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The Private Life of Don Juan

  • 19341934
  • UnratedUnrated
  • 1h 29m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
705
YOUR RATING
Douglas Fairbanks in The Private Life of Don Juan (1934)
AdventureComedyRomance
What do women want? Don Juan (Douglas Fairbanks) is aging. He's arrived secretly in Seville after a 20-year absence. His wife Dolores (Benita Hume), with whom he hasn't lived in five years, ... Read allWhat do women want? Don Juan (Douglas Fairbanks) is aging. He's arrived secretly in Seville after a 20-year absence. His wife Dolores (Benita Hume), with whom he hasn't lived in five years, still loves him. He refuses to see her; he fears the life of a husband. She has bought his... Read allWhat do women want? Don Juan (Douglas Fairbanks) is aging. He's arrived secretly in Seville after a 20-year absence. His wife Dolores (Benita Hume), with whom he hasn't lived in five years, still loves him. He refuses to see her; he fears the life of a husband. She has bought his debts and will remand him to jail for two years if he won't come to her. Meanwhile, an im... Read all
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
705
YOUR RATING
    • Alexander Korda
    • Henry Bataille(play "L'Homme à la Rose")
    • Frederick Lonsdale(story)
    • Lajos Biró(story)
  • Stars
    • Douglas Fairbanks
    • Merle Oberon
    • Bruce Winston
    • Alexander Korda
    • Henry Bataille(play "L'Homme à la Rose")
    • Frederick Lonsdale(story)
    • Lajos Biró(story)
  • Stars
    • Douglas Fairbanks
    • Merle Oberon
    • Bruce Winston
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 17User reviews
    • 15Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Photos13

    Gibson Gowland and Barry MacKay in The Private Life of Don Juan (1934)
    Douglas Fairbanks and Owen Nares in The Private Life of Don Juan (1934)
    Douglas Fairbanks in The Private Life of Don Juan (1934)
    Toto Koopman, Owen Nares, and Heather Thatcher in The Private Life of Don Juan (1934)
    Douglas Fairbanks, Binnie Barnes, Benita Hume, Gina Malo, and Heather Thatcher in The Private Life of Don Juan (1934)
    Douglas Fairbanks, Benita Hume, and Merle Oberon in The Private Life of Don Juan (1934)
    Douglas Fairbanks, Binnie Barnes, Benita Hume, Gina Malo, Merle Oberon, and Heather Thatcher in The Private Life of Don Juan (1934)
    Douglas Fairbanks and Merle Oberon in The Private Life of Don Juan (1934)
    Douglas Fairbanks and Merle Oberon in The Private Life of Don Juan (1934)
    Douglas Fairbanks and Merle Oberon in The Private Life of Don Juan (1934)
    Douglas Fairbanks in The Private Life of Don Juan (1934)
    Douglas Fairbanks, Binnie Barnes, Joan Gardner, Benita Hume, Merle Oberon, and Heather Thatcher in The Private Life of Don Juan (1934)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Douglas Fairbanks
    Douglas Fairbanks
    • Don Juan
    Merle Oberon
    Merle Oberon
    • Antonita - A Dancer of Passionate Temperament
    Bruce Winston
    • Manager of The Black Cat
    Benita Hume
    Benita Hume
    • Dona Dolores - A Lady of Mystery
    Gina Malo
    Gina Malo
    • Pepita - Another Dancer of Equal Temperament
    Binnie Barnes
    Binnie Barnes
    • Rosita - A Maid Pure and Simple
    Melville Cooper
    Melville Cooper
    • Leporello
    Owen Nares
    Owen Nares
    • Antonio Martinez - An Actor as Actors Go
    Heather Thatcher
    Heather Thatcher
    • Anna Dora - An Actress as Actresses Go
    Diana Napier
    Diana Napier
    • A Lady of Sentiment
    Joan Gardner
    Joan Gardner
    • Carmen - A Young Lady of Romance
    Gibson Gowland
    Gibson Gowland
    • Don Alfredo - Carmen's Poor Husband
    Barry MacKay
    Barry MacKay
    • Rodrigo The Impostor - A Man of Romance
    • (as Barry Mackay)
    Claud Allister
    Claud Allister
    • The Duke - A Dukes Go
    • (as Claude Allister)
    Athene Seyler
    Athene Seyler
    • Theresa the Innkeeper - A Middle Aged Lady of Young Sentiment
    Hindle Edgar
    • A Jealous Husband
    Natalie Paley
    • Jealous Husband's Poor Wife
    Patricia Hilliard
    Patricia Hilliard
    • The Girl at the Castle - A Young Girl in Love
      • Alexander Korda
      • Henry Bataille(play "L'Homme à la Rose")
      • Frederick Lonsdale(story) (dialogue)
      • Lajos Biró(story) (dialogue)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Don Juan was a real person named Miguel de Manara. In this movie, Douglas Fairbanks writes a note and signs it with that name.
    • Quotes

      Don Juan: Marriage is like a beleaguered city. Those that are out want to get in; those that are in want to get out.

    • Crazy credits
      Lengthy, humorous and accurate role descriptions are listed for each character in the opening credits.
    • Connections
      Featured in Broken Flowers (2005)
    • Soundtracks
      The Don Juan Serenade
      (1934)

      (Published in Great Britain with title "Senorita Carmencita")

      Music by Mischa Spoliansky

      Lyrics Arthur Wimperis

      Performed by John Brownlee

      Played as background music often

    User reviews17

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Fairbanks Goes Out in Style
    Legendary lover Douglas Fairbanks (as Don Juan) feels the fatigue of advancing years; so, the ageing lady-killer takes advantage of a misunderstanding, and fakes his own death. After a rest, Mr. Fairbanks tries to return to his amorous ways; but, nobody believes he's the real Don Juan. Through it all, Fairbanks fans both new (Merle Oberon as Antonita) and old (Benita Hume as Dona Dolores) flames.

    A look at the credits of "The Private Life of Henry VIII" (1933) will reveal what filmmaker Alexander Korda had in mind - obviously, with "Don Juan", he hoped to duplicate the success of the earlier "Henry VIII". Unfortunately, this similarly staged "Private Life" found itself coming up short, and is significantly more lowly regarded. Indeed, it is a flat film. Moreover, the supporting cast is introduced in a confusing manner; it's difficult to keep track of who's who.

    In his last film role, Fairbanks is terrific as an ageing "Don Juan". Interestingly, he succeeds in eliciting the feeling he memorably portrayed "Don Juan" sometime during his 1920s box office reign. Not so, the famed womanizer was played, in fact, by John Barrymore; and, in spirit, by Rudolph Valentino. Still, Fairbanks makes the role personal; undoubtedly, his status as an fading film superstar helped.

    Fairbanks' best scene occurs about a half hour in, when he is informed of his character's "death" via the sword of Gibson Gowland (as Don Alfredo). Fairbanks pretends to be his character's mourning steward; then, he offers some interesting, likely personal, observations on fame. This is followed by a nice funeral sequence, revealing much about the famed lady-killer's escapades. Barry Mackay's deftly inept portrayal as a wannabe Juan is worth noting; his "inability" to leap effectively contracts Fairbanks' ageing gracefulness.

    ******* The Private Life of Don Juan (8/28/34) Alexander Korda ~ Douglas Fairbanks, Merle Oberon, Benita Hume
    helpful•10
    3
    • wes-connors
    • Apr 6, 2008

    Details

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    • Release date
      • November 30, 1934 (United States)
      • United Kingdom
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK
    • Production company
      • London Film Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 29 minutes
      • Black and White

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