History Film / TheDuchess

* {{Biopic}}: It’s based on the life of an entirely real figure.

* TheSocialite: Georgiana is something of a classic RealLife example.

* ChildByRape: It's implied [[spoiler: Georgiana's son]] is conceived after being raped by her husband in a fit of anger.
* CostumeDrama: It's a drama set in the 18th Century.
* CostumePorn: It's set in the 18th Century, after all.

* TheGamblingAddict: Georgiana has shades of this, becoming infamous for her gambling habits. It's implied she indulges in gambling as an outlet for her miserable marriage. This is TruthInTelevision, as well.
* GoodAdulteryBadAdultery: The Duke's affairs are treated more harshly due to him being indiscreet, having multiple affairs just because he can and humiliating his wife in the proces. His affair with Bess in particular is treated as a KickTheDog moment, as Bess is Georgiana's best friend and "the sole comfort" in their miserable marriage. Georgiana, on the other hand, is treated as a SympatheticAdulterer, as the Duke cheats on her first, is cold and downright abusive towards her and she only has an affair with one man whom she genuinely loves. Of course, in the film's setting, the Duke is the 'good' adulterer, as having affairs was considered normal and even healthy for 18th Century men, whilst Georgiana is the 'bad' adulterer, as women who had affairs were considered immoral and loose.

* MaritalRapeLicense: The Duke rapes Georgiana after his discovery of her affair with Charles Grey, and nobody does anything even when they hear her screaming. In the 18th Century, women were considered the property of their husbands and so they were entitled to sex with them, whether they wanted it or not. Given that marital rape wasn't completely outlawed in England until the R v R case in 1991, this ValuesDissonance isn't quite as old as many suppose.

* StarCrossedLovers: Georgiana and Charles Grey, due to her already being married to a neglectful and abusive Jerkass, in a society where divorce and a woman having an affair are considered huge taboos. [[spoiler: Georgiana is later forced by her husband to end her relationship with Grey, or he'll never let her see her illegitimate daughter again]].

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[[quoteright:214:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Duchesseli_9925.jpg]]

Set at the end of the eighteenth century, '''''The Duchess''''' is a 2008 film from BBC Films and Pathé (distributed in America by Creator/{{Paramount}}), directed by Saul Gibb, with musical score by Rachel Portman, and starring Creator/KeiraKnightley and Ralph Fiennes.

The film is based on the life of Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire. While her beauty and charisma made her name, her extravagant tastes and appetite for gambling and love made her infamous. Married young to the older, distant Duke of Devonshire, who was blatantly unfaithful, Georgiana became a fashion icon, a doting mother, a shrewd political operator, intimate of ministers and princes, and darling of the common people. But at the core of the story is a desperate search for love. The film delves into Georgiana’s passionate and doomed affair with Charles Grey, the future Prime Minister and Earl Grey, and the complex love triangle with her husband and her best friend, Lady Bess Foster.

* ArrangedMarriage: Georgiana's marriage to the Duke. She's initially optimistic, but everything quickly goes to hell...

* BreakTheCutie: Dear God...

* CostumeDrama

* MaritalRapeLicense: The Duke rapes Georgiana after his discovery of her affair with Charles Grey, and nobody does anything even when they hear her screaming. In the 18th Century, women were considered the property of their husbands and so they were entitled to sex with them, whether they wanted it or not. Given that marital rape wasn't completely outlawed in England until the R v R case in 1991, this ValuesDissonance is quite as old as many suppose.

* MaritalRapeLicense: The Duke rapes Georgiana after his discovery of her affair with Charles Grey, and nobody does anything even when they hear her screaming. In the 18th Century, women were considered the property of their husbands and so they were entitled to sex with them, whether they wanted it or not

Given that marital rape wasn't completely outlawed in England until the R v R case in 1991, this ValuesDissonance is quite as old as many suppose.

* MaritalRapeLicense: The Duke rapes Georgiana after his discovery of her affair with Charles Grey, and nobody does anything even when they hear her screaming. In the 18th Century, women were considered the property of their husbands and so they were entitled to sex with them, whether they wanted it or not.

* {{Hypocrite}}: The Duke has numerous affairs and expects Georgiana to just put up with it, but the moment she asks if she could have a lover of her own (whom she genuinely cares for), he [[BerserkButton completely loses it]]. This is a result of ValuesDissonance, as in the 18th Century it was considered quite normal for men to cheat on their wives, whilst a woman cheating was considered scandalous.

* AristocratsAreEvil: Arguably played straight with the Duke, the closet thing the film has to an antagonist. Averted with Georgiana and Charles.

