Customer Reviews

If I Were King [VHS]

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The velvet voiced Ronald Colman triumphs in the role of Francois Villon, a roguish poet who verbally duels with the canny and crafty King Louis XI of France, played with artistic abandon by Basil Rathbone in an Oscar nominated performance for Best Supporting Actor.

A series of circumstances finds Villon made Chief Constable of France by the King's decree. He is given a week to save the City of Paris from the Burgundians, who remain encamped on the outskirts of the city, waiting to move in and depose the King. The people of Paris are on the verge of revolt due to some serious food shortages and draconian punishments meeted out in the name of the King's justice. It looks like the beginning of the end for the King.

Villon, however, manages to change the people's sentiment. He uses his power to open the King's food storerooms to the people. He tempers justice with mercy, and he proves his loyalty to the king. He also wins the love of a beautiful princess, charmingly played by the lovely Frances Dee. In the end, he rallies the people of France in the name of the King and the Burgundians are defeated. This film, however, is not an action film. What is notable is the incisive and delightful repartee exchanged between Villon and the King. The dialogue flows fast and furious and is earmarked by a rapier like wit. Clever and sophisticated, it is an unusual costume drama fueled by an outstanding screenplay by the legendary Preston Sturgess.

Romald Colman fans will ejoy this film, as will those who enjoy historical dramas and period pieces.

Vagabond - roustabout Francois Villon lived in Paris of the 15th century, during the reign of Louis XI. Villon was arrested in a tavern brawl in which the Grand Constable of France was wounded. The perversely sly king was taken with Villon's speech and manner and made him into the Grand Constable for a week............John Barrymore starred in the 1927 silent version entitled THE BELOVED ROGUE; in 1930, Rudolph Friml scored the Broadway musical THE VAGABOND KING which starred Dennis King. In this Paramount film from 1938, Colman is on view in one of his more charming and carefree incarnations as the reckless poet given to romantic flights of fancy & the daring adventurer who's resourceful in a crisis. With elegant grace, he woos his lady fair, played by Frances Dee, and with a slyness spritually saturnine as Rathbone's own, he fences with the crafty king, knowing full well his very existence is on the line. Only Colman, with his eloquent speaking voice, could recite poetry as beautifully: "If I were king - the stars should be pearls upon a string"...... Although the sets, crowd scenes and Preston Sturge's script failed to completely disguise the creaky stage orgins of the piece, it's a beautiful production nevertheless.

This film is very near the top of my best comedies of the 20th century. Why? It's a great story of a rogue who accidentally catches and kills a high ranking traitor to the King of France. Because he boasted that he would be a better king then the one who was standing incognito in the room with him, The King makes him governor of all France as a combined punishment and reward. Preston Sturges' colorful commentary is delivered by one of the finest and funniest casts ever assembled. Basil Rathbone was nominated for an Oscar for his ingenious portrayal of the wily and eccentric King Louis XI. As the King enters the torture chamber to force a confession from a traitor's messenger he comments: "What an odd smell in here...as if someone had burnt the Roast!" The line is funny on paper but when Rathbone delivers it in a high nasal and rolls the 'r' in 'roast' almost beyond reason, it's hilarious. Ronald Colman has the lion's share of funny lines, poems and quips. His sensitive reading of the romantic moments make his unexpected jokes all the more delightful. Convinced that he is being removed from the dungeon to be hanged, he makes up a little poem for the bar wench who loves him so she won't cry: "Here goes Francois, child of France, to swing into his final dance, his neck at last will have the chance....to weigh the tonnage of his pants!" A dark statement to be sure but delivered with such wide-eyed innocence as to be intoxicatingly funny. Every supporting actor is funny and engaging and the script is endlessly entertaining. This movie has just been made available to the public (I had to tape it from late night cable TV). I watch it at least once a year. Now it's available to us all. If you love classic comedy, you will treasure "If I Were King."

