This is a nice fictional account of the story of Madame Du Barry who in the court of Louis XV stirred up a lot of scandal and apparently had a lot of fun doing it. This is a rare leading role for character actor Reginald Owen who's only other ones were as Watson in an early "Sherlock Holmes" film and Ebenezer Scrooge. He had earlier played Louis XV opposite George Arliss as "Voltaire", and seems to be having a lot of fun playing with the beautiful Dolores Del Rio who is captivating in the title role. Louis is enthralled by the fact that she claims to think of him simply as a man and not the king, and his vain demeanor believes her.
Delightfully decadent, this is a nice companion piece to the same year's "The Scarlet Empress" where Joseph Von Sternberg went overboard in creating a gauche royal court for the life of Catherine the Great. However, where the art direction of that film was completely over-the-top in its tackiness, this is a little classier and indeed represents what you could imagine the French court looking like. Before long, the whole court is talking, and thanks to the scheming countess Verree Teasdale, advisers such as Victor Jory and Osgood Perkins become determined to get rid of her.
"You're losing your kingdom sir.", Jory tells the king who responds, "Perhaps, but I am having a lot of fun doing it." That pretty much sums up the attitude of this historical epic with lots of elements of comedy attached. The Ensemble of this film is outstanding with Teasdale particularly memorable as a character very similar to Glenn Close's in "Dangerous Liaisons" Helen Lowell is very funny as an aging countess. Maynard Holmes, as the future Louis XVI, gets an ironic symbol when he has his head stuck inside a clock. For his future spouse, Marie Antoinette, Anita Louise is given the part. Here, the dauphin is a combination of Nero of Rome and Peter III of Russia, as played by Sam Jaffe in "The Scarlet Empress".
My only fault with this film is that there is not really a strong plot line. The court schemes against Du Barry as she flirts with the king, preparations for various events occur, Du Barry tries to intrude, she is snubbed, and then more of the same. However, there is enough distraction with the sets and costumes and props, and the film doesn't overstay its welcome at only 80 minutes. Young Jesse Scott is an adorable little scene-stealer as the little black boy who is Del Rio's servant. The scene where he orders the uppity Arthur Treacher around is an absolute classic. Considering the time that this is set in, it is a shame that is is totally court bound so you do not see the plight of the poor while the decadence of the Royal Court increases.
Delightfully decadent, this is a nice companion piece to the same year's "The Scarlet Empress" where Joseph Von Sternberg went overboard in creating a gauche royal court for the life of Catherine the Great. However, where the art direction of that film was completely over-the-top in its tackiness, this is a little classier and indeed represents what you could imagine the French court looking like. Before long, the whole court is talking, and thanks to the scheming countess Verree Teasdale, advisers such as Victor Jory and Osgood Perkins become determined to get rid of her.
"You're losing your kingdom sir.", Jory tells the king who responds, "Perhaps, but I am having a lot of fun doing it." That pretty much sums up the attitude of this historical epic with lots of elements of comedy attached. The Ensemble of this film is outstanding with Teasdale particularly memorable as a character very similar to Glenn Close's in "Dangerous Liaisons" Helen Lowell is very funny as an aging countess. Maynard Holmes, as the future Louis XVI, gets an ironic symbol when he has his head stuck inside a clock. For his future spouse, Marie Antoinette, Anita Louise is given the part. Here, the dauphin is a combination of Nero of Rome and Peter III of Russia, as played by Sam Jaffe in "The Scarlet Empress".
My only fault with this film is that there is not really a strong plot line. The court schemes against Du Barry as she flirts with the king, preparations for various events occur, Du Barry tries to intrude, she is snubbed, and then more of the same. However, there is enough distraction with the sets and costumes and props, and the film doesn't overstay its welcome at only 80 minutes. Young Jesse Scott is an adorable little scene-stealer as the little black boy who is Del Rio's servant. The scene where he orders the uppity Arthur Treacher around is an absolute classic. Considering the time that this is set in, it is a shame that is is totally court bound so you do not see the plight of the poor while the decadence of the Royal Court increases.