If I Were King( 1938)

TV-MAAdventureHistory

68%

User
Score

His Love-Making Was as Dangerous as His Sword-Play

Overview

King Louis XI masquerades as a commoner in Paris, seeking out the treachery he is sure lurks in his kingdom. At a local tavern, he overhears the brash poet François Villon extolling why he would be a better king. Annoyed yet intrigued, the King bestows on Villon the title of Grand Constable. Soon Villon begins work and falls for a lovely lady-in-waiting, but then must flee execution when the King turns on him.

Top Billed Cast

Ronald Colman
François Villon
Basil Rathbone
King Louis XI
Frances Dee
Katherine de Vaucelles
Ellen Drew
Huguette
C. V. France
Father Villon
Henry Wilcoxon
Captain of the Watch
Heather Thatcher
The Queen
Stanley Ridges
Rene de Montigny
Bruce Lester
Noel de Jolys
Alma Lloyd
Colette
Walter Kingsford
Tristan l'Hermite
Sidney Toler
Robin Turgis
Colin Tapley
Jehan Le Loup
Ralph Forbes
Oliver le Dain
John Miljan
Thibaut d'Aussigny
William Haade
Guy Tabarie
Adrian Morris
Colin de Cayeulx
Montagu Love
General Dudon
Lester Matthews
General Saliere
William Farnum
General Barbezier
Paul Harvey
Burgundian Herald
Barry Macollum
Storehouse Watchman
May Beatty
Anna
Winter Hall
Major Domo
Francis McDonald
Casin Cholet
Ann Evers
Lady-in-Waiting
Jean Fenwick
Lady-in-Waiting
Henry Brandon
Soldier
Eddie Hall
Soldier
Darryl Hickman
Child
John George
Beggar
Jimmy Aubrey
Drunk
Guy Bellis
Third Officer
Lionel Belmore
Chief Steward
Ted Billings
Parisian Peasant
Ed Brady
Beggar
George Bruggeman
Restraining Guard
Marie Burton
Girl
Ethel Clayton
Old Woman
David Clyde
First Officer
Bing Conley
Burgundian Knight
Alec Craig
Spy
Paula DeCardo
Dancer
Jane Dewey
Maid
Shorty English
Beggar
Ralph Faulkner
First Watch
Norah Gale
Lady-in-Waiting
Shep Houghton
Burgundian Knight
Brandon Hurst
Beggar
Major Kieffer
Burgundian Knight
Claude King
Courtier
Judith King
Girl
Stanley King
Captain of Archers
Ian Maclaren
Beggar
Eric Mayne
Court Member
Merrill McCormick
Ruffian
Clive Morgan
Second Officer
Paul Newlan
Beggar
Carol Parker
Girl
Russ Powell
Ruffian
Ruth Rogers
Girl
John Roy
Restraining Guard
Ralph Sanford
Cook
Charles Schaeffer
Third Watch
Louise Seidel
Girl
Allen D. Sewall
Parisian Peasant
Count Stefenelli
Court Member
Dan Strebel
Second Watch
Evan Thomas
Officer
Cheryl Walker
Girl
Robert Wegner
Fourth Watch
Pat West
Bit Part
Dorothy White
Girl
Gloria Williams
Girl
Harry Wilson
Beggar

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A review by CinemaSerf

Written by CinemaSerf on Mon Jun 20 2022

This is a cracking bit of swashbuckling adventure with Ronald Colman ("Villon") and particularly Basil Rathbone (Louis XI) on top form. The former is a poetic vagabond, Robin Hood style, character who pinches what he can to help feed the population of a besieged Paris, whilst their King sits in his palace living the life of Riley. When the King's personal store is raided, the King's guard step up their searches and it isn't long before "Villon" is apprehended. The King is a wily old buzzard, though, and realising potential in this man of the people, appoints him to command the city and his armi...