Home
search
more | tips
IMDb > Marie Antoinette (1938)
Marie Antoinette
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Marie Antoinette (1938) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 4 | slideshow)

Overview

User Rating:
7.4/10   1,073 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 51% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
W.S. Van Dyke
more
Writers:
Claudine West (screenplay) and
Donald Ogden Stewart (screenplay) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Marie Antoinette on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
26 August 1938 (USA) more
Plot:
The life of Marie Antoinette (1755-1793) from betrothal and marriage in 1770 to her beheading. At first... more | full synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 1 win & 1 nomination more
User Comments:
"They don't make them this way anymore!" more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
149 min | USA:157 min (original road show print including entry, intermission and exit music)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Black and White (Sepiatone)
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)
Certification:
USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Canada:PG (video rating) | Australia:G | Finland:S | USA:Approved (PCA #4322)
Company:
Loew's more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
MGM's recreation of the ballroom at Versailles was twice as large as the original. more
Quotes:
Duke d'Orléans: Bravo, witty & beautiful. Oh most rare lady. To the King:Sire.
Mme. du Barry: Oh, his Grace d'Orleans. I've been waiting.
Duke d'Orléans: I'm desolate.
Mme. du Barry: His grace is late.
Duke d'Orléans: The loss is mine, Madame.
Mme. du Barry: Flatter, I believe you want something.
Duke d'Orléans: Let's see. Why, of course I do. I want to be Grand Admiral of France
Mme. du Barry: Laughing: And can we resist him? He has all the charm of a sailor.
Duke d'Orléans: You're too kind.
Mme. du Barry: Oh, but you have. And I've know lots of sailors. All fancy lads. And all liars.
[...]
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Another Romance of Celluloid (1938) more
Soundtrack:
La Marseillaise more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
15 out of 22 people found the following comment useful:-
"They don't make them this way anymore!", 19 July 2000
8/10
Author: willyboy_ky from Newport, Kentucky

Often said, and, for better or for worse, just as often true: "Marie Antoinette" is one of THE definitive examples of an MGM prestige picture, 1930s style. Years in planning and preproduction, "Marie Antoinette" was Norma Shearer's first film after Irving Thalberg's death: little expense was spared in making the "First Lady of MGM"'s return to the screen a royal one in every sense.

Technically superb, the film suffers from erratic pacing and a patchwork script. But the supporting cast alone almost compensates for these deficiencies: Robert Morley side-stepping caricature to make Louis XVI touchingly human; John Barrymore and Gladys George contributing brilliant, razor-sharp vignettes as Louis XV and Madame du Barry (indeed, the confrontation between Marie Antoinette and du Barry is one of the film's highlights); and Joseph Schildkraut redefining the term "oily" as the scheming Duke of Orleans. Only Tyrone Power (borrowed from 20th Century-Fox) comes off less well; this, perhaps is due more to an ill-conceived role in the script than to a lack of acting ability as such.

But it is, first and foremost, Shearer's film and she is superb. From the young, light-hearted Austrian Archduchess to the fun-loving, lightheaded Queen to the prematurely aged but proud and defiant widow on her way to the guillotine, Shearer is in full command, giving a splendid display of her artistry (including, in the prison scenes, an outstanding example of silent film technique): it is her finest mature dramatic performance.

Carps, quibbles, and differences of opinion? Yes, every film lover has them, if only out of love for the medium or a specific film. But after viewing a film such as "Marie Antoinette," it can with utmost conviction be stated, "They DON'T make them that way anymore."

Was the above comment useful to you?
more

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Marie Antoinette (1938)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
costumes renzy55
Filmscenes in colour MJ2000
how does the 2006 version compare? beatabeatrix
sooo good nerdymobster
Any news of a region 2 release?? AllAboutMark
The directors and designers choices for costumes in the 2006 and 1938.. helens_pink
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Marie Antoinette The Other Boleyn Girl The Good Earth The Affair of the Necklace Juana la Loca
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Biography section IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.