THE BELOVED ROGUE
starring John Barrymore, Marceline Day and Conrad Veidt
PHOTOPLAY
June, 1927
If the famous Francois Villon could see himself as he is burlesqued on the screen, he would probably writhe in agony in his grave. All the charm and romance in the life of the roguish Villon has been turned into regular slapstick comedy. Though lavishly mounted, this has little to offer. John Barrymore is in this picture.
THE BELOVED ROGUE
starring John Barrymore, Marceline Day and Conrad Veidt
MOTIION PICTURE MAGAZINE
June, 1927
"The Beloved Rogue," John Barrymore's new picture, purports to be the story of Francois Villon, vagabond poet of France, in the 15th century. Whatever Villon may have meant to you, you will find him a romping fellow now, given to comic tumbles and falls, with a predilection for acrobatics. All this instead of the woeful, tragic dignity, the fiery eloquence, and those darker sides of his nature without which no presentment of the character should have been attempted.
The story set forth has Francois the leader of the beggars, vagabonds, and petty criminals, given to defying law and order, but always harmlessly. He falls in love with Charlotte, ward of Louis XI, but before anything can come of it, the king orders her marriage to the Duke of Burgundy. When this is about to take place, Villon and his vagabonds throng the courtyard to rescue Charlotte; and the king, disguised as one of them, hears the traitorous Burgundy proclaim himself the next monarch of France, and puts a stop to the marriage. Villon captures the fancy of the king, is installed in the palace, woos Charlotte, is eventually taken by the Burgundians and put through elaborate torture.
Evidently a great deal has been cut out of the picture, for important events are covered by subtitles, and at times the story limps feebly, while pranks hold the screen.
Conrad Veidt, the German actor, gives the only convincing characterization
in the picture as the king. Marceline Day, as Charlotte, gave
all she could to her marcel before the picture began, so there
was little else to give when she started to act.
The great Barrymore at play is on view again in another story of medieval France. He goes thru the first portion of this little piece with a hop, skip, and a jump. How he does caper and romp, how roguish he is, how mischievous - and how unkempt! Any maiden who has learned to love a well-scrubbed and scented John will shrink from this ragged disguise. The middle theme consists of variations on the Barrymore profile. And the end is, as usual, torture - writhing, panting, transfixed gaze and straining muscles. No one else can suffer so beautifully. It is the story of Francois Villon, the vagabond poet, and how he saved his own life and, incidentally, France, by playing slyly upon the superstitions of Louis XI. Marceline Day contributes a pair of large gray eyes to the proceedings. And for the rest, there are as many drawbridges, horsemen, mobs and mammoth sets as you can reasonably demand of a costume spectacle.
THE BELOVED ROGUE
starring John Barrymore, Marceline Day and Conrad Veidt
PICTURE PLAY
June, 1927
"The Beloved Rogue," John Barrymore's new picture, purports to be the story of Francois Villon, vagabond poet of France, in the 15th century. Whatever Villon may have meant to you, you will find him a romping fellow now, given to comic tumbles and falls, with a predilection for acrobatics. All this instead of the woeful, tragic dignity, the fiery eloquence, and those darker sides of his nature without which no presentment of the character should have been attempted.
The story set forth has Francois the leader of the beggars, vagabonds, and petty criminals, given to defying law and order, but always harmlessly. He falls in love with Charlotte, ward of Louis XI, but before anything can come of it, the king orders her marriage to the Duke of Burgundy. When this is about to take place, Villon and his vagabonds throng the courtyard to rescue Charlotte; and the king, disguised as one of them, hears the traitorous Burgundy proclaim himself the next monarch of France, and puts a stop to the marriage. Villon captures the fancy of the king, is installed in the palace, woos Charlotte, is eventually taken by the Burgundians and put through elaborate torture.
Evidently a great deal has been cut out of the picture, for important events are covered by subtitles, and at times the story limps feebly, while pranks hold the screen.
Conrad Veidt, the German actor, gives the only convincing characterization in the picture as the king. Marceline Day, as Charlotte, gave all she could to her marcel before the picture began, so there was little else to give when she started to act.
For more information, see "The Beloved Rogue" as our "Feature of the Month"