宋云峰
1. 《王冠》的成功
《王冠》(The Crown)是一部關(guān)于當(dāng)代英國(guó)女王伊麗莎白二世生平的傳記劇情(biographical drama)電視連續(xù)劇。該劇由彼得·摩根(Peter Morgan)編劇兼導(dǎo)演,由左岸影業(yè)公司(Left Bank Pictures)和索尼影視公司(Sony Pictures Television)為奈飛公司(Netflix)制作,第一季和第二季分別于2016年11月4日和2017年12月8日播出?!锻豕凇返牡谝患疽砸聋惿祝‥lizabeth)與愛(ài)丁堡公爵菲利普親王(Philip, Duke of Edinburgh)1947年的婚禮開(kāi)始,以1955年伊麗莎白的妹妹瑪格麗特公主(Princess Margaret)被迫解除與王室侍衛(wèi)官彼得·唐生(Peter Townsend)的婚約為止。第二季則從1956年的蘇伊士運(yùn)河危機(jī)(Suez Crisis)開(kāi)始,以1963年麥克米倫首相(Harold Macmillan)因閣員涉及間諜和色情丑聞而被迫辭職為止。第三季則從1964年寫到1976年,對(duì)應(yīng)工黨首相威爾遜(Harold Wilson)的兩屆任期。第四季則重點(diǎn)講撒切爾(Margaret Thatcher)擔(dān)任首相期間查爾斯(Prince Charles)與戴安娜(Princess Diana)的關(guān)系。第五季和第六季尚在籌劃中。
《王冠》脫胎于摩根2006年創(chuàng)作的電影《女王》(The Queen)和2013年創(chuàng)作的舞臺(tái)劇《觀眾》(The Audience),計(jì)劃拍攝六季共60集,涵蓋從伊麗莎白與菲利普親王結(jié)婚(1947年)到現(xiàn)在約70年的當(dāng)代英國(guó)王室史,是個(gè)雄心勃勃的計(jì)劃。第一季由奈飛公司于2016年11月4日首播,獲得了壓倒性的好評(píng)。影評(píng)人對(duì)演員的表演、摩根的導(dǎo)演、劇本撰寫、攝影、制作價(jià)值以及相對(duì)真實(shí)和準(zhǔn)確的歷史人物和事件均贊揚(yáng)有加。飾演年輕女王的克萊爾·福伊(Claire Foy)和飾演丘吉爾的約翰·利特高(John Lithgow)尤其受到好評(píng)?!锻豕凇泛推渲餮菀虼双@得許多大獎(jiǎng)或大獎(jiǎng)提名,例如,第23屆演員工會(huì)(Screen Actors Guild Awards)最佳男演員和最佳女演員獎(jiǎng)、第69屆黃金時(shí)段艾美獎(jiǎng)(Primetime Emmy Awards)最佳戲劇、最佳編劇和最佳導(dǎo)演獎(jiǎng)。
大眾影評(píng)爛番茄網(wǎng)站(Rotten Tomatoes)51篇影評(píng)的平均好評(píng)率為90%,平均打分為十分制的8.7分。該網(wǎng)站的一致性評(píng)價(jià)是:“精彩的表演與奢華的攝影成就了《王冠》一流的制作,完全配得上這一宏大的題材。”(“Powerful performances and lavish cinematography make The Crown a top-notch production worthy of its grand subject.”)另一家重要的大眾影評(píng)網(wǎng)站Metacritc基于29篇影評(píng)給予該劇百分制的81分,表明比較一致的好評(píng)(“universal acclaim”)。
英國(guó)《衛(wèi)報(bào)》(The Guardian)電視影評(píng)人曼甘(Lucy Mangan)認(rèn)為投資超過(guò)一億英鎊的《王冠》是奈飛公司迄今取得的最大成就:“Netflix can rest assured(放心)that its £100m gamble has paid off. This first series, about good old British phlegm(鎮(zhèn)定)from first to last, is the services crowning achievement so far.”英國(guó)《每日電訊報(bào)》(The Daily Telegraph)專欄作家勞倫斯(Ben Lawrence)評(píng)價(jià)王室溫莎家族是通過(guò)《王冠》進(jìn)行形象公關(guān)宣傳的最大贏家:“The Crown is a PR triumph for the Windsors, a compassionate piece of work that humanizes(使人性化)them in a way that has never been seen before. It is a portrait of an extraordinary family, an intelligent comment on the effects of the constitution on their personal lives and a fascinating account of postwar Britain all rolled into one.”