Royal Affairs in Versailles (French title: Si Versailles m'était conté) is a 1954 French-Italian historical drama directed by Sacha Guitry. Described as "a historical film showing Versailles from its beginnings to the present day",[4] it tells some episodes through portrayal of the personalities who lived in the Palace of Versailles. Its sister films are Napoléon (1955) and If Paris Were Told to Us (1956).[5]
| Royal Affairs in Versailles | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Sacha Guitry |
| Written by | Sacha Guitry (scenario & dialogue) |
| Produced by | Sacha Guitry Ignace Morgenstern Clément Duhour (executive producer) |
| Cinematography | Pierre Montazel |
| Edited by | Raymond Lamy |
| Music by | Jean Françaix |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Cocinor (France) Times Film Corporation (USA) Mondial (UK)[1] |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 165 minutes |
| Countries | France Italy |
| Language | French |
| Box office | 6,986,788 admissions (France)[2][3] |
The film is notable for the presence of a great number of well-known French actors, often appearing in short parts. One unknown actor playing a major character is Gilbert Bokanowski (credited as Gilbert Boka) portraying Louis XVI. Bokanowski was actually the film's production manager and was cast because of his strong resemblance to the monarch.
Its English translation title is If Versailles Were Told to Me. Despite French production, the film is best known by its English title Royal Affairs in Versailles.[6]
Plot
editHistorical human stories in connection with the Royal Palace, the Chateau of Versailles.
Cast
edit- Michel Auclair as Jacques Damiens
- Jean-Pierre Aumont as Cardinal de Rohan
- Jean-Louis Barrault as François Fénelon
- Jeanne Boitel as Madame de Sevigné
- Annie Cordy as Madame Langlois
- Gilbert Bokanowski as Louis XVI
- Bourvil as museum guide
- Gino Cervi as Cagliostro
- Jean Chevrier as Turenne
- Aimé Clariond as Rivarol
- Claudette Colbert as Madame de Montespan
- Nicole Courcel as Madame de Chalis
- Danièle Delorme as Louison Chabray
- Yves Deniaud as Le paysan
- Daniel Gélin as Jean Collinet
- Fernand Gravey as Molière
- Sacha Guitry as old Louis XIV
- Pierre Larquey as Un guide du musée de Versailles
- Jean Marais as Louis XV
- Georges Marchal as young Louis XIV
- Lana Marconi as Marie-Antoinette
- Mary Marquet as Madame de Maintenon
- Gaby Morlay as Madame de la Motte
- Giselle Pascal as Louise de la Vallière
- Jean-Claude Pascal as Axel de Fersen
- Édith Piaf as Woman of the People
- Gérard Philipe as D'Artagnan
- Micheline Presle as Madame de Pompadour
- Jean Richard as Du Croisy/Tartuffe
- Tino Rossi as Le gondolier
- Raymond Souplex as Le commissaire-priseur
- Jean Tissier as Le guide du musée de Versailles
- Charles Vanel as Monsieur de Vergennes
- Orson Welles as Benjamin Franklin
- Pauline Carton as La Voisin
- Jean Desailly as Marivaux
- Gilbert Gil as Jean-Jacques Rousseau
- Marie Mansart as Madame de Kerlor
- Nicole Maurey as Mademoiselle de Fontanges
- Jean Murat as Louvois
- Jean-Jacques Delbo as Monsieur de la Motte
- Louis Seigner as Lavoisier
- Brigitte Bardot as Mademoiselle de la Rosille
Reception
editIt was the biggest hit of the year in France and earned an estimated $900,000 US.[7]
References
edit- ^ "Company Credits". imdb. Retrieved 2013-03-13.
- ^ "Box Office Figures for Jean Marais films". Box Office Story.
- ^ "Si Versailles m'était conté (1954)". jpbox-office.com.
- ^ Lanzoni, R. (30 October 2014). French Comedy on Screen: A Cinematic History. Palgrave Macmillan US. p. 98. ISBN 978-1-137-10019-1.
- ^ Royal Affairs in Versailles at IMDb
- ^ Erickson, Hal. "Royal Affairs in Versailles". allmovie. Retrieved 2013-03-13.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "French Films 52% of French Market". Variety. 19 January 1955. p. 12.
External links
edit- Royal Affairs in Versailles at IMDb
- Royal Affairs in Versailles at the TCM Movie Database
- Royal Affairs in Versailles at AllMovie
- Royal Affairs in Versailles at Films de France