3 Deep Dive Theories for Red, White and Royal Blue

Take a deeper look into these 3 theories in the movie Red, White and Royal Blue that will make you love it even more.
Red, White and Royal Blue
Prime Video
Starring: Nicholas Galitzine, Taylor Zakhar Perez, Uma Thurman
Director: Matthew López

[@Belaugh]

This is utterly excellent, and exactly the balanced insight RWARB needs going forward into becoming aa classic movie. Congratulations. Your analysis is exactly right, especially the reasons for leaving out the beautiful but deleted scenes. Just a little aside to add: In the conversation in Buckingham Palace, some people may find it jars a little when, despite holding tightly onto Alex.s hand, Henry drop his hand while looking away before speaking to his grandfather. I think this is a lovely and typically Galitzine insight, that Henry is not rejecting Alex in any way, but wants to make it clear he is on his own for this bit, speaking up for himself on his own, a display of the bravery he had said he needed from Alex, and was then finally able to follow through. (Everyone say ahhhh)

[@NerdyInvestigations]

Thank you so much for the wonderful comment. I did always find it strange that Henry let go in this moment but you are right, it is him standing up for himself and being brave. Love it. ahhhh

[@Belaugh]

@@NerdyInvestigations Thank you for your reply! Much appreciated. I also should have added that little detail of the way Henry plays with Alex's fingers and shared a sweet conspiratorial smile after his brave stand; so much release of relief at having had the courage to stand up to his grandfather and, in fact, winning his lifelong war. Yes, of course I have subscribed! And please do more. There is still a huge appetite for this film out here. And you analysis is spot on.

[@johnnehrich9601]

Yes, my comfort movie too, of which I also can't get enough of. Thanks for this extra tidbit. Any more discussions like this most welcome. I think the blue hoodie that Henry is wearing near the end is Alex's, seen in the scene where he talks to Nora about "the kiss." I continue to be astonished at all the care put into the filming, which comes across as everyone's love and respect of the story itself. I hope that all involved really grasp what a masterpiece they have created, and document everything that went into the making of the film while everyone is still around and memories are fresh. Unlike say trying to piece together this decades later, as in Wizard of Oz (because it took so long for everyone to realize how monumental that film was, not just a "kiddie" film) or It's A Wonderful Life. There is another scene "left out," shown after they roll the credits. Alex and Henry are covered in cake and Alex looks over to Henry and asks "do you think anyone noticed?" Which is totally hilarious but if left in the movie proper would have undercut the seriousness of the entire cake incident. (I think it is interesting and a reveal into storytelling that we, or at least I, can incorporate these behind the scenes bit of info. Like knowing about Stephen Fry as the king, who is such a gay icon. And nasty Prince Phillip, but the actor also identifies as queer. Sort of like a "wink, wink" to us fans, helping to make us feel like a community in our own right.) The ice cream scene is interesting. Has got me looking - in vain so far - for the brand Cornetto here in the US. (Also been looking for real crumpets here, and trying to find real butter-cream frosting because I'm not sure I've actually had it.) In the book, Henry comes into the kitchen in his pajamas, which gives Alex an insight that Henry is a "real" person after all - in the movie, he is still in his suit - not sure why. One of the "problems" I find is that in the book, Alex's dislike of Henry is more pronounced. I for one don't like book Alex trying to poke Henry just to get a response from him, while in a sense Henry has to be (or feels he has to be) buttoned up. Like verbally hitting someone who has their hands tied behind their back. In the movie version of the ice cream scene, Alex comes across a lot nastier than he needs to be. (It really is all his fault for the cake falling over.) It's like he goes from being annoyed at Henry to hating him and we the audience know there really isn't that much reason. The book uses the "enemies" part of the story in the beginning to fill us in with a lot of backstory about all the other characters, to stretch out their negative interaction, which as I said above, seems a bit contrived. (Stretching it out makes it more palatable. The movie doesn't have time for that so this feud could seem too heated, coming really out of a misunderstanding.) Movie Alex continually gives us moments of how nice he really is, not some stuck-up "big man on campus" that his looks might create. We see him nervous about going to the reception, his apologizing to this mother for the cake incidence, his wanting to see Amy's dog pictures, him in the strawberry suit, the amazing way he treats Henry and looks after him at the party, the first thing he asks outside "did I do something wrong?' His talking to Nora on the phone in the kitchen seems out of place and undercuts the above. The one thing about the ice cream scene is how Taylor ends it, with a bit bite which fills his mouth in a sort of sexual fashion. That is funny and I like. One part of the campfire scene is that Taylor leans back against the seat, moving himself out of range of the camera. It makes Henry's speech sort of a soliloquy but I find it just feels contrived. Maybe the scene needed Alex to interject some short comments, even like "huh?" or "yeah." (I know little of movie-making so my guess is pretty uniformed.)

