In 1956, the press was agog that screen siren Marilyn Monroe had sensationally been paired with theatre giant Laurence Olivier in the British movie The Prince and the Showgirl, but the drama that unfolded backstage offers greater intrigue. Their clash of styles is revealed in this beguiling adaptation of a memoir by Colin Clark (played by a wide-eyed Eddie Redmayne), who was a production runner on the film and became a confidante/companion to the isolated movie star during her stay in England. Michelle Williams captivates as Marilyn, matching her childlike lust for life with a darker, destructive nature. Even so, the tone of the film is light, bordering on fluffy, as director Simon Curtis keeps a narrow focus on Clark's growing pains. A lively supporting cast (Julia Ormond, Dominic Cooper, Harry Potter star Emma Watson) adds to the buoyant mood. But the standouts are a hilarious Kenneth Branagh, whose Olivier is always ready with a scathing one-liner, and Judi Dench, who plays Dame Sybil Thorndike like a fussing aunt. It oozes with romance, too, but most of all it's delightfully evocative of a bygone era of film-making.