VividSimon Simply Perfect

Raetsonwe Redundant and unnecessary.

Pacionsbo Absolutely Fantastic

FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

wes-connors In 15th century Paris, poetic lover John Barrymore (as Francois Villon) leads crowds in an extended celebration of "All Fools' Day" which irks King Conrad Veidt (as Louis XI). Consequently, Mr. Barrymore is banished to the outskirts. After Barrymore is caught sneaking back to the city, Mr. Veidt sentences him to death. Barrymore proves himself cleverer than your usual connoisseur of wine, women, and song. He convinces the superstitions Mr. Veidt their deaths are destined to occur within the same day, and becomes a pampered member of the court. Soon, Barrymore risks his life to rescue beautifully figured Marceline Day (as Charlotte), and save France...This version of "If I Were King" is obviously tailor-made for Barrymore. The United Artists production values are very high.Barrymore was one of the best actors around through the 1920s. He appeared in relatively few films, but they were carefully selected. Here, he is probably at his "hammiest" - which he admitted upon seeing the film at a crowded premiere. Not to be outdone, Veidt chews a fair share of the scenery. Lucy Beaumont leads an accomplished supporting cast. However hammy, Barrymore is highly appealing. He is also, despite reports to the contrary, still in peak physical form. Not only does Barrymore display boundless energy, he plays the last act in a loincloth. Barrymore was now in his mid-forties. His famed "Great Profile" is also very much in evidence.******* The Beloved Rogue (3/12/27) Alan Crosland ~ John Barrymore, Conrad Veidt, Marceline Day, Lucy Beaumont

classicsoncall Most of the silent films I've seen have been serious in nature, so it was fun to see one with a comic touch. The setting and some of the scenes for "The Beloved Rogue" were reminiscent of 1923's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" relative to the Paris street scenes and the celebration of the 'King of Fools'. John Barrymore portrays France's greatest poet Francois Villon in a characterization that ranges quite broadly from virtual slapstick to romantically tender; that 'water into wine' bit early in the picture was rather amusing.It seems that times never change, and it's interesting to see the movie make a cogent observation nearly a century ago - Paris has it's fool to reign for one night, while everywhere else has one all the time. How true.The appearance of Conrad Veidt in the film was a little surprising for this viewer, I've only seen him as Major Strasser in "Casablanca", oddly one of his very last movies. As King Louis XI, he's a monarch obsessed with astrology, crafty but suspicious, and it was a bit unnerving to see how closely he resembled Brad Dourif's Wormtounge character from the final chapter of the 'Lord Of The Rings' trilogy. Not exactly exuding the confidence a King of France might be expected to bear. Which is why the ascendancy of Burgundy's duke (Lawson Butt) seemed all the more plausible, until Villon rises to the occasion to put one over on both rulers.I found it interesting that the use of inter-title cards was exceedingly spare, used only when absolutely necessary to advance the story. Without them though, one would have missed a curious nugget. It seems Villon carried out his exile from Paris at the Hostel of the Lame Flea! The print I viewed was of exceptional quality, the very first film presented in a one hundred Action and Suspense movie DVD set from Mill Creek Entertainment, that's saying something for a film that's now eighty years old. It's great that movies from the silent era are now finding a wider distribution in this type of commercial format, making them accessible to an entirely new generation of movie lovers.One question - did it seem like Conrad Veidt's King Louis picked his nose on purpose, or as an inadvertent gesture that simply remained safe from the cutting room?

Snow Leopard Besides being entertaining in itself, with plenty of action, wit, and more, this feature gives John Barrymore an excellent role that plays to his strengths and that gives him a lot of good material to work with. Barrymore's vigorous style works well in the role, and he has many opportunities for drama, humor, and romance.The story is based very loosely on the life of the 15th century French poet François Villon, but it really only uses the character and the basics of the historical setting. The character that the script creates, though, is not only a great role for Barrymore, but is well-conceived as a movie character. And if Barrymore's entertaining portrayal of Villon, fanciful though it is, encourages anyone to find out more about the historical Villon, so much the better.(The real Villon was both a worse criminal and a better poet than the movie suggests. A number of his crimes were truly harmful offenses, rather than the impish pranks that he plays in the movie. At the same time, his poetry was quite a bit deeper than is suggested by the occasional light verses in the inter-titles.)Conrad Veidt is cast as King Louis XI, Villon's sometime friend and sometimes persecutor. Veidt gives a really good turn to the character, using his physical posture and mannerisms to suggest the king's complex character.There are a number of good sequences that are sheer entertainment, such as the catapult scene and Villon's first visit to Charlotte's palace, and that are rather impressive on the production end too. The story as a whole is the best kind of historical melodrama, with numerous turns of fortune and plenty going on.

rozmol Just love the interplay between two great characters of stage & screen - Veidt & Barrymore