[@Belaugh]

Very interesting, thank you. Re the ice cream scene, I think it highly unlikely you would find Cornettos in the USA. They are made by a company called Walls in the UK, the ice cream market leader. And I don't think they sell in the US. I'm not sure how Alex can bite off the top of an ice cream cone like that; surely it would zap his teeth? I miss the pyjamas and the glasses as per the book, but that would show them both as too vulnerable to each other and bonding, when it needed to be held off in the film. The fairy story lake house scene has a beauty best seen in isolation. In the book it was an email; despite Galitzine's beautiful delivery, it just doesn't sit right. Alex needs to be a more involved peasant boy rather than lying back and leaning away, which still looks awkward, but this may be just TZP not knowing how best to react; another actor would be able to be both remove yet stay present - the scene certainly needed some sort of pay off; perhaps moving into sweetheart style skinny dipping at night that continues the magic of the dialogue, to then contrast starkly with the daylight panic of Henry swimming away. Just a thought.

[@NerdyInvestigations]

Thank you so much for your insights. I wish I could say the hoddie was the same one, as I love that idea, but upon careful analysis they are different tops as they have seams in different places. I agree with you about Alex in the kitchen scene. Alex feels like a different person for sure. I tend to feel that as its a deleted scene that the editing was not quite right for the fire scene and we are not meant to see Alex lie down. I also agree that there is no pay off for it, at least in what we have to work with, so the tone just feels out of place. I love talking about this movie as I learn new things every time. Thank you.

[@johnnehrich9601]

@@NerdyInvestigations Oh, well, I'd say they hoodwinked us!

[@Belaugh]

@@NerdyInvestigations And I love sharing with you, too! There has been a huge amount of discussion online about that hoody, and finally everyone, in separate and unrelated discussions, did work out that they were different ones. But a nice thought would be - one bought as if in secret tribute to the other? A secret sign of them as a couple?

[@donabaypro6782]

Yes! Someone else who is as addicted as I am.

[@joncarsello7987]

Nicely done. I feel this film is in its own way is a masterpiece and a major accomplishment for LGBTQ+ cinema. Thanks for this excellent analysis.

[@NerdyInvestigations]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it

[@mdwrob]

I love every observation you’ve shared. Henry did say, “Grey is a color, thank you” early on, defending the conservative non-descript hue. Alternately, I am dazzled by the variety of outfits and materials that Alex looks great in every time. White henley and jeans in his confrontation with Madame President…hot stuff! Beto O’Rourke outfit in Texas, all of my friends spotted that one. I’m glad that the hairstyles were mentioned by someone in that there are a few hair discontinuities which are surely unintentionally hysterical. Nicholas did have to run off and film another movie requiring more of a close hair cut, so on returning to finish a few scenes had to wear a blond wig. It is great fun trying to spot the hairpiece! What is so great about this picture is all of the crew who knew the book by heart were gathering items that would be of significance and placing them in various scenes, sometimes unnoticed by Matthew Lopez. Sneaky!

[@NerdyInvestigations]

I learn more about this movies all the time. Is that how the lacrosse stick in Alex's bedroom, for the first message got there I wonder. Thanks so much for sharing.

[@user-lf1kf5jo3o]

I really enjoy these analyses of the movie. You seem to have a real handle on all the subtle things. I did hear Taylor's one comment on those deleted scenes. He said "they were deleted for a reason."

[@NerdyInvestigations]

Thank you so much. I am glad you enjoyed them.