* TheMistress: Bess ends up becoming this to the Duke. She is less than impressed at first, but eventually accepts it and even gives them her [[RemarriedToTheMistress blessing to marry after her death]]. Charles Grey is a gender inverted version of this for Georgiana, but it doesn't end well.

* GoodAdulteryBadAdultery: The Duke's affairs are treated more harshly due to him being indiscreet, having multiple affairs just because he can and humiliating his wife in the proces. His affair with Bess in particular is treated as a KicktheDog moment, as Bess is Georgiana's best friend and "the sole comfort" in their miserable marriage. Georgiana, on the other hand, is treated as a SympatheticAdulterer, as the Duke cheats on her first, is cold and downright abusive towards her and she only has an affair with one man whom she genuinely loves. Of course, in the film's setting, the Duke is the 'good' adulter, as having affairs was considered normal and even healthy for 18th Century men, whilst Georgiana is the 'bad' adulter, as women who had affairs were considered immoral and loose.

* GoodAdulteryBadAdultery: The Duke's affairs are treated more harshly due to him being indiscreet, having multiple affairs just because he can and humiliating his wife in the proces. His affair with Bess in particular is treated as a KicktheDog moment, as Bess is Georgiana's best friend and "the sole comfort" in their miserable marriage. Georgiana, on the other hand, is treated as a SympatheticAdulter, as the Duke cheats on her first, is cold and downright abusive towards her and she only has an affair with one man whom she genuinely loves. Of course, in the film's setting, the Duke is the 'good' adulter, as having affairs was considered normal and even healthy for 18th Century men, whilst Georgiana is the 'bad' adulter, as women who had affairs were considered immoral and loose.

* MaritalRapeLicense: The Duke rapes Georgiana after his discovery of her affair with Charles Grey, and nobody does anything even when they hear her screaming.

* SadisticChoice: Towards the end of the film, Georgiana's husband tells her he'll forbid her from seeing her children and ruin Grey's political career if she continues her affair with him, despite the fact he's the only source of happiness she has in their marriage. Georgiana ends [[spoiler: agreeing to this, as at least this way she can still see her children and her lover's career is safe]].

* TableSpace: used frequently, particularly when relationships are strained.

* PrettyInMink: One of her outfits has a red fox muff and a NiceHat with fox tails. She also has a maternity dress with fur trim.

* RetroactiveRecognition: [[HayleyAtwell Peggy Carter]] and [[DominicCooper Howard Stark]] appear in this film.

* AdultFear: Your husband can take your children away from you, and there's nothing you can do about it because you're a woman and he has law on his side. This briefly happens to Bess' children with her own husband, while the Duke threatens to do this to Georgiana if she continues her affair.
* BittersweetEnding: Despite everyone having a mostly HappyEnding, Georgiana remains in her marriage to the Duke until her death and never rekindled her affair with Charles Grey, although she did often visit their daughter in secret.

* MaritalRapeLicense : The Duke rapes Georgiana after his discovery of her affair with Charles Grey.
* {{Polyamory}}: Georgiana, the Duke and Bess live together for over 25 years, until her death.

* TableSpace

* YourCheatingHeart: The Duke is very obvious about his affairs. Georgiana briefly has one with a Charles Grey but that ends badly.

Set at the end of the eighteenth century, '''''The Duchess''''' is a 2008 film from BBC Films and Pathé (distributed in America by Creator/{{Paramount}}), directed by Saul Gibb, with musical score by Rachel Portman, and starring KeiraKnightley and Ralph Fiennes.

* SpiritedYoungLady: Georgiana.

* PrettyInMink: One of her outfits has a red fox muff and a NiceHat with fox tails.

* AThreesomeIsHot
* AdultFear: Your husband can take your children away from you, and there's nothing you can do about it because you're a woman and he has law on his side.
* BittersweetEnding

* EasilyForgiven: Georgiana forgives both the Duke and Bess in the end, despite all of the suffering they put her through (The Duke more than Bess of course).
* HappyEnding: Somehow...

* MaritalRapeLicense : The Duke raped Georgiana for being too angry

The film is based on the life of Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire. While her beauty and charisma made her name, her extravagant tastes and appetite for gambling and love made her infamous. Married young to the older, distant Duke of Devonshire, who was blatantly unfaithful, Georgiana became a fashion icon, a doting mother, a shrewd political operator, intimate of ministers and princes, and darling of the common people. But at the core of the story is a desperate search for love. The film delves into Georgiana’s passionate and doomed affair with Earl Grey, the future Prime Minister, and the complex love triangle with her husband and her best friend, Lady Bess Foster.