stephen  d. leece

Disturbing and moving docu-drama made by ATV for British television based on the real-life events leading up to the public execution of a Princess in an unnamed Arabian country.

Let’s face facts, the country is Saudi Arabia and the Princess concerned is Princess Misha’al bint Fahd (1958- 15 July 1977).

The charismatic, yet curiously naïve Christopher Ryder, played by the brilliant Paul Freeman, is loosely based on Antony Thomas with support provided from Judy Parfitt as the Royal Nanny and the always amazing Zia Moheyddin.

The film was originally conceived as a pure documentary of the World in Action school of investigative journalism, but in the event a drama was decided as being least problematic a medium to get the basic point across.

Nevertheless upon transmission, the British Ambassador to Saudi was expelled from the country and both Saudi and Lebanon forbade Concorde to use their airspaces rendering the London to Singapore run unprofitable.

The ultimate irony of all these measures is that despite all of this, the Vangelis soundtrack was used as a filler on Saudi State TV in between regular broadcasts.

A dangerously honest film, that is essential viewing before entering any of the Gulf States.