Du Barry, Woman of Passion (1930)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Director:

Sam Taylor

Writers:

David Belasco (play)
Sam Taylor (adaptation)

Release Date:

11 October 1930 (USA)

Genre:

Romance | Drama

Plot Keywords:

French Revolution | Based On Play | Character Name In Title

Cast

Norma Talmadge	...	Madame Du Barry
William Farnum	...	Louis XV
Conrad Nagel	...	Cosse de Brissac
Hobart Bosworth	...	Duc de Brissac
Ullrich Haupt	...	Jean Du Barry
Alison Skipworth	...	La Gourdan
E. Alyn Warren	...	Denys
Edgar Norton	...	Renal
Edwin Maxwell	...	Maupeou
Henry Kolker	...	D'Aiguillon

Also Known As:

Dubarry

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (MovieTone)

Company:

Joseph M. Schenck Productions

Movie Connections:

Version of Madame Du Barry (1917)

Another Hollywood Myth Smashed

For decades I heard that superstar Norma Talmadge fled from talkies because of her New York accent. Not true! Finally getting to see DuBarry, it's evident that Talmadge's accent and voice were just fine. While the film is static and the story tame, Talmadge is quite good as the French courtesan. Her opening scene is a hoot. With her foot caught in the water, she is caught by Conrad Nagel. Her clothes are in a nearby tree. Norma comes up for air sputtering and spitting water. Always known as a great dramatic actress, Talmadge was also a good comic and has fun in a few scenes in this film. The print I have is lousy, but it's good enough to get a glimpse of what Talmadge could have been in talkies. Nagel is OK as the doomed lover. William Farnum is Louis, Alison Skipworth the madame, Ullrich Haupt is the "husband," and Eugenie Besserer is Rosalie. Although the sound revolution destroyed many Hollywood careers, Norma Talmadage may have been the greatest victim.