 Although conceived as a vehicle for de Havilland, "Princess O'Rourke" turned out to be a troubled project that led to the de Havilland Law, that changed the status of contracts in the U.S. film industry.Filmed in 1942, the release was held up for one year due to legal issues that resulted from the production.During World War II, Princess Maria and her uncle Holman, exiles from their (unnamed) conquered European country, live in New York City.