Bardelys the Magnificent

Bardelys the Magnificent

Theatrical release poster
Directed by King Vidor
Written by Dorothy Farnum
Based on Bardelys the Magnificent
by Rafael Sabatini
Starring
Music by William Axt
Cinematography William H. Daniels
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release dates
  • September 30, 1926 (1926-09-30)
Running time
 90 minutes
Country United States
Language

Bardelys the Magnificent is a 1926 American romantic silent film directed by King Vidor and starring John Gilbert and Eleanor Boardman. The film is based on a novel by Rafael Sabatini.[1] It was the second film of the 19-year-old John Wayne, who had a minor role.

Plot

The film is set in the reign of King Louis XIII. When Châtellerault fails to win the heart of the icy Roxalanne de Lavedan, he wagers his entire estate against that of Bardelys that Bardelys can't either. On the way to the Lavedan estate, Bardelys stumbles upon a wounded and dying man, Lesperon, who asks Bardelys to say farewell to his beloved but dies before telling him her name. Bardelys takes his papers and assumes his identity, only to find that Lesperon is a traitor to the king.

Bardelys, as Lesperon, encounters the king's soldiers who are hunting Lesperon, fights them, and escapes, badly wounded, to the castle of Lavedan. Roxalanne hides him from the king's soldiers and tends to his wounds. She nurses him to health and pledges her love, but when the guilt-ridden Bardelys refuses to marry her, and in the belief that he is betrothed to another lady, she angrily turns him over to the king's men. Bardelys, still believed to be Lesperon, is brought to trial for treason—where Châtellerault is the judge. Châtellerault refuses to admit his identity and condemns him to death. Roxalanne finds Bardelys in prison, confesses her love, and agrees to marry Châtellerault in a desperate effort to save Bardelys' life. Bardelys escapes from the gallows just as the King arrives to confirm his identity. Châtellerault commits suicide rather than be executed by Louis' men. Roxalanne learns of the wager and, mortally insulted, refuses to believe Bardelys when he protests his love. He offers to save the life of her father, who is indicted for treason, if she agrees to marry him. She agrees. He fulfills his part of the bargain but tells her he will not require her promise of her. She confesses her love and begs him not to leave.[2]

Preservation status

The film was considered a lost film for many years, with only the trailer and a brief excerpt in Vidor's Show People (1928) surviving. According to Robert Osborne on Turner Classic Movies, MGM signed a contract with Sabatini in 1926, giving MGM the rights to his novel for 10 years. In 1936, MGM chose not to renew the rights, and destroyed the negative and all known prints per the terms of the contract.

In 2006, a nearly complete print of the film was found in France, missing only reel three.[3] It was restored, using production stills and footage from the film trailer to stand in for the missing section, and made available in 2008 for U. S. theatrical and DVD release.

Cast

Arthur Lubin as King Louis XIII

References

  1. ↑ Variety Film Review. October 13, 1926, page 20.
  2. ↑ "Bardelys the Magnificent". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Progressive Silent Film List: Bardelys the Magnificent". Silent Era. Retrieved 2009-06-04.
  4. ↑ "Full cast and crew for Bardelys the Magnificent". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved August 1, 2012.

External links

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