The Man in the Iron Mask (1939)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

James Whale

Writers:

Alexandre Dumas père (novel)
George Bruce (screenplay)

Release Date:

13 July 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | History

Tagline:

Alexandre Dumas most amazing, adventurous epic

Plot:

D'Artagnan and the musketeers are the only ones who know of the existence of a twin brother, and Fouquet uses his influence to keep everyone silenced...

Plot Keywords:

Brother | Mask | Musketeer | Iron Mask | France

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

US TV Schedule:

Fri. July 17

9:45 AM

TCM

Cast

Louis Hayward	...	King Louis XIV / Philippe of Gascony
Joan Bennett	...	Princess Maria Theresa
Warren William	...	D'Artagnan
Joseph Schildkraut	...	Fouquet
Alan Hale	...	Porthos
Walter Kingsford	...	Colbert
Miles Mander	...	Aramis
Bert Roach	...	Athos
Marion Martin	...	Mlle. de la Valliere (as Marian Martin)
Montagu Love	...	Spanish Ambassador
Doris Kenyon	...	Queen Anne
Albert Dekker	...	King Louis XIII
Nigel De Brulier	...	Cardinal Richelieu
William Royle	...	Commandant of the Bastille
Boyd Irwin	...	Royal High Constable of France

Runtime:

Finland:96 min | USA:96 min (colorized version) | 112 min (TCM print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording Sound System)

Certification:

USA:TV-G | USA:Approved (PCA #5260) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Finland:K-16

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden - 301 N. Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, California, USA

Company:

Edward Small Productions

Trivia:

Peter Cushing did double duty on this film. In additional to his own role, he would feed Louis Hayward the lines for the split screen shots.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In one chase scene, a character fires a pistol three times in quick succession. 17th century firearms had to be reloaded after each shot.

Quotes:

D'Artagnan: How could your brother be such a monster?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The World of Gods and Monsters: A Journey with James Whale (1999) (V)

I love love love Warren William

I am watching this movie right now on TCM. Filmed gloriously in black and white. But as I have read in another thread about this movie, Warren William shines in his role as Philippe D'Artagnan. Warren William, in my humble opinion, was the heart throb of the 1930s and 40s. So handsome and his voice like honey. Okay, I'm being dramatic here, but I have watched so many of his movies on TCM and I am so enamored of him. One of the greatest actors of his time, it is amazing to me that he is so unknown today. In my opinion, he ranks up there with the greatest actors of his time, along with Gary Cooper, Bogart and the like. This movie is a treasure. And so is Warren William!