Who's under the red robe? Cardinal Richelieu, of course. But, with B&W cinematography, we can't tell what color it is. Several reviewers complain about the poor quality of the copy they saw. I saw a good copy at YouTube. However, another copy at this site was not great.
This is a semi-historical drama and love story, taking place in France, around 1630. The central character: Gil de Berault, is played by Conrad Veidt. Also known as the Black Death, he is noted for his dueling success and his gambling. Gil's retainer: Marius, is especially skilled at eavesdropping, and pickpocketing. Played by Romney Brent, he is perhaps the most charismatic male player in the film, adding humor here and there. Cardinal Richelieu is played by a dour Raymond Massey, intent on squashing a feared imminent rebellion by Huguenots of southwestern France, led by the Duke of Fiox. Instead of sending a regiment to try to capture the duke, Richelieu decides to send one man(and his retainer)Gil, on a spy mission, to try to be accepted as a guest in the duke's castle. Gil just barely escaped the hangman's noose for engaging in a duel, after such was made a capital crime. If he fails in this mission, he faces the gallows again. However, if he is discovered as a spy, he will surely be killed by the Huguenots. Complicating matters, there is a mutual attraction between himself and what he assumes is the duke's wife: Lady Marguerita, who is the dominant personality in the castle in the absence of the duke, who is in Spain. Once she informs him that she is the unmarried sister of the Duchess, rather than the Duchess, their romantic relationship is intensified. Also, Gil gives her the bag of diamonds she was going to send to the duke, which mysteriously had disappeared(Marius had pickpocketed them, and given them to Gil, who claimed he had found them on the ground). This act finally convinced Annabella she was wrong in her suspicion that Gil was a royal spy.
Annabella would come to regret her new impression of Gil when a squad of royal soldiers caught the duke when he returned to his castle from Spain. Gil objected that he had priority in capturing the duke, as shown in his written instructions from Richelieu. This was reluctantly accepted by the captain of the soldiers, who remarked "I thought you were an honest man on the wrong side, but I see you are a scoundrel on the right side." Naturally, Annabella was quite shocked by this turn of events. She, the duke, and Gil begin a journey, by horse, to Paris, to see Richelieu. At a strategic point, they stop and chat. Gil has a risky plan how he might please Richelieu, the duke, and Annabella. I will let you see the movie to discover how this turns out. Hint: Gil does luck out and accomplish all this, but how?
Anabella is quite charismatic and beautiful, but her thick French accent is sometimes nearly impossible to make out. Sophie Stewart, as the Duchess of Fiox, is hardly noticed. Conrad Veidt(Gil) is not especially charismatic as a swashbuckler. Could have used Errol Flynn in his place.
This is a semi-historical drama and love story, taking place in France, around 1630. The central character: Gil de Berault, is played by Conrad Veidt. Also known as the Black Death, he is noted for his dueling success and his gambling. Gil's retainer: Marius, is especially skilled at eavesdropping, and pickpocketing. Played by Romney Brent, he is perhaps the most charismatic male player in the film, adding humor here and there. Cardinal Richelieu is played by a dour Raymond Massey, intent on squashing a feared imminent rebellion by Huguenots of southwestern France, led by the Duke of Fiox. Instead of sending a regiment to try to capture the duke, Richelieu decides to send one man(and his retainer)Gil, on a spy mission, to try to be accepted as a guest in the duke's castle. Gil just barely escaped the hangman's noose for engaging in a duel, after such was made a capital crime. If he fails in this mission, he faces the gallows again. However, if he is discovered as a spy, he will surely be killed by the Huguenots. Complicating matters, there is a mutual attraction between himself and what he assumes is the duke's wife: Lady Marguerita, who is the dominant personality in the castle in the absence of the duke, who is in Spain. Once she informs him that she is the unmarried sister of the Duchess, rather than the Duchess, their romantic relationship is intensified. Also, Gil gives her the bag of diamonds she was going to send to the duke, which mysteriously had disappeared(Marius had pickpocketed them, and given them to Gil, who claimed he had found them on the ground). This act finally convinced Annabella she was wrong in her suspicion that Gil was a royal spy.
Annabella would come to regret her new impression of Gil when a squad of royal soldiers caught the duke when he returned to his castle from Spain. Gil objected that he had priority in capturing the duke, as shown in his written instructions from Richelieu. This was reluctantly accepted by the captain of the soldiers, who remarked "I thought you were an honest man on the wrong side, but I see you are a scoundrel on the right side." Naturally, Annabella was quite shocked by this turn of events. She, the duke, and Gil begin a journey, by horse, to Paris, to see Richelieu. At a strategic point, they stop and chat. Gil has a risky plan how he might please Richelieu, the duke, and Annabella. I will let you see the movie to discover how this turns out. Hint: Gil does luck out and accomplish all this, but how?
Anabella is quite charismatic and beautiful, but her thick French accent is sometimes nearly impossible to make out. Sophie Stewart, as the Duchess of Fiox, is hardly noticed. Conrad Veidt(Gil) is not especially charismatic as a swashbuckler. Could have used Errol Flynn in his place.