The King's Whore (1990)

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.

Director:

Axel Corti

Writers:

Jacques Tournier (novel), Derek Marlowe (additional dialogue)

Stars:

Timothy Dalton, Valeria Golino, Stéphane Freiss

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Timothy Dalton	...	King Vittorio Amadeo
Valeria Golino	...	Jeanne de Luynes
Stéphane Freiss	...	Count di Verua
Robin Renucci	...	Charles de Luynes
Margaret Tyzack	...	Dowager Countess
Feodor Chaliapin Jr.	...	Scaglia (as Feodor Chaliapin)
Eleanor David	...	Queen
Paul Crauchet	...	Duke de Luynes
Arnoldo Foà	...	1st Priest
Lea Padovani	...	Countess Cumiana
Anna Bonaiuto	...	Countess Longhi
Caterina Vertova	...	Countess Bassani
Federico Pacifici	...	1st Courtier
Amy Werba	...	Heloïse
Francesca Reggiani	...	Marie Christine

Storyline

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 ...

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Plot Keywords:

sword fight | refusal | obsessive love | fatal attraction | king | 

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Genres:

Drama | History | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexuality

Details

Country:

UK France Italy Austria

Language:

French English

Release Date:

14 November 1990 (France)

Also Known As:

The King's Whore

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

AFC, France 3 (FR 3), France 3 Cinéma

Technical Specs

Runtime:

138 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The final feature film of Marne Maitland.

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Quotes

Le Roi Vittorio Amadeo: There are times when I wish I didn't love you.
Jeanne de Luynes: I wish it all the time.

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Connections

Referenced in Zapper n'est pas jouer: Episode dated 16 November 1990 (1990)

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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 Reviews

many genres

this movie has hit many of life's little dramas we all have around us. it's just like a friend you haven't seen in a long time that's catching you up on the latest news. it is not overly acted. the other title, 'the king's mistress', is more of a front of the store movie name than it is the back room like the original name, 'the king's whore'. but, i believe, 'whore' is the better of the two titles. they all play realistic parts and it's easy to keep up with. the feelings the actors portray seem quite sincere. the life emotions that are brought to the screen make this one of the most involved movies i've seen in years.

oh, the 'jane eyre' with timothy in it was more of a play an amateur would put on compared to this movie. the 'jane eyre' with george c. scott and orsen wells were both much better versions.