英國(guó)《星期日郵報(bào)》(The Mail on Sunday)電視影評(píng)人斯蒂芬(Jaci Stephen)贊揚(yáng)《王冠》系列無(wú)懈可擊的完美:“Faultless is the only word for The Crown with its exquisite(細(xì)膩的)writing and magnificent acting.”美國(guó)《波士頓環(huán)球報(bào)》(The Boston Globe)影評(píng)人吉爾伯特(Matthew Gilbert)評(píng)價(jià)《王冠》從敘事、攝影、表演到歷史事件的展現(xiàn)都是一流的:“The show, created and written by Peter Morgan of The Queen and Frost/ Nixon(《對(duì)話尼克松》)is thoroughly engaging(引人入勝的), gorgeously shot, beautifully acted, rich in the historical events of postwar England, and designed with a sharp eye to psychological nuance(細(xì)微差別).”美國(guó)《好萊塢報(bào)道》(The Hollywood Reporter)影評(píng)人費(fèi)恩博格(Daniel Fienberg)也高度評(píng)價(jià)《王冠》第一季做到了自始至終的引人入勝,尤其是披露不為人所熟知的年輕女王的情感生活與英國(guó)王宮中的禮儀規(guī)矩:“The first chapter of Peter Morgans chronicle(編年史)of the rule of Queen Elizabeth II remains gripping across the entirety of the 10 episodes made available to critics, finding both emotional heft(重要性)in Elizabeths youthful ascension(上升)and unexpected suspense in matters of courtly protocol(禮節(jié))and etiquette.”
2. 《王冠》的內(nèi)容特色——英國(guó)君主立憲制與當(dāng)代英國(guó)政治史的形象詮釋
長(zhǎng)達(dá)60集、跨越半個(gè)多世紀(jì)歷史的《王冠》以具體的人物、事件和歷史細(xì)節(jié)細(xì)致入微地向觀眾展示了當(dāng)代英國(guó)的君主立憲制度和政治事件,在一定程度上向世界觀眾宣揚(yáng)了英國(guó)文化的特點(diǎn):保守、理性、妥協(xié)和講求實(shí)際,可以說(shuō)是君主立憲制和當(dāng)代英國(guó)政治史的形象詮釋。
事實(shí)上,君主立憲制之所以在一些國(guó)家存在(例如歐洲的英國(guó)、荷蘭、西班牙、比利時(shí)、挪威、瑞典、丹麥和亞洲的日本、泰國(guó)、柬埔寨等國(guó)),正是傳統(tǒng)與現(xiàn)代相互妥協(xié)的結(jié)果。所謂君主立憲就是君主的權(quán)力受到一定程度的制約,必須依照成文或不成文憲法的規(guī)定行使權(quán)力和承擔(dān)義務(wù)。(A constitutional monarchy is a form of monarchy in which the sovereign [君主] exercises authority in accordance with a written or unwritten constitution.)雖然大多數(shù)國(guó)家的君主位居至高地位,政府也以君主之名組成,但是他/她們也沒(méi)有太多的政治實(shí)權(quán),例如制定政策或挑選政黨領(lǐng)袖來(lái)任職。用英國(guó)歷史學(xué)家麥考利(Thomas Macaulay)的話來(lái)說(shuō),“君主只統(tǒng)不領(lǐng)”(A sovereign reigns but does not rule),是無(wú)黨派的國(guó)家元首和國(guó)家統(tǒng)一的象征(a visible symbol of national unity)。
