Cheap If I Were King / Movie (Video) (Frank Lloyd) Price

Related Products

Customer Reviews of If I Were King / Movie

"Where are the snows of yesterday?"
The wonderful Ronald Colman brings his suave good-nature to the role of Francois Villon, a real-life poet whose times are fictionalized in this Preston Sturges-penned tale. Basil Rathbone and Frances Dee lend excellent support, and the movie is full of typical Sturges wit and eloquence (and even some good poetry). <
> <
>The year is 1643, the place is Paris, and the good people of the city are being starved to death by the Burgundians, who surround the city in a siege. Life at the palace is cozy though, due to King Louis XI's royal storehouses. The people are not too pleased with this situation and treachery abounds, so King Louis ventures out in disguise to find out who is plotting against him. He overhears Colman bragging about how much better he'd be at running things (hence the title) and decides for a lark to make the poet/thief Lord High Constable. Only momentarily daunted, Villon proves as good as his word; distributing food, earning the people's loyalty, fighting battles and wooing pretty Francis Dee with equal energy. <
> <
>Ronald Colman did not make nearly enough films, in my opinion, and this is a pretty good one. The sets are lovely, the story meandering but interesting, and the dialogue great fun. Rathbone deserves a special mention for his Louis-As-A-Nutty-Cackling-Crafty-Geezer performance. Recommend to all swashbuckler fans, and most especially if you like Colman. <
> <
>GRADE: B+

---

VILLON A'LA COLMAN.
Vagabond - roustabout Francois Villon lived in Paris of the 15th century, during the reign of Louis XI. Villon was arrested in a tavern brawl in which the Grand Constable of France was wounded. The perversely sly king was taken with Villon's speech and manner and made him into the Grand Constable for a week............John Barrymore starred in the 1927 silent version entitled THE BELOVED ROGUE; in 1930, Rudolph Friml scored the Broadway musical THE VAGABOND KING which starred Dennis King. In this Paramount film from 1938, Colman is on view in one of his more charming and carefree incarnations as the reckless poet given to romantic flights of fancy & the daring adventurer who's resourceful in a crisis. With elegant grace, he woos his lady fair, played by Frances Dee, and with a slyness spritually saturnine as Rathbone's own, he fences with the crafty king, knowing full well his very existence is on the line. Only Colman, with his eloquent speaking voice, could recite poetry as beautifully: "If I were king - the stars should be pearls upon a string"...... Although the sets, crowd scenes and Preston Sturge's script failed to completely disguise the creaky stage orgins of the piece, it's a beautiful production nevertheless.

---

A TOUR DE FORCE...
The velvet voiced Ronald Colman triumphs in the role of Francois Villon, a roguish poet who verbally duels with the canny and crafty King Louis XI of France, played with artistic abandon by Basil Rathbone in an Oscar nominated performance for Best Supporting Actor.

A series of circumstances finds Villon made Chief Constable of France by the King's decree. He is given a week to save the City of Paris from the Burgundians, who remain encamped on the outskirts of the city, waiting to move in and depose the King. The people of Paris are on the verge of revolt due to some serious food shortages and draconian punishments meeted out in the name of the King's justice. It looks like the beginning of the end for the King.

Villon, however, manages to change the people's sentiment. He uses his power to open the King's food storerooms to the people. He tempers justice with mercy, and he proves his loyalty to the king. He also wins the love of a beautiful princess, charmingly played by the lovely Frances Dee. In the end, he rallies the people of France in the name of the King and the Burgundians are defeated. This film, however, is not an action film. What is notable is the incisive and delightful repartee exchanged between Villon and the King. The dialogue flows fast and furious and is earmarked by a rapier like wit. Clever and sophisticated, it is an unusual costume drama fueled by an outstanding screenplay by the legendary Preston Sturgess.

Romald Colman fans will ejoy this film, as will those who enjoy historical dramas and period pieces.