BBB.5

(out of 5)

Ronald Colman plays a ruffian poet living in Louis XI’s France who keeps getting into trouble with the law. Criminal behaviour is a particular problem in Paris at this point as the city is surrounded by invading Burgundians who are cutting off the city’s supplies for food. After being arrested for raiding the imperial stores, Colman engages in a battle of wits that sees the dotty monarch (Basil Rathbone) propose a challenge: let the devilish rogue prove that he can clean up the city and solve the problem of the enemies at the gate within one week or else forfeit his life. Colman and his moustache were tailor-made for these vehicles, while Rathbone gained critical acclaim for his sniggering, highly mannered and annoying performance. Lavish sets, but The Prisoner Of Zenda is a lot more fun. The wonderful dialogue is by Preston Sturges.

Paramount Pictures

USA, 1938

Directed by Frank Lloyd

Screenplay by Preston Sturges, based on the play by Justin Huntly McCarthy

Cinematography by Theodor Sparkuhl

Produced by Frank Lloyd

Music by Richard Hageman

Production Design by Hans Dreier, John B. Goodman

Costume Design by Edith Head

Film Editing by Hugh Bennett

Academy Award Nominations
Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Basil Rathbone as “Louis XI”)
Best Art Direction (Hans Dreier, John Goodman)
Best Music (Original Score) (Richard Hageman)
Best Sound Recording (Paramount Studio Sound Department, Loren L. Ryder, sound director)