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Thursday, December 27, 2018

UNDER THE RED ROBE (1937)

A onetime stage perennial, filmed silently twice (1915; 1923 - both lost) now speaks in this deluxe British production. Technically impressive, with two legendary cinematographers (James Wong Howe; Georges Périnal), a rousing Arthur Benjamin score, tasty supporting cast and handsome mounting . . . it’s everything else that comes up short! Raymond Massey is the treacherous Cardinal Richelieu, saving inveterate dueler Conrad Veidt (Gil de Berault) from execution to capture that religious rebel leader the Duke of Flox. (The old Catholics vs Huguenots battle.) But his mission gets complicated as soon as Veidt espies the Duke’s kid sister, lovely Annabella, Lady Marguerite of Flox! (The fancy names and international accents something of an obstacle.) All more confusing then it need be under director Victor (Seastrom) Sjöström, the great actor/director of silent days, here megging his final pic, one of his few in English, and turning out a very choppy piece of work. (He’d famously continue acting back in his native Sweden for Ingmar Bergman, among others, but never directed again.) And then there’s Veidt; a compelling screen presence (see THE MAN WHO LAUGHS/’28; THE SPY IN BLACK/’39; CASABLANCA/’42), but far too saturnine for even this flawed hero. (He’s also made up to resemble Nosferatu.) And showing less chemistry with Annabella then with helpmate (and pint-sized delight) Romney Brent. The film’s a miss, but an interesting one.

DOUBLE-BILL/LINK: You can see how this might have worked watching next year’s French romantic historical adventure IF I WERE KING/’38, rather stiffly directed by Frank Lloyd, but with Ronald Colman, Basil Rathbone & Frances Dee reveling in the Preston Sturges script. OR: For livelier Richelieu, try CARDINAL RICHELIEU/’35, with director Rowland V. Lee whipping George Arliss, Maureen O’Sullivan & Cesar Romero into shape. https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2019/05/if-i-were-king-1938.html   https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2015/03/cardinal-richelieu-1935.html

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