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AdventureHistory

If I Were King

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

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.

Release Date : 1938-09-28

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Paramount Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Ronald Colman

Character Name : François Villon

Original Name : Ronald Colman

Gender : Male

Basil Rathbone

Character Name : King Louis XI

Original Name : Basil Rathbone

Gender : Male

Frances Dee

Character Name : Katherine de Vaucelles

Original Name : Frances Dee

Gender : Female

Ellen Drew

Character Name : Huguette

Original Name : Ellen Drew

Gender : Female

C. V. France

Character Name : Father Villon

Original Name : C. V. France

Gender : Male

Henry Wilcoxon

Character Name : Captain of the Watch

Original Name : Henry Wilcoxon

Gender : Male

Heather Thatcher

Character Name : The Queen

Original Name : Heather Thatcher

Gender : Female

Stanley Ridges

Character Name : Rene de Montigny

Original Name : Stanley Ridges

Gender : Male

Bruce Lester

Character Name : Noel de Jolys

Original Name : Bruce Lester

Gender : Male

Alma Lloyd

Character Name : Colette

Original Name : Alma Lloyd

Gender : Male

Walter Kingsford

Character Name : Tristan l'Hermite

Original Name : Walter Kingsford

Gender : Male

Sidney Toler

Character Name : Robin Turgis

Original Name : Sidney Toler

Gender : Male

Colin Tapley

Character Name : Jehan Le Loup

Original Name : Colin Tapley

Gender : Male

Ralph Forbes

Character Name : Oliver le Dain

Original Name : Ralph Forbes

Gender : Male

John Miljan

Character Name : Thibaut d'Aussigny

Original Name : John Miljan

Gender : Male

William Haade

Character Name : Guy Tabarie

Original Name : William Haade

Gender : Male

Adrian Morris

Character Name : Colin de Cayeulx

Original Name : Adrian Morris

Gender : Male

Montagu Love

Character Name : General Dudon

Original Name : Montagu Love

Gender : Male

Lester Matthews

Character Name : General Saliere

Original Name : Lester Matthews

Gender : Male

William Farnum

Character Name : General Barbezier

Original Name : William Farnum

Gender : Male

Paul Harvey

Character Name : Burgundian Herald

Original Name : Paul Harvey

Gender : Male

Barry Macollum

Character Name : Storehouse Watchman

Original Name : Barry Macollum

Gender : Male

May Beatty

Character Name : Anna

Original Name : May Beatty

Gender : Female

Winter Hall

Character Name : Major Domo

Original Name : Winter Hall

Gender : Male

Francis McDonald

Character Name : Casin Cholet

Original Name : Francis McDonald

Gender : Male

Ann Evers

Character Name : Lady-in-Waiting

Original Name : Ann Evers

Gender : Female

Jean Fenwick

Character Name : Lady-in-Waiting

Original Name : Jean Fenwick

Gender : Female

Henry Brandon

Character Name : Soldier

Original Name : Henry Brandon

Gender : Male

Eddie Hall

Character Name : Soldier

Original Name : Eddie Hall

Gender : Male

Darryl Hickman

Character Name : Child

Original Name : Darryl Hickman

Gender : Male

John George

Character Name : Beggar

Original Name : John George

Gender : Male

Jimmy Aubrey

Character Name : Drunk

Original Name : Jimmy Aubrey

Gender : Male

Guy Bellis

Character Name : Third Officer

Original Name : Guy Bellis

Gender : Male

Lionel Belmore

Character Name : Chief Steward

Original Name : Lionel Belmore

Gender : Male

Ted Billings

Character Name : Parisian Peasant

Original Name : Ted Billings

Gender : Male

Ed Brady

Character Name : Beggar

Original Name : Ed Brady

Gender : Male

George Bruggeman

Character Name : Restraining Guard

Original Name : George Bruggeman

Gender : Male

Marie Burton

Character Name : Girl

Original Name : Marie Burton

Gender : Female

Ethel Clayton

Character Name : Old Woman

Original Name : Ethel Clayton

Gender : Female

David Clyde

Character Name : First Officer

Original Name : David Clyde

Gender : Male

Bing Conley

Character Name : Burgundian Knight

Original Name : Bing Conley

Gender : Male

Alec Craig

Character Name : Spy

Original Name : Alec Craig

Gender : Male

Paula DeCardo

Character Name : Dancer

Original Name : Paula DeCardo

Gender : Male

Jane Dewey

Character Name : Maid

Original Name : Jane Dewey

Gender : Male

Shorty English

Character Name : Beggar

Original Name : Shorty English

Gender : Male

Ralph Faulkner

Character Name : First Watch

Original Name : Ralph Faulkner

Gender : Male

Norah Gale

Character Name : Lady-in-Waiting

Original Name : Norah Gale

Gender : Male

Shep Houghton

Character Name : Burgundian Knight

Original Name : Shep Houghton

Gender : Male

Brandon Hurst

Character Name : Beggar

Original Name : Brandon Hurst

Gender : Male

Major Kieffer

Character Name : Burgundian Knight

Original Name : Major Kieffer

Gender : Male

Claude King

Character Name : Courtier

Original Name : Claude King

Gender : Male

Judith King

Character Name : Girl

Original Name : Judith King

Gender : Male

Stanley King

Character Name : Captain of Archers

Original Name : Stanley King

Gender : Male

Ian Maclaren

Character Name : Beggar

Original Name : Ian Maclaren

Gender : Male

Eric Mayne

Character Name : Court Member

Original Name : Eric Mayne

Gender : Male

Merrill McCormick

Character Name : Ruffian

Original Name : Merrill McCormick

Gender : Male

Clive Morgan

Character Name : Second Officer

Original Name : Clive Morgan

Gender : Male

Paul Newlan

Character Name : Beggar

Original Name : Paul Newlan

Gender : Male

Carol Parker

Character Name : Girl

Original Name : Carol Parker

Gender : Male

Russ Powell

Character Name : Ruffian

Original Name : Russ Powell

Gender : Male

Ruth Rogers

Character Name : Girl

Original Name : Ruth Rogers

Gender : Female

John Roy

Character Name : Restraining Guard

Original Name : John Roy

Gender : Male

Ralph Sanford

Character Name : Cook

Original Name : Ralph Sanford

Gender : Male

Charles Schaeffer

Character Name : Third Watch

Original Name : Charles Schaeffer

Gender : Male

Louise Seidel

Character Name : Girl

Original Name : Louise Seidel

Gender : Male

Allen D. Sewall

Character Name : Parisian Peasant

Original Name : Allen D. Sewall

Gender : Male

Count Stefenelli

Character Name : Court Member

Original Name : Count Stefenelli

Gender : Male

Dan Strebel

Character Name : Second Watch

Original Name : Dan Strebel

Gender : Male

Evan Thomas

Character Name : Officer

Original Name : Evan Thomas

Gender : Male

Cheryl Walker

Character Name : Girl

Original Name : Cheryl Walker

Gender : Female

Robert Wegner

Character Name : Fourth Watch

Original Name : Robert Wegner

Gender : Male

Pat West

Character Name : Bit Part

Original Name : Pat West

Gender : Male

Dorothy White

Character Name : Girl

Original Name : Dorothy White

Gender : Female

Gloria Williams

Character Name : Girl

Original Name : Gloria Williams

Gender : Male

Harry Wilson

Character Name : Beggar

Original Name : Harry Wilson

Gender : Male

Reviews

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2022-06-20

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.