drjgardner Was there ever a greater villain than Basil Rathbone, who gave us such great performances as the abusive Mr. Murdstone in "David Copperfield" (1935), the deadly Tybalt in "Romeo and Juliet" (1936), evil Sir Guy in "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1938), Baron von Frankenstein in "Son of Frankenstein" (1939) and the evil Captain Esteban in "The Mark of Zorro" (1940). From 1939 to 1946 he focused on Sherlock Holmes films with only an occasional second film in any given year. He made the transition early to TV where he was a popular guest star, and continued to do films (e.g., "We're No Angels", "The Last Hurrah").Yet in all the excellent work he did over the decades, you've never seen him like he appears in this film. You may not even recognize him despite his distinct looks and voice.The rest of the film is pretty ordinary, but fans of Basil Rathbone need to see it.

vincentlynch-moonoi This is my least favorite of all the Ronald Colman talkies, and I consider myself a huge fan of Colman. But, at least through the early parts of the film, this is not the Colman most of us want to see -- handsome, suave, sophisticated. Instead, until later in the film we have an unshaven and shabby figure...though of course, the voice shines through. So I will take "A Tale Of Two Cities", "The Prisoner Of Zenda", "Lost Horizon", and especially "Random Harvest" (and several others of Colman's films) over this one.Yet, I must admit that, perhaps, this is as good acting Colman does in any of his films...because early on it is so against character. Here, Colman plays François Villon -- a real (and popular) 15th-century French poet who disappeared in 1463 after banishment. Google describes him as a "ne'er-do-well who was involved in criminal behavior and got into numerous scrapes with authorities, Villon wrote about some of these experiences in his poems". No one claims this film is an accurate biopic of Villon, but it loosely follows a tale about him and King Louis XI. It's my impression that Colman had a great deal of fun with his depiction of the rapscallion.I'm not usually a fan of Basil Rathbone, but his performance here is superb...perhaps one of his very best. So good as the King, that if you don't know it's Rathbone, it won't occur to you! