User Comments:
Classic Colman Swashbuckling Adventure!, 5 March 2004
Author:
Ben Burgraff (cariart) from Las Vegas, Nevada
Hollywood certainly had reason to thank their lucky stars that Ronald
Colman's career straddled both silent and sound films, and that he was of an
age where he was still believable as a romantic leading man as sound became
the industry standard. Silent films had made him a major star; sound
revealed that amazing, distinctive voice, oft imitated but never surpassed,
that made him legendary.
Of his amazing output of classic films in the 1930s, IF I WERE KING is one
of the most audience-friendly, and, with THE PRISONER OF ZENDA, stands as
two of the best swashbucklers of the decade. With a wryly engaging script by
the legendary Preston Sturges (based on the famous operatic play by Justin
Huntly McCarthy), and the 'no frills' directorial style of veteran director
Frank Lloyd (who specialized in action films), the fanciful adventures of
vagabond poet François Villon (Colman) may lack the sweep of the Michael
Curtiz/Errol Flynn spectacles at Warner Brothers, but makes up for it with
humor, a sense of the absurd, and Colman, himself, who could act rings
around the younger Flynn.
As fifteenth century Paris is besieged and slowly crushed by Burgundian
armies, all that holds the city, and the dream of a united France together,
is the iron will of doddering old King Louis XI (brilliantly portrayed by
frequent Flynn nemesis Basil Rathbone, who is obviously having a ball in the
character role). Meanwhile, the rabble of the city, victims of the
corruption of the court, are stirred by the writings of poet/revolutionary
Villon, who steals from the rich, dodges authorities nimbly, and is unafraid
to speak the truth. While drinking stolen wine with friends at a local inn,
he presents such an eloquent case of how he'd change things "If I were
King", that Louis, watching in disguise, and well aware of his government's
shortcomings, decides to put Villon to the test. Capturing the revelers, he
surprises the poet by appointing him Lord High Chancellor for a week, daring
him to improve things...and Villon delivers, demanding the Burgundians to
surrender(!), opening the food coffers to the starving masses (and forcing
the aristocracy out of their well-fed complacency), dispensing justice
tempered with mercy, and creating among the lower classes a sense of
patriotism and greater purpose towards King and Country.
As the King cackles at the turn of events, the military and aristocracy
despise Villon (other than beautiful Katherine de Vaucelles, portrayed by
Frances Dee, who falls in love with the Lord High Chancellor, while
suspecting him to be the penniless poet who once pledged his love as she
attended Mass). As the week draws to a close, and plots and machinations
against Villon reach an explosive climax, the future of not only Paris but
all of France will depend on the poet's quick wit, decisiveness, and ability
to rouse the masses.
While the history portrayed is fanciful, Ronald Colman is the perfect
embodiment of the charismatic Villon, and Rathbone's cranky gruffness offers
the ideal compliment to Colman's suave persona.
If the film has a fault, it is in the print itself, which is showing signs
of deterioration and aging. One hopes that it will be a candidate for
restoration, soon.
IF I WERE KING should be preserved for future generations to
enjoy!
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