- Overview
François Villon, in his lifetime the most renowned poet in France, is also a prankster, an occasional criminal, and an ardent patriot.
- Release Date
12 March 1927
- DirectingAlan Crosland
- Budget
$0.00
- Revenue
$0.00
- Stars
Videos
User Reviews
See moreCinemaSerf
06 June 2022
If you've seen "If I Were King" (either the 1920 or 1938 version), or read Sir Walter Scott's "Quentin Durward" (1823) then you will be familiar with the basis of this quite enjoyable, if a little slow, historical drama. François Villon (John Barrymore) is the populist poet who falls foul of King Louis XI (Conrad Veidt) when he offends the visiting Charles, Duke of Burgundy (Lawson Butt). Banished from Paris as a punishment, he must use his popularity - he has just been elected "King of the Fools" - and his contacts at the Court of Miracles, the ultimate den of iniquity, to keep his country from the encroaching Burgundians. Weidt steals this for me. He plays the shrewdly decrepit monarch remarkably well. Marceline Day is also quite fun as the pretty, and feisty, "Charlotte", the young girl to be traded to one of Charles' lieutenants "Thibault" (Henry Victor). Barrymore reminded me of a "Puck" style of character, mercurial and engaging with a sharp blade (and tongue) when required, and his efforts pay off well, most of the time. Apparently the bairn at the start is the young Dickie Moore whom you might recall from his 1933 title role in “Oliver Twist” - when he was but eight years old. It's a good watch, this film, and the inter-titles convey his wittily structured poetry effectively. I could just have done with a little more swashbuckling and a little less gymnastics.
More Like This
The Square
A prestigious Stockholm museum's chief art curator finds himself in times of both professional and personal crisis as he attempts to set up a...
See moreHook
The boy who wasn't supposed to grow up—Peter Pan—does just that, becoming a soulless corporate lawyer whose workaholism could cost him his wife and...
See moreAndrei Rublev
An expansive Russian drama, this film focuses on the life of revered religious icon painter Andrei Rublev. Drifting from place to place in a...
See moreThe Great Love
The attractive Oberleutnant Paul Wendlandt is stationed in North Africa as a fighter pilot. While in Berlin to deliver a report he is given a day's...
See moreRififi
Out of prison after a five-year stretch, jewel thief Tony turns down a quick job his friend Jo offers him, until he discovers that his old...
See moreMission: Impossible
When Ethan Hunt, the leader of a crack espionage team whose perilous operation has gone awry with no explanation, discovers that a mole has...
See moreThe Phantom of the Opera
The deformed Phantom who haunts the Paris Opera House causes murder and mayhem in an attempt to make the woman he loves a star.
See moreSpartacus
The rebellious Thracian Spartacus, born and raised a slave, is sold to Gladiator trainer Batiatus. After weeks of being trained to kill for the...
See morePaths of Glory
A commanding officer defends three scapegoats on trial for a failed offensive that occurred within the French Army in 1916.
See moreIrreversible
A woman’s lover and her ex-boyfriend take justice into their own hands after she becomes the victim of a rapist. Because some acts can’t be undone....
See moreThe Ox-Bow Incident
A posse discovers a trio of men they suspect of murder and cow theft and are split between handing them over to the law or lynching them on the spot.
See moreChimes at Midnight
Henry IV usurps the English throne, sets in motion the factious War of the Roses and now faces a rebellion led by Northumberland scion Hotspur...
See moreOhnivý máj
Kiss of the Dragon
Liu Jian, an elite Chinese police officer, comes to Paris to arrest a Chinese drug lord. When Jian is betrayed by a French officer and framed for...
See moreLive and Become
In 1980 the black Falashas in Ethiopia are recognised as genuine Jews and are secretly carried to Israel. The day before the transport the son of a...
See moreNo Good Deed
While doing a friend a favour and searching for a runaway teenager, a police detective stumbles upon a bizarre band of criminals about to pull off...
See moreThe Patriot
After proving himself on the field of battle in the French and Indian War, Benjamin Martin wants nothing more to do with such things, preferring...
See moreSpoiled Children
Successful writer/director Bernard Rougerie is at a creative dead end and decides to isolate himself from his wife in order to complete the script...
See moreCould This Be Love?
Lucas, a wealthy, 43 year-old divorced businessman, is irresistibly attracted to Elsa, a 38 year old renowned sculptor from whom he has...
See moreThe Experiment
20 volunteers agree to take part in a seemingly well-paid experiment advertised by the university. It is supposed to be about aggressive behavior...
See more