Background and Production Notes
The 1925, 1930, and 1956 films are all based on a Hungarian play entitled A Hattyú, Vígjáték Három Felvonásban (The Swan, A Comedy in Three Acts) by Ferenc Molnár (Budapest, 1914).
For the 1956 film, the role of Prince Albert was originally offered to Rex Harrison, then to Joseph Cotten, before being given to Alec Guinness. This was Guinness' first American film.
Grace Kelly had previously appeared in the CBS television production of The Swan on 9 June 1950.
The film was shot on location in North Carolina, at the 1895 Biltmore Estate of George W. Vanderbilt in Asheville and at Lake Junaluska.
The large elegant diamond ring Grace Kelly wore in The Swan wasn’t a paste prop; it was real. It was her engagement ring from Prince Rainier III, a 12 carat diamond surrounded by rubies to represent Monaco’s red-and-white national colors.
MGM held the release of The Swan to correspond with the wedding day of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco, on 18 April 1956.
Read more about this topic: The Swan (film)
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