Queen Margot (1994)
"La reine Margot" (original title)

Young Queen Margot finds herself trapped in an arranged marriage amidst a religious war between Catholics and Protestants. She hopes to escape with a new lover, but finds herself imprisoned by her powerful and ruthless family.

Director:

Patrice Chéreau

Writers:

Alexandre Dumas père (novel), Danièle Thompson (scenario & adaptation),

Stars:

Isabelle Adjani, Daniel Auteuil, Jean-Hugues Anglade

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 9 wins & 12 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Isabelle Adjani	...	Marguerite de Valois dite La Reine Margot
Daniel Auteuil	...	Henri de Navarre
Jean-Hugues Anglade	...	Charles IX
Vincent Perez	...	La Môle
Virna Lisi	...	Catherine de Médicis
Dominique Blanc	...	Henriette de Nevers
Pascal Greggory	...	Anjou
Claudio Amendola	...	Coconnas
Miguel Bosé	...	Guise (as Miguel Bosè)
Asia Argento	...	Charlotte of Sauve
Julien Rassam	...	Alençon
Thomas Kretschmann	...	Nançay
Jean-Claude Brialy	...	Coligny
Jean-Philippe Écoffey	...	Condé (as Jean-Philippe Ecoffey)
Albano Guaetta	...	Orthon

Storyline

The night of August 24, 1572, is known as the Massacre of St. Bartholomew. In France a religious war is raging. In order to impose peace a forced wedding is arranged between Margot de Valois, sister of the immature Catholic King Charles IX, and the Hugenot King Henri of Navarre. Catherine of Medici maintains her behind-the-scenes power by ordering assaults, poisonings, and instigations to incest.

---

Plot Keywords:

protestant | catholic | massacre | marriage | king | 

---

Genres:

Biography | Drama | History | Romance

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for nudity, strong sexuality, and for graphic scenes of massacre

Details

Country:

France Italy Germany

Language:

French Italian

Release Date:

9 December 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Queen Margot

Filming Locations:

Basilique de Saint-Quentin, Saint-Quentin, Aisne, France

Box Office

Budget:

DEM 42,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$2,017,346 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Renn Productions, France 2 Cinéma, D.A. Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

162 min 139 min (video)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was the highest-grossing foreign film in Britain during the year of its release; its box office gross of £600,000, at the time, ranked it amongst the highest grossing foreign films of all time in the UK.

---

Goofs

La Mole is shot in the legs and the wounds and bloodstains are visible as he goes to execution. But when Margot views his semi-naked corpse, his legs are unmarked.

---

Quotes

La Môle: You smelt of jasmine that morning. I thought: maybe she's ugly under her mask. Or disfigured. But it didn't matter. You wouldn't let me kiss you.
[they kiss]
La Môle: I thought, she's even lonelier than me. She loves as though she is seeking revenge.

---

Connections

Referenced in Jersey Girl (2004)

---

Soundtracks

"Elohi"
Performed by Ofra Haza
(Ofra Haza (as Haza) - Goran Bregovic (as Bregovic))

User Reviews

Prestige Cinema

Alexandre Dumas should certainly be satisfied with this superb adaptation of his classic. The setting is excellent and it gives a wonderful image of 16th century France. Naturally the highlight of the movie is the re-enactment of the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre. The horrendous scenes of the murders in all their crudity are terrific. The actors did a wonderful job here. Isabelle Adjani is, as usual, terrific. Her nude scenes, depicting the queen's adultery, lust and incestuous affairs are acted in such a way that they are a form of art. Vincent Perez is in one of his best roles - his interpretation of La Môle is second only to his acting in "Indochine". The great Virna Lisi is simply marvellous posing as Cathérine de Médicis - no wonder she won the Best Actress Award at Cannes. She is the ambitious woman par excellence, stopping at nothing to get where she wants, not even if she has to see her sons being killed one by one and sell her daughter in a convenient marriage to unite the Catholics and the Protestants. The others, especially Asia Argento, impersonating the tragic countess Charlotte de Sauve did a good job too. A very well deserved Prix du Jury.