Under the Red Robe (1937)

Cardinal Richelieu spares the life of a convicted duelist (Veidt) provided he will capture the leader of the Huguenots.

Director:

Victor Sjöström

Writers:

Lajos Biró (screenplay), Philip Lindsay (screenplay),

Stars:

Conrad Veidt, Annabella, Raymond Massey

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Conrad Veidt	...	Gil de Berault
Annabella	...	Lady Marguerite of Fiox
Raymond Massey	...	Cardinal Richelieu
Romney Brent	...	Marius
Sophie Stewart	...	Elise, Duchess of Fiox
Wyndham Goldie	...	Edmond, Duke of Fiox (as F. Wyndham Goldie)
Lawrence Grant	...	Father Joseph
Balliol Holloway	...	Clon
Shale Gardner	...	Louis (as Shayle Gardner)
Frank Damer	...	Pierre
James Regan	...	Jean
Edie Martin	...	Maria
Haddon Mason	...	Count Rossignac
J. Fisher White	...	Baron Breteuil
Graham Soutten	...	Leval (as Ben Soutten)

Storyline

In 1620s France, dreaded swordsman Gil de Berault returns from carrying out a mission for Cardinal Richelieu, and finds the Cardinal worried about growing opposition from the Huguenots in the south. The Cardinal also warns de Berault that dueling has been outlawed, and will henceforth be punishable by death. Gil, however, promptly disobeys the law and is indeed sentenced to death. The Cardinal offers to cancel the sentence if de Berault is able to capture the duke who is organizing plans for an uprising. Gil travels to the duke's castle and is allowed to stay as a guest, but the duke's wife and sister immediately suspect that he is a spy. He and his servant still make good progress, until he falls in love with the duke's sister, which complicates everything.

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Plot Keywords:

duke | huguenot | capture | cardinal richelieu | swordsman | 

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Taglines:

Swashbucker Gil De Berault is bound for the guillotine when he is given one last chance for a pardon.

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Genres:

Adventure

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Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1937 (Austria)

Also Known As:

Unter der roten Robe

Filming Locations:

Denham Studios, Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

New World Pictures Ltd.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Romney Brent (Marius) was also the Dialogue Director for this film.

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Quotes

Lady Marguerite of Fiox: I had to hate you; because from the very first moment, I had to love you.

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Connections

Remake of Under the Red Robe (1923)

User Reviews

The Cardinal sends in a rogue

This 1937 film was the third version of a rather creaky Victorian era play Under The Red Robe written by Edward E. Rose and debuting on Broadway in 1896. This British production is the only sound version and given the material is rather arcane we're not likely to see another version made.

The Red Robe of the title refers to the vestments of Cardinal Richelieu, minister to King Louis XIII in 17th century France and first statesman of Europe. The man who said on his deathbed that he had no enemies save those of the state is played with a combination of subtlety and fanaticism by Raymond Massey, two qualities normally not compatible.

Massey has a mission and it requires a guy who can think fast on his feet and be both a courtier and a duelist. He's got such a man in Conrad Veidt. But Veidt is under a death sentence for violating the Cardinal's edict against dueling.

But if Veidt brings in the leader of the Huguenot Protestants who hops back and forth over the Pyrenees to Spain stirring up revolt, he can get the sentence commuted. To aid and assist Veidt, Massey assigns his man Romney Brent.

One small complication Veidt falls for Annabella whom he thinks is the Countess. A real mess all around.

The cast does well by the material, but it's ancient and dated and some of the motivations are a bit hard to follow. The play was written in a far more romantic era and was old fashioned when it got to the screen in 1937 let alone seeing it now.

But as a curiosity it might be worth a look.