Writer and philosopher Voltaire, loyal to his king, Louis XV of France, nonetheless writes scathingly of the king's disdain for the rights and needs of his people. Louis admires Voltaire ...
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Title: Voltaire (1933)
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Cast
| Complete credited cast: | |||
| George Arliss | ... | Voltaire | |
| Doris Kenyon | ... | Mme. Pompadour | |
| Margaret Lindsay | ... | Nanette Calas | |
| Alan Mowbray | ... | Count De Sarnac | |
| Reginald Owen | ... | King Louis XV | |
| Theodore Newton | ... | Francois | |
| Gordon Westcott | ... | The Captain | |
| David Torrence | ... | Dr. Tronchin | |
| Murray Kinnell | ... | Emile - Voltaire's Servant | |
| Doris Lloyd | ... | Mme. Clairon - Actress | |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
Writer and philosopher Voltaire, loyal to his king, Louis XV of France, nonetheless writes scathingly of the king's disdain for the rights and needs of his people. Louis admires Voltaire but is increasingly influenced against him by his minister, the Count de Sarnac. Louis's mistress, the courtesan Madame de Pompadour, is Voltaire's protector and advocate, but even she has difficulty preserving his welfare when Voltaire publicly excoriates the king for the wrongful execution of one of his subjects, Calas. Voltaire gives refuge to Calas's daughter and endeavors to show the king the error of his ways. But the Count de Sarnac, with an agenda of intrigue and disloyalty, determines to do away with the troublesome Voltaire. Written by Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>
Taglines:
THE GREATEST ROLE ANY ACTOR EVER PLAYED...PLAYED BY THE GREATEST ACTOR OF THEM ALL! (original ad - all caps) See more »Parents Guide:
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
5 August 1933 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
The Affairs of Voltaire See more »Company Credits
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IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
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(1792) (uncredited)
Written by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle
Played as part of the score at the end
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Although the onscreen source of the movie is a novel, it was never published. But modern sources say George Gibbs and E. Lawrence Dudley wrote a play for George Arliss, and it was the source adapted for the movie. The play also was never published or even produced. See more »Soundtracks
La Marseillaise(1792) (uncredited)
Written by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle
Played as part of the score at the end
See more »
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"France - in the year 1762 - with its sumptuous and lavish court - was in a corrupt and bankrupt state. One man dared to speak out for the rights of an oppressed people. With a pen that dripped venom, he attacked intolerance and injustice. He educated the masses to think and act. This was the forerunner of the French Revolution, that gave the world the present Great Republic of France. This man - a hundred years ahead of his time - was Voltaire, the great mocker, the great wit, the great humanitarian of the 18th century," gives us a fine description of setting. The opening coach passing peasants on the street is a defining visual...
Once considered a friend of the French court, coffee-lover George Arliss (as Voltaire) stirs the masses with his revolutionary pamphlets. At first, white-wigged Reginald Owen (as King Louis XV) ignores his advisers' warnings about Mr. Arliss' treasonous activity. Arliss maintains a close friendship with King's mistress Doris Kenyon (as Madame Pompadour). With her help, he takes a cue from Shakespeare, "The play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the King." The staged production only makes matters worse, but Arliss has more up his sleeve. This story never rises far above star vehicle status, but Arliss is always worth watching.
****** Voltaire (8/5/33) John G. Adolfi ~ George Arliss, Doris Kenyon, Alan Mowbray, Reginald Owen