Monsieur Beaucaire (1924)

When M. Beaucaire, a handsome barber, catches the Duke of Winterset cheating at gambling, Beaucaire exacts Winterset's cooperation in sneaking Beaucaire into a great ball, disguised as the ... See full summary »

Director:

Sidney Olcott

Writers:

Booth Tarkington (novel), Booth Tarkington (play)

Stars:

Rudolph Valentino, Bebe Daniels, Lois Wilson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rudolph Valentino	...	Duke de Chartres / Beaucaire
Bebe Daniels	...	Princess Henriette
Lois Wilson	...	Queen Marie of France
Doris Kenyon	...	Lady Mary
Lowell Sherman	...	King Louis XV of France
Paulette Duval	...	Madame Pompadour
John Davidson	...	Richelieu
Oswald Yorke	...	Miropoix
Flora Finch	...	Duchesse de Montmorency
Louis Waller	...	François
Ian Maclaren	...	Duke of Winterset
Frank Shannon	...	Badger
Templar Powell	...	Molyneux
H. Cooper Cliffe	...	Beau Nash
Downing Clarke	...	Lord Chesterfield

Storyline

When M. Beaucaire, a handsome barber, catches the Duke of Winterset cheating at gambling, Beaucaire exacts Winterset's cooperation in sneaking Beaucaire into a great ball, disguised as the Duke de Chartres, and to introduce him to the beautiful Lady Mary. The disguised barber successfully pulls off the masquerade and is soon the toast of society. But Winterset is embittered at having been blackmailed so, and he sets out to destroy Beaucaire if he can do so without revealing his own duplicity.

---

Plot Keywords:

character name as title | two word title | monsieur beaucaire character | gay interest | based on novel | 

---

Genres:

Drama | Romance

---

Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 August 1924 (USA)

Also Known As:

Beaucaire úr

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios, Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$556,826

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Three hundred costumes were made for the film in New York by the Eaves Costume Company. An additional forty, for the lead actors, were made by Georges Barbier's couture house in Paris.

---

Connections

Featured in Hollywood: Swanson and Valentino (1980)

User Reviews

Taking a Powder

Rudolph Valentino (as Philippe, aka the "Duke de Chartres") is a member of France's 18th century powder set; he and royal cousin Bebe Daniels (as Princess Henriette) are quite a pair, but etiquette gets in the way. So, Mr. Valentino leaves the court of Lowell Sherman (as King Louis XV) and Lois Wilson (as Queen Marie); and, he relocates to Bath, England. There, he assumes the identity of ordinary barber "Monsieur Beaucaire". Valentino enjoys life as a commoner; nonetheless, he quickly assumes the role of a French nobleman, in order to romance Doris Kenyon (as Lady Mary). Eventually, he realizes there's no place like home…

After a two year strike, Rudolph Valentino made "Monsieur Beaucaire" his comeback film. It's an elaborate, confusing, and mannered production. Nevertheless, in Valentino's case, absence did make the hearts of America grow fonder; and, Valentino spent the next two years as the USA's top male Box Office Star. Probably, the position was enhanced due to the continued circulation of the star's previous hits.

"Monsieur Beaucaire" is a valiant failure. Staid, light and shadow direction by Sidney Olcott, daintily made-up and costumed players, and elaborately designed scenes are featured. The story of a royal assuming the commoner's role is interesting; but, despite the title, Valentino is only briefly seen in the entertaining role of barber. Possibly, the film's focus was lost during the making.

One of Valentino's 1923 song recordings was added to the soundtrack; listen for it when the star sings a serenade, near the film's beginning. A record wasn't released until later, but the song is chronologically correct, herein; thematically, the Valentino recordings more closely fit other films, however. This recording, and Valentino's successful American tour, suggested a Garbo-like success in talking films was possible, had Valentino lived into the sound era.

***** Monsieur Beaucaire (8/11/24) Sidney Olcott ~ Rudolph Valentino, Bebe Daniels, Lois Wilson