"If I Were King" is set in fragmented France without a Charlamagne to meld the country together. Remeniscent of ancient Greece' citystates, Paris has its own king. The movie is based upon true events. Ronald Coleman is a rascal of sharp wit and tongue who is confronted by a seemingly impossible challenge issued by the King of Paris, Basil Rathbone, with his life as wager. In short, Ronald Coleman is a renegade who is forced to summon his wherewithall where his mouth and pen had previously been.

In my opinion, "If I Were King" is a *must have* for the library of fellow classic buffs. Ronald Coleman was a rare actor who's transition from silent films so enriched the industry. His starring role in "The Light That Failed," from the novel by Rudyard Kipling, was perhaps his finest and a personal favorite.

Director Frank Lloyd's 1938 IF I WERE KING tells the (supposed) story of Francois Villon (Ronald Colman), the "vagabond king" (which phrase lends itself as the title of the later, color, musical version of the story) of 15th-century France who for a week becomes the High Constable of France, after killing the previous holder of the title in front of that man's lord, King Louis XI (Basil Rathbone). Villon is a street smart and natural poet - rendered all the more verbally brilliant through Colman's liquid tones, and screenwriter Preston Sturges' witty lines - who loves France but is conspiring to steal from it's despotic king's storehouses for himself and his poor friends. His counterpart King Louis is crafty and willful, and takes a liking to the poor poet despite himself - realizing that they have more in common than not - and after hearing Villon claim that being king isn't such a hard job, decides to simultaneously reward and punish him for the slaying of his top man (who it turns out was a traitor) by allowing him to try to do his job for a week, at the end of which lies a rope necklace. All this, while Paris is under siege from the rebel Burgundians.

High adventure and court intrigue then, in nearly equal measure, with a bit of romance thrown in as Colman falls for the lovely Katherine de Vaucelles (Frances Dee) a high-born court woman who saves him from capture early on while he is still only the vagabond poet. Colman is solid as Villon; though he could be a subtle actor when called to be so occasionally, he does seem to revel in the stagy, scenery-chewing declamations of brash characters like Villon and he's in his element here. Rathbone - who was nominated for the second time for an Oscar for this role (losing, as he did previously, to Best Supporting Actor king Walter Brennan) - is on another level altogether, giving one of the very greatest comic-villain performances in Hollywood history. His Louis speaks in sarcastic rapid-fire insults and jokes, pitched at a higher level than Rathbone's usual speaking voice; combine this with a regular cackle, a mischievous glint to the eye and a slight stoop of the shoulders and I'm honestly not sure if I'd have figured out that it was Rathbone right away had I not known it. A very atypical role for this great actor, so heavily typecast first as snarling, swashbuckling villains and then as Sherlock Holmes, and Rathbone carries it off with absolute conviction. Between him and Colman we have a perfect case of that wonderful kind of protaganist-antagonist rivalry where you can't help but admire both men, and hope for the best for them.

Is it historically accurate - is it even historically possible? Certainly not; best to think of this as Hollywood fantasy, sumptuously done on some fairly impressive sets, with a rousing score by Richard Hageman and able direction by Frank Lloyd. Like an awful lot of big Hollywood historical films of the time it's very ra-ra France, ra-ra monarchy and tradition; the war was coming and everybody knew it, this was a time to pull everybody together and indulge in some mythmaking - Villon as a prototypical fighter for freedom and justice for everybody, pushing a reluctant king into becoming a man of the people. Nope, it's not the way it happened - but that's sure not why I watched it, and I had a fun ride, which is really what counts in this case. Vastly better than the previous Lloyd-Colman collaboration, the 2nd-rate BEAU GESTE wannabe UNDER TWO FLAGS from 1936, though like that film this is sadly not yet on DVD. Worth seeking out, even on VHS, for dedicated fans of the two leads though - this might in fact be Rathbone's greatest performance, and deserves to be more widely seen.

Where should I start to praise this movie,it's got everything romance,action and comic relief but most of all an exciting and thrilling story superbly written and enacted.There is even a message in it for the words "If I were king" keep emerging at crucial points throughout the movie.At first they are meant in a pure materialistic way, when Villon is wooing Catherine and states what riches he would lay out for her "If I were king". Then it's of course King Louis in disguise asking Villon what he would do if he were king and he responds that instead of subduing his subjects he would try to understand their virtues and their vices trying to guide them like a father his children.But the ultimate climax and turning point is reached when on the eve of his supposed execution he reveals his true identity to his beloved Catherine.There he tells her of the love he feels for her "like in paradise" and that "I couldn't have given you any godlier thing,if I were king".This is all delivered in a genuine and affectionate way by Ronald Colman and I suppose a lesser actor would have hilariously failed at this speech on "true love".
Another striking feature is the sheer physical presence of the two leading men, Basil Rathbone and Ronald Colman.At its best when they confront each other.Basil Rathbone is doing a grand impersonation of a slightly crippled and always suspicious king managing to reveal the underlying threats in his words.Ronald Colman uses his whole body to portrait Villon,c.f. when he is hiding from the persuing guard at the beginning of the movie he is very obviously breathing thus presenting an image of vigour and liveliness.Or the wooing scene outside the cathedral when he gets down on his knees as soon as Francis Dee faces him-fabulous!!
What remains to be said is that I genuinly hope that the movie will be digitally remastered and available on DVD in the future.I also have got the strong feeling that some minor scenes are missing on the vhs like at the end of the movie when Villon is in the dungeon I recollect having seen a scene where Villon climbs up the stone bench to take a look through the barred window above facing the gibbet.He then climbs down again and wraps himself up in some cloth and falls asleep on the same bench.This is where he wkes up when the king enters the dugeon.I cannot truely account for this scene since it is more than twenty years ago I've seen it.

as unlikely as the combination might appear, the melding of two such complete -- yet equally wonderful -- opposites works very nicely indeed.

colman is his usual debonair self, perhaps a bit unconvincing in the early segments as the rogue villon, but then utterly right when he arrives at court. and oh, what a beautiful hammy performance by basil rathbone as louis xi; not until jay robinson as caligula or peter ustinov as nero in the 50s was there as over-the-top portrayal of a messed up monarch!

as to sturges, the signs of the later brilliance are already apparent: the mixture of the concern for humanity with the madness of physical attraction. you can readily see the stirrings of _sullivan's travels_ in this movie.

all told, this is well worth your time and $.

If I had one wish it'd be for world peace. But if I had a second wish it'd be for several of Ronald Colman's early talky films to see their way to DVD. The Bulldog Drummond films. RAFFLES. And this one, IF I WERE KING. I happen to think that Colman's interpretation of poet/philosopher/adventurer Francois Villon is one of the finest performances this classy actor has ever submitted. So why the heck is this film only out on VHS?

IF I WERE KING is a lavish romantic adventure set in the 15th century, and it features a Ronald Colman who not only rolls out mellifluous dialogue but also swashes his buckle vigorously enough that Errol Flynn's eyes just got big. As the Duke of Burgundy and his armies lay siege to the city of Paris and King Louis XI deigns to do nothing, the common folks are feeling the pinch. Francois Villon, ragged rabble rouser, cites insurrection and he's unlucky enough to be overheard by the disguised king. "Who is this cockroach?" wonders Louis XI, but Villon's flamboyant way with words has sparked his interest. The king whimsically appoints Villon the new Grand Constable of France and unleashes him on his royal court and on his besieged city. The rest of the film tracks the fallout of Villon's improbable (and perilous) ascension to nobility, tracks his efforts to better the peasants' condition and to resolve the siege of Paris. It's hard going, of course, what with the king's army generals refusing to fight and, in fact, exhorting the king to surrender unconditionally.

