolute happiness. She was awarded the highest professional recognition an actor may have, and the most important decision in her life was taken.
The year 1956 was on its way. It was destined to be life-transforming for Grace. Just five days into the New Year, the Prince of Monaco and Miss Grace Kelly’s engagement was announced. As soon as the wedding date was set for April 18, Metro Golden Mayer announced the same day “The Swan’s” release in the US cinemas, with the newlywed in the leading role.
Although Grace was already booked for “The High Society” in January 1956, it was now obvious that her main role would be that of a bride, then a wife, of the Prince of Monaco. She played that one for 26 years, with her natural brilliance, resting in people’s minds as the most beautiful princess in the world.
