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The Taking of Power by Louis XIV

Original title: La prise de pouvoir par Louis XIV
  • TV Movie
  • 19661966
  • GG
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
The Taking of Power by Louis XIV (1966)
  • Biography
  • History
After the death of Cardinal Mazarin, young king Louis XIV decides to assert his power to control the aristocracy.After the death of Cardinal Mazarin, young king Louis XIV decides to assert his power to control the aristocracy.After the death of Cardinal Mazarin, young king Louis XIV decides to assert his power to control the aristocracy.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Roberto Rossellini
  • Writers
    • Philippe Erlanger(scenario)
    • Jean Gruault(adaptation and dialogue)
    • Roberto Rossellini(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Jean-Marie Patte
    • Raymond Jourdan
    • César Silvagni
Top credits
  • Director
    • Roberto Rossellini
  • Writers
    • Philippe Erlanger(scenario)
    • Jean Gruault(adaptation and dialogue)
    • Roberto Rossellini(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Jean-Marie Patte
    • Raymond Jourdan
    • César Silvagni
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 16User reviews
    • 25Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Photos8

    Jean-Marie Patte and Katharina Renn in The Taking of Power by Louis XIV (1966)
    The Taking of Power by Louis XIV (1966)
    Joëlle Laugeois and Jean-Marie Patte in The Taking of Power by Louis XIV (1966)
    Jean-Marie Patte and César Silvagni in The Taking of Power by Louis XIV (1966)
    Jean-Marie Patte in The Taking of Power by Louis XIV (1966)
    Katharina Renn in The Taking of Power by Louis XIV (1966)
    The Taking of Power by Louis XIV (1966)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jean-Marie Patte
    • King Louis XIVas King Louis XIV
    Raymond Jourdan
    • Jean Baptiste Colbertas Jean Baptiste Colbert
    César Silvagni
    • Cardinal Mazarinas Cardinal Mazarin
    • (as Silvagni)
    Katharina Renn
    • Anne d'Autricheas Anne d'Autriche
    Dominique Vincent
    • Madame Du Plessisas Madame Du Plessis
    Pierre Barrat
    • Nicolas Fouquetas Nicolas Fouquet
    Fernand Fabre
    Fernand Fabre
    • Michel Le Tellieras Michel Le Tellier
    Françoise Ponty
    • Louise de la Vallièreas Louise de la Vallière
    Joëlle Laugeois
    • Marie-Thérèseas Marie-Thérèse
    Maurice Barrier
    Maurice Barrier
    • D'Artagnanas D'Artagnan
    André Dumas
    • Le Père Jolyas Le Père Joly
    François Mirante
    • M. de Brienneas M. de Brienne
    Pierre Spadoni
    • Nonias Noni
    Roger Guillo
    • L'apothicaireas L'apothicaire
    Louis Raymond
    • Le premier médecinas Le premier médecin
    Maurice Bourbon
    • Le deuxième médecinas Le deuxième médecin
    Michel Ferre
    • M. de Gesvresas M. de Gesvres
    Guy Pintat
    • Le chef-cuisinieras Le chef-cuisinier
    • Director
      • Roberto Rossellini
    • Writers
      • Philippe Erlanger(scenario)
      • Jean Gruault(adaptation and dialogue)
      • Roberto Rossellini(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Jean-Marie Patte, an office clerk moonlighting as an amateur actor, had terrible difficulty memorizing his lines, and had to read from cue cards in most of his scenes. Roberto Rossellini believed that Patte's awkward, unrehearsed nervousness mirrored that of Louis as he takes on the responsibilities of kingship.
    • Connections
      Featured in Petit manuel d'histoire de France (1979)

    User reviews16

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    This film puts the French Baroque period into sharp focus.
    Louis XIV was not judged by his contemporaries to be much of anything while Mazarin was alive. This film shows how with brains and style, he consolidated power by subtly weakening the nobility of France with "circuses and bread." Aristocrats obsessed with the King's latest style of coat while competing for his favor were not going to wage petty wars or rebel again. To keep them placated and diverted, Louis built Versailles - L'Île Enchantée, the 17th century version of Disneyworld. In that island of wonder and diversion, he turned his fractious nobles into groupies, hanging on is every word and gesture. He gave them plays, operas, masques, fine cuisine, wine, fabulous gardens to play in, and a style of living that required more money than their estates could earn. Versailles was their golden cage, and even with the door open, none wanted to fly out. A little more than a century later, his great-grandson would die on the guillotine, an end whose beginnings were sown in the isolation and excesses of the court he created to consolidate his power.
    helpful•6
    2
    • Ms-Bunnyears
    • Jun 25, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 8, 1966 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • France
    • Languages
      • French
      • Latin
    • Also known as
      • The Rise of Louis XIV
    • Filming locations
      • Chateau de Versailles, Versailles, Yvelines, France
    • Production company
      • Office de Radiodiffusion Télévision Française (ORTF)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 4:3

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