Monsieur Beaucaire

Name: Monsieur Beaucaire
Genre: Drama, Romance
Released: 1924-08-11T00:00:00.000Z
Duration: 106 min
Rating: 5.9
Cast: Rudolph Valentino, Bebe Daniels, Lois Wilson, Doris Kenyon, Lowell Sherman

"Never Has Valentino Been Such a Lover, Such a Dancer, Such a Swordsman, Such a Dashing, Handsome, Lovable Hero as You'll See Him in This Master Photoplay"

The Duke of Chartres is in love with Princess Henriette, but she seemingly wants nothing to do with him. Eventually he grows tired of her insults and flees to England when Louis XV insists that the two marry. He goes undercover as Monsieur Beaucaire, the barber of the French Ambassador, and finds that he enjoys the freedom of a commoner’s life. After catching the Duke of Winterset cheating at cards, he forces him to introduce him as a nobleman to Lady Mary, with whom he has become infatuated. When Lady Mary is led to believe that the Duke of Chartres is merely a barber she loses interest in him. She eventually learns that he is a nobleman after all and tries to win him back, but the Duke of Chartres opts to return to France and Princess Henriette who now returns his affection.

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CinemaSerf@Geronimo1967

June 6, 2022

Rudolph Valentino is on good form in this period romance as the "Duke de Chartres", the cousin of King Louis XV. He has a reputation as a bit of a grand fop, but when the King decides he is to marry the rather stroppy "Princess Henriette" (Bebe Daniels) he absconds to London where, assuming the identity of a barber ("Beaucaire"), ingratiates himself into London's gambling society. When he catches the "Duke of Winterset" cheating at cards, he coerces the peer to take him to a grand ball where he wants to meet the shy "Lady Mary" (Doris Kenyon). He adopts yet another moniker for the party and off he goes - only to find that "Winterset" has set a trap that could lead to disaster and his exposure. The production, though suitably sumptuous, is really pretty static. Lots of single shots, endless cuts, and even when we do get more than one person in shot the flow is pretty lethargic. The last ten minutes are quite fun, though - and the story comes alive a bit once it has gathered enough steam. It's not great, and were it not for Valentino and his effortless ability to engage with the camera (particularly during the comically protracted levée at the start which could have left anyone with pneumonia!), it would be entirely forgettable - but as it is, it is worth a watch.

CinemaSerf@Geronimo1967

June 6, 2022