Fine historical nonsense about François Villon, anarchist, thief, patriot & rapscallion poet in 15th Century France. Filmed in ‘27 as THE BELOVED ROGUE with John Barrymore, and then as the operetta VAGABOND KING (1930; 1956), this Frank Lloyd Paramount production holds the winning hand thanks to Ronald Colman’s gentlemanly swash and the witty buckle of Preston Sturges’s screenplay. (Those elegant bits of Villon verse his own newly made translations.) This one vied with the Michael Curtiz/Errol Flynn ROBIN HOOD out earlier in the year*, but has its own vibe, especially in Basil Rathbone’s King Louis XI, villain and worthy leader, who condemns, pardons and finally sees his reign rescued by Colman. Both men in priceless turns: Rathbone using a grotesque John Barrymore-esque cackle* and Colman with his unique repertoire of haunting gestures in voice & looks. The film misses zest & panache under Lloyd’s hand (craft, but few thrills), and in the music department, Richard Hageman proves no Erich Wolfgang Korngold. But with its big handsome production, characterful turns and a pair of lovely ladies to pine away (Frances Dee, Ellen Drew), Colman & Sturges have more than enough support to make their mark. The film is enchanting.
DOUBLE-BILL: *By the time Michael Curtiz got around to this story in '56, he was off-form and stuck remaking the operetta (VAGABOND KING) for shrill Kathryn Grayson & non-event discovery Oreste Kirkop.
ATTENTION MUST BE PAID: *No doubt, Barrymore would have preferred to play King Louis, and would have been a lot like Rathbone in the part. But back in 1927, he was Villon and Conrad Veidt had all the villainous fun. (Apparently, both this silent and the 1930 operetta version have received major restorations. Not seen here.)
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