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The King's Whore

Original title: La putain du roi
  • 19901990
  • RR
  • 1h 55m
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
808
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Valeria Golino and Timothy Dalton in La putain du roi (1990)
  • Drama
  • History
  • Romance
Set in the seventeenth century, an Italian nobleman weds an impoverished countess, who is wooed by the King of Piedmont and faces pressure from his entire court to succumb to his wishes.Set in the seventeenth century, an Italian nobleman weds an impoverished countess, who is wooed by the King of Piedmont and faces pressure from his entire court to succumb to his wishes.Set in the seventeenth century, an Italian nobleman weds an impoverished countess, who is wooed by the King of Piedmont and faces pressure from his entire court to succumb to his wishes.
IMDb RATING
5.7/10
808
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Axel Corti
  • Writers
    • Jacques Tournier(novel "Jeanne de Luynes, comtesse de Verue")
    • Derek Marlowe(additional dialogue)
    • Daniel Vigne
  • Stars
    • Timothy Dalton
    • Valeria Golino
    • Stéphane Freiss
Top credits
  • Director
    • Axel Corti
  • Writers
    • Jacques Tournier(novel "Jeanne de Luynes, comtesse de Verue")
    • Derek Marlowe(additional dialogue)
    • Daniel Vigne
  • Stars
    • Timothy Dalton
    • Valeria Golino
    • Stéphane Freiss
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 14User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 nominations

    Photos25

    Sacha Darwin at an event for La putain du roi (1990)
    Charles Borromel at an event for La putain du roi (1990)
    Pino de Matti at an event for La putain du roi (1990)
    Giampiero Tomasini at an event for La putain du roi (1990)
    Stefano Molinari at an event for La putain du roi (1990)
    Ugo Fangareggi at an event for La putain du roi (1990)
    Rosa Di Brigida at an event for La putain du roi (1990)
    Luigi Bonos at an event for La putain du roi (1990)
    Salvatore Loriga at an event for La putain du roi (1990)
    Leonardo Ruta at an event for La putain du roi (1990)
    Elisabeth Kaza at an event for La putain du roi (1990)
    Dominique Marcas at an event for La putain du roi (1990)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Timothy Dalton
    Timothy Dalton
    • King Vittorio Amadeoas King Vittorio Amadeo
    Valeria Golino
    Valeria Golino
    • Jeanne de Luynesas Jeanne de Luynes
    Stéphane Freiss
    Stéphane Freiss
    • Count di Veruaas Count di Verua
    Robin Renucci
    Robin Renucci
    • Charles de Luynesas Charles de Luynes
    Margaret Tyzack
    Margaret Tyzack
    • Dowager Countessas Dowager Countess
    Feodor Chaliapin Jr.
    Feodor Chaliapin Jr.
    • Scagliaas Scaglia
    • (as Feodor Chaliapin)
    Eleanor David
    Eleanor David
    • Queenas Queen
    Paul Crauchet
    Paul Crauchet
    • Duke de Luynesas Duke de Luynes
    Arnoldo Foà
    Arnoldo Foà
    • 1st Priestas 1st Priest
    Lea Padovani
    Lea Padovani
    • Countess Cumianaas Countess Cumiana
    Anna Bonaiuto
    Anna Bonaiuto
    • Countess Longhias Countess Longhi
    Caterina Vertova
    Caterina Vertova
    • Countess Bassanias Countess Bassani
    Federico Pacifici
    Federico Pacifici
    • 1st Courtieras 1st Courtier
    Amy Werba
    Amy Werba
    • Heloïseas Heloïse
    Francesca Reggiani
    Francesca Reggiani
    • Marie Christineas Marie Christine
    Dominique Marcas
    Dominique Marcas
    • Cookas Cook
    Elisabeth Kaza
    Elisabeth Kaza
    • Countess Trevieas Countess Trevie
    • (as Elizabeth Kaza)
    Leonardo Ruta
    Leonardo Ruta
    • Le Prince Vittorioas Le Prince Vittorio
    • Director
      • Axel Corti
    • Writers
      • Jacques Tournier(novel "Jeanne de Luynes, comtesse de Verue")
      • Derek Marlowe(additional dialogue)
      • Daniel Vigne
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    The King of Piedmont is introduced to Jeanne, the beautiful young wife of one of his courtiers, with whom he falls madly in love the moment he sets eyes on her. Jeanne, very much in love with her own husband and wishing to be faithful to him, is disturbed by the king's advances and resists him. The king is obsessed with his desire for her and neglects his duties and his kingdom, until the entire court, including his wife and even Jeanne's own husband and his family, put pressure on Jeanne to give in to the king's wishes and become his mistress in order to save the king and the country. When her husband tells her it is her duty to serve the king and give in to his wishes, she goes to the king, but makes it very clear that she despises him and doesn't return his love for her. The king's passion for Jeanne never subsides and eventually goes so far that he loses a war when he returns home to nurse her through a near fatal illness instead of remaining with his troops and leading them in battle. Throughout the film the king becomes increasingly frustrated with the subservience of his court and people, who see it as their duty to serve and please him in every way: no courtier will be better at swordsmanship than the king, or at dancing, or at playing music, while the only person he desires makes it very clear that she will only bend to his wishes under pressure and against her will.
    • sword fight
    • refusal
    • obsessive love
    • fatal attraction
    • period drama
    • 19 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • History
      • Romance
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for sexuality
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The final feature film of Marne Maitland. The same about actress Lea Padovani .
    • Quotes

      Le Roi Vittorio Amadeo: [while playing music with the Count of Verua] I'm keeping you from her.

      Le Comte di Verua: Not in the least.

      Le Roi Vittorio Amadeo: Kings derive much of their pleasure from the ingenuity of the lies people are obliged to tell them.

      Le Comte di Verua: The king's subjects derive their pleasure from their service to him.

      Le Roi Vittorio Amadeo: [after long silence while still playing music with the count] And all the time you're wondering how long I'm going to keep you here.

    • Connections
      Referenced in Zapper n'est pas jouer: Episode dated 16 November 1990 (1990)
    • Soundtracks
      Miserere
      Written by Gregorio Allegri (as Allegri)

      Performed by The Tallis Scholars

      Directed by Peter Phillips

      Soprano soloist: Alison Stamp

      Courtesy of Gimell Records Ltd, Oxford, England

    User reviews14

    Review
    Top review
    Very pretty, but could have had more grunt
    I enjoyed this movie but it did fall short of the great film that it should have been. Main strengths were the stunning visual aspects and Timothy Dalton's mesmerising performance. Surely he has to be the most underrated actors of our time. His portrayal of psychological complexity in his characters in unmatched. Weak points are the jumpy plot, erratic editing (apparently a lot of scenes were cut) and lack of bodice ripping scenes. There is plenty of emotion but the steaminess is mostly implied. Still worth seeing, particularly for Dalton fans or for lovers of historical costume drama.
    helpful•10
    3
    • rowena-8
    • Mar 26, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 14, 1990 (France)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • France
      • Italy
      • Austria
    • Languages
      • French
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Die Hure des Königs
    • Filming locations
      • Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy
    • Production companies
      • AFC
      • France 3 Cinéma
      • France 3
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 55 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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    Valeria Golino and Timothy Dalton in La putain du roi (1990)
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    By what name was La putain du roi (1990) officially released in Canada in English?
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