If I Were King

9/28/19381h 41m

Theatrical Release (US)

~ His Love-Making Was as Dangerous as His Sword-Play ~

Overview:

King Louis XI masquerades as a commoner in Paris, seeking out the treachery he is sure lurks in his kingdom. At a local tavern, he overhears the brash poet François Villon extolling why he would be a better king. Annoyed yet intrigued, the King bestows on Villon the title of Grand Constable. Soon Villon begins work and falls for a lovely lady-in-waiting, but then must flee execution when the King turns on him.

Director:

Frank Lloyd

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$0.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Key words:

paris, france
based on novel or book
imprisonment
cowardice
poet
romance
torture
king
impersonation
nobility
starvation
poor
turncoat
15th century
battle of wits
thieves
leadership
witty
ideals
besieged city
rabble

Cast

Ronald Colman

~ as ~

François Villon

Basil Rathbone

~ as ~

Louis XI

Frances Dee

~ as ~

Katherine de Vaucelles

Ellen Drew

~ as ~

Huguette

C. V. France

~ as ~

Father Villon

Henry Wilcoxon

~ as ~

Captain of the Watch

Heather Thatcher

~ as ~

The Queen

Stanley Ridges

~ as ~

Rene de Montigny

Bruce Lester

~ as ~

Noel de Jolys

Alma Lloyd

~ as ~

Colette

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

CinemaSerf
Written 3 year(s) ago
7
This is a cracking bit of swashbuckling adventure with Ronald Colman ("Villon") and particularly Basil Rathbone (Louis XI) on top form. The former is a poetic vagabond, Robin Hood style, character who pinches what he can to help feed the population of a besieged Paris, whilst their King sits in his palace living the life of Riley. When the King's personal store is raided, the King's guard step up their searches and it isn't long before "Villon" is apprehended. The King is a wily old buzzard, though, and realising potential in this man of the people, appoints him to command the city and his armies and before long the people begin to change their previously hostile views of Louis XI and everyone focuses on the looming Burgundian attacks. Coleman reminded me of Errol Flynn here; he displays a charming intimacy with both his colleagues and the audience that is engaging. Rathbone - who lost out on the Oscar to Walter Brennan for "Kentucky" (1938) - is also excellent as the shrewd monarch who must hold his kingdom together, despite some pretty obvious character flaws! Frank Lloyd keeps the whole thing moving along swiftly, with plenty of action, pithy dialogue and duplicity writ large. If you like the genre, then you ought to love this - I really enjoyed it.