[@DurhamCricketGirl]

This was a fab video. I loved your reasonings and explanations for why you think they made certain choices, especially with the deleted scenes. The only thing I'd disagree with is that when they go to the V&A, Henry's hoody is light blue, not grey.

[@michaelkrupar9808]

This is incredible. So insightful and perfectly presented. This is truly one of the best reviews/discussions of this incredible movie. Thank you.

[@NerdyInvestigations]

Thank you so much. I am glad you liked it.

[@Pomoscorzo]

I remember seeing Henry in that baseball cap and thinking, "Who the hell is that guy... oh my God, it's the prince!!"

[@Belaugh]

It is a fascinating aspect of RWARB that Galitzine makes Henry look so different in so many scenes. In Alex's bedroom after hooking up, sitting on the sofa as Alex admits to being bisexual, he looks about fifteen. Yet by the time he does that difficult- acting wise - remove from the room, he looks more like James Bond, and puts in a lot of silent detail. Cool closed off regal elegance has a variety of identities, so that the Texas boy in the cap and checked shirt looks totally different yet again. And on the lake he looks like James Dean. Even the slightest change of hair style, reflecting 14 months of time passing by, gives yet another totally different look. The boy is a chameleon.

[@NerdyInvestigations]

I know right. So well done

[@chapmanenigma2873]

Thank you for sharing your view. I connected with it.

[@NerdyInvestigations]

I am glad it resonated with you. Thanks for sharing.

[@michaelthomas3821]

yeah, the deleted lake scene although beautiful just doesn't make sense. Alex is asking Henry if he has permission to love him and with his answer it seems hard to imagine that he wouldn't blurt out that he's in love since from Alex's standpoint that sure sounds like a "yes". that definitely makes no sense with where the plot needs to go.

[@NerdyInvestigations]

Exactly. The fact that Alex doesn't say anything and Henry keeps talking is just strange. It would make more sense if Alex walked off or was seen asleep and Henry kept talking.

[@donabaypro6782]

The story was from the book, however it was in a email. The only reason I would have liked it in the movie was to give a transition that would explain the time jump from afternoon to late night. However it was very wordy, and unnecessary for the story.

[@michaeltutty1540]

In the entire movie there is one single word I would have changed. In the Garden when Henry says that "Henry Fox must belong to himself", rather than asking "Can he belong to someone else?" The question should have been "Can he belong with someone else."

[@NerdyInvestigations]

That does feel better doesn't it. Thanks for the comment.

[@Belaugh]

The difference is, I think, the difference between UK and USA English word choice and speech patterns. The interchange between 'with' and 'to' is constant in the speech pattern differences, such as 'talking to' and 'talking with' as a speech pattern norm. Listening with an English ear, Henry's wording is spot on; he needs to be an individual before he can become part of a bonded pair. So, with the English ear and word usage, 'to' and not 'with.' Because Henry is English.

[@Belaugh]

@@NerdyInvestigations Thank you. It often comes down to the "two nations divided by a single language" thing. There are so many issues on this in the original book, which makes many howlers due to not having been Britpicked and properly edited for Americanisms. Alex, for example, reduces names of streets and places to a single noun, such as always referring to Kensington Palace as just Kensington. In fact Kensington is an entire area of London in which thousands of people live. In England places are always spoken of in full for accuracy. So Kensington Palace should always be referred to by both words. Or, as Stephen Fry calls it in the short form used by the Royal Family, KP.

[@NerdyInvestigations]

it’s funny coz as an Aussie I would have always referred to it as KP because we shorten everything and I never would have noticed the difference between with and to in a speech pattern. The context of the sentence/conversation is more important to us than what little word was used. I would use both with and to depending on the situation or interchangeably. It is always fascinating to see how different the English language is.

[@Insipid42]

I can't believe I didn't know you were British until I heard your pronunciation of "assume". It's not even that subtle. I guess I just thought that "nerding out" was an American thing. Enough to make me miss your accent.

[@NerdyInvestigations]

I am an Aussie that watches too much TV and unintentionally mimics the accents when I hear them too much. Sometimes I sound British and sometime American, it depends on what I have been watching.