英國(guó)的君主立憲制有其自身的特色。當(dāng)代英國(guó)的君主肩負(fù)著憲法賦予他/她的眾多權(quán)利和職責(zé),例如解散議會(huì)(dissolving parliament),簽署議會(huì)通過(guò)的法案(giving royal assent to legislation),擔(dān)任國(guó)家武裝部隊(duì)總司令,為對(duì)國(guó)家做出突出貢獻(xiàn)者授勛授爵,任命多數(shù)黨領(lǐng)袖組成政府等,但這些都是程序慣例,多為虛權(quán)。自1688年“光榮革命”(the Glorious Revolution)建立君主立憲制度以來(lái),英國(guó)的君主從未違反過(guò)任何慣例(違者則被迫退位,如愛(ài)德華八世)。當(dāng)然,英國(guó)的君主在政治上也有一定程度的影響力,例如,英國(guó)的首相必須依照慣例每周面見(jiàn)君主一次,匯報(bào)政府政策并聽(tīng)取君主的意見(jiàn)(談話的內(nèi)容有30年保密期)。君主通常會(huì)利用這一機(jī)會(huì)來(lái)表達(dá)自己的觀點(diǎn)和意見(jiàn),以影響首相的施政。按照英國(guó)政治理論家白志浩(Walter Bagehot)在《英國(guó)憲法》(The English Constitution)一書里的說(shuō)法,立憲制君主可以自由行使的三個(gè)主要政治權(quán)利是“被咨詢的權(quán)利、鼓勵(lì)政府的權(quán)利以及警告政府的權(quán)利”(the right to be consulted, the right to encourage, and the right to warn)。
《王冠》之所以吸引觀眾,除了藝術(shù)上的卓越(攝影、表演、服裝、歷史細(xì)節(jié)等),最主要的一點(diǎn)是以具體歷史事件串聯(lián)起來(lái)的一部形象的當(dāng)代英國(guó)政治史和君主立憲制百科全書,滿足了觀眾窺視王室家庭秘密和君主立憲制運(yùn)作的好奇心理,對(duì)王室與政客之間的互動(dòng)有了深入的了解,更對(duì)當(dāng)代英國(guó)政治史有了縱覽全局的把握。以《王冠》第一季為例:
第一集聚焦伊麗莎白公主與菲利普親王的婚戀,探討兩人如何必須適應(yīng)未來(lái)所承擔(dān)的職責(zé)和各自所扮演的復(fù)雜角色(也就是說(shuō),伊麗莎白與菲利普未來(lái)的關(guān)系不僅是夫妻關(guān)系,更是君主與臣民的關(guān)系)。第二集聚焦國(guó)王喬治六世與首相丘吉爾的互動(dòng)以及后來(lái)的病逝。伊麗莎白不得不承擔(dān)起一國(guó)之君的重任。第三集主要講述了圍繞喬治六世的葬禮,1936年被迫退位的愛(ài)德華八世與王室爭(zhēng)取名分和利益的故事,其中還有伊麗莎白即位后的姓氏問(wèn)題以及妹妹瑪格麗特公主卷入與王室侍衛(wèi)官彼得·唐生婚外戀的問(wèn)題。第四集聚焦1952年倫敦霧霾危機(jī)引發(fā)的英國(guó)朝野要求丘吉爾辭職的問(wèn)題以及伊麗莎白與丘吉爾的互動(dòng)。第五集圍繞伊麗莎白加冕儀式的程序和內(nèi)容展開(kāi)。在菲利普的堅(jiān)持下,伊麗莎白和英國(guó)政府終于同意破天荒對(duì)加冕進(jìn)行全程直播,拉近了與英國(guó)國(guó)民的距離。第六集則聚焦瑪格麗特公主與離婚的彼得·唐生的戀情曝光所引發(fā)的王室公關(guān)危機(jī)。第七集講述伊麗莎白深感自己的稚嫩和無(wú)知,決心聘請(qǐng)家庭教師開(kāi)始學(xué)習(xí)自然科學(xué)、社會(huì)科學(xué)以及政治慣例等知識(shí),以應(yīng)對(duì)政治老手丘吉爾;其中還展示了丘吉爾的老態(tài)龍鐘以及他與接班人艾登之間的矛盾。第八集聚焦伊麗莎白面對(duì)非殖民化運(yùn)動(dòng)決定承擔(dān)重任,巡訪英國(guó)在全球的殖民地以安撫民心并挽救英國(guó)的國(guó)際地位,期間將君主的職責(zé)交由妹妹瑪格麗特承擔(dān),因此造成了后來(lái)姐妹倆的矛盾。第九集主要講了兩件事:丘吉爾終于意識(shí)到自己的老邁和不能勝任,決定辭職讓位給艾登;伊麗莎白因與愛(ài)慕她的養(yǎng)馬師交往遭菲利普嫉妒,引發(fā)了一系列夫妻矛盾。第十集中,伊麗莎白本想等到瑪格麗特25周歲時(shí)給予她與唐生結(jié)婚的自由,但卻遭到英國(guó)教會(huì)和英國(guó)政府的反對(duì)(伊麗莎白對(duì)有關(guān)的慣例和規(guī)矩并不知情),因此引發(fā)了姐妹倆進(jìn)一步的矛盾;同時(shí)丈夫菲利普似乎也對(duì)她心存芥蒂,她將會(huì)如何處理這些矛盾呢?
總之,《王冠》通過(guò)真實(shí)的歷史人物、時(shí)間以及對(duì)他們行為與心理的細(xì)膩刻畫,展示了英國(guó)君主立憲制的方方面面,凸顯了英國(guó)文化中傳統(tǒng)、保守、理性與現(xiàn)代、進(jìn)步和感性之間的矛盾沖突,是一部生動(dòng)形象的當(dāng)代英國(guó)政治史。
3. 《王冠》臺(tái)詞選登(選自第一季第一集)
A. Churchill Pays Visit to the King Who Invites Him to Form a New Government
Peter Townsend: (Ushering in Churchill ) Mr. Churchill, Your Majesty.
Churchill: (Shaking hands with the King) Your Majesty.
George VI: The people have spoken. Your party has won the election, and as... as their Sovereign(元首), I invite you to form a government in my name.
Churchill: An honor I gratefully accept.
George VI: My dear Winston. Congratulations.(Shake hands with Churchill ) Would it be terribly unconstitutional(違反憲法的)of me to say how happy I am? Ive missed our weekly chats. Your predecessor(前任,指艾德禮)is a fine parliamentarian(議員). A good man. But, well, as company, as a companion...
Churchill: An empty taxi pulled up at the House of Commons(下議院), and Mr. Attlee(工黨首相艾德禮)got out.
George VI: Quite. Now you may congratulate me in return.
Churchill: What for?
George VI: My rapid recovery(此前國(guó)王剛做過(guò)肺葉切除手術(shù)).
Churchill: Oh, yes.
George VI: I seem to have bounced back(恢復(fù))a lot quicker than people expected.
Churchill: Yes.
George VI: Not sure I ever imagined what breathing through one lung would feel like. Turns out theres barely any difference.
Churchill: Good, good.
George VI: Though... probably wise to let the Princess Elizabeth undertake the Commonwealth(英聯(lián)邦國(guó)家組織)tour? Hm? What say you?
Churchill: Is she up to it?(她能勝任嗎?)
George VI: Yes, Id say so. Besides... we have to start breaking her in(訓(xùn)練她)gently, dont we?
Churchill: Do we?
George VI: Keep one eye on the future. The distant future.
B. Churchill and His Wife Talk About the Ill King and the Future
Mrs. Churchill: How was the king?
Churchill: He talked a great deal about his recovery. Lots of mentions of “Bouncing back”. Which always makes one fear the worst. Not to mention the make-up(化妝). He was wearing rouge(胭脂,口紅).
Mrs. Churchill: Poor man.
Churchill: Its cancer.
Mrs. Churchill: What? Who knows?
Churchill: No one. Least of all him(至少他不知道). Mrs. Churchill: So hes dying?
Churchill: Were all dying. Thats what defines the condition of living. Will he die tomorrow? No.
Mrs. Churchill: What about the day after tomorrow? And the day after that? The country needs to be led by someone strong.
Churchill: Well, Im strong!
Mrs. Churchill: You are also tired, Winston. We both are. A situation like that would require enormous energy.
Churchill: And I wont lie to you. I have considered resigning for Anthonys(后來(lái)接替丘吉爾出任英國(guó)首相的艾登)sake. For your sake. But then I realized a situation like that would also require statesmanship(治國(guó)之才). The party needs me. The country needs me. She(指伊麗莎白公主)needs me.
Mrs. Churchill: Who? Churchill: Her!
Mrs. Churchill: Oh, her.
C. King George VI Talks to Philip About His Duty Regarding Elizabeth
King: You understand, the titles, the... dukedom(公爵封號(hào)). Theyre not the job.
Philip: Sir?
King: She is the job. She is the essence of your duty. Loving her. Protecting her. Of course, youll miss your career. But doing this for her, doing this for me... there may be no greater act of patriotism(愛(ài)國(guó)情懷)or love.
Philip: I understand, sir.
King: Do you, boy? Do you really.
Philip: I think so.