Along the way, Villon falls in love with the beautiful lady-in-waiting, Katherine de Vaucelles (Frances Dee). And, oboy, if you thought words fell prettily from his lips before, get a load of him now... The poem he recites to Lady Katherine in church, "If I Were King," is a nice bit of awesome.

Mad respect to Colman's other classics (especially THE PRISONER OF ZENDA), but IF I WERE KING is possibly my favorite Ronald Colman film. Preston Sturges' screenplay crackles with wit, sparkles with finely turned phrases, sates the closet romantic in you. And when you have someone like Colman, with his verve and authority, and a surprisingly scene-stealing Basil Rathbone to deliver Sturges' dialogue, well, you have something that's a far cry from suck. Rathbone, in truth, is the real revelation here. We already know how accomplished Colman is. But this is Basil Rathbone as you've never seen him, playing the eccentric Louis XI, whose cackling facade belies a devious mind. Ultimately, Louis XI is as likable a rogue as Francois Villon. Would that most tyrants can lay claim to such a boast. It's such a startling departure and Rathbone is so good here that he earned an Oscar nomination. It's very hard to upstage Colman. Rathbone nearly does it.

Seriously, why isn't this out on DVD?

I don't care. It could be the worst movie in the world, but with Colman, it's a must have. Rathbone is a close second in this catagory. Add it to your collection before it goes out of print. If the film is not that exciting, at least two of the best actors are in it, and that is enough...

Paramount Pictures presents "IF I WERE KING" (1938) (101 min/B&W) -- Starring Ronald Colman, Basil Rathbone, Frances Dee & Ellen Drew

Directed by Frank Lloyd

In 1463, Paris is besieged by the Duke of Burgundy, arch-rival of the king, who is content to sit tight while the poor starve. But there are traitors in Paris, and King Louis goes undercover to find one, thereby meeting Francois Villon, poet, philosopher and rogue. By chance Villon kills the king's traitor and is ordered to replace him as Grand Constable of France! But there's a catch.

"Ronald Colman and Basil Rathbone, two wonderful actors having the time of their careers playing wittily written opposites who are also spiritual soul mates -- Francois Villon, the poetic rebel, born into poverty with a noble soul, and Louis XI, King of France, born into privilege but with a rebel's iconoclasm. Add a witty script by that poetic comedic rebel Preston Sturges, who hits all the crowd-pleasing buttons without condescension and no-nonsense direction by Frank Lloyd, and you have a top Hollywood product -- a crowd pleaser with intelligence.

Rathbone is a particular delight. Pre-Holmes, he revels in playing an unprepossessing cynic to whom everyone must bow because he happens to be the king. Colman is doing what he does best, playing an intelligent, superior man, without losing the common touch. A delight all the way around".

Oscar nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Basil Rathbone)
Oscar nominated for Best Art Direction (Hans Dreier & John B. Goodman)
Oscar nominated for Best Music, Original Score (Richard Hageman)
Oscar nominated for Best Sound, Recording (Loren L. Ryder - (Paramount SSD)

BIOS:
1. Frank Lloyd (Director)
Date of Birth: 2 February 1886 - Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Date of Death: 10 August 1960 - Santa Monica, California

2. Ronald Colman [aka: Ronald Charles Colman]
Date of Birth: 9 February 1891 - Richmond, Surrey, England, UK
Date of Death: 19 May 1958 - Santa Barbara, California

3. Basil Rathbone [aka: Philip St. John Basil Rathbone]
Date of Birth: 13 June 1892 - Johannesburg, South Africa
Date of Death: 21 July 1967 - New York City, New York

4. Frances Dee [aka: Frances Marion Dee]
Date of Birth: 26 November 1909 - Los Angeles, California
Date of Death: 6 March 2004 - Norwalk, Connecticut

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 4 Stars
Performance: 4 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 4 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 101 min on VHS ~ Paramount Pictures ~ (August 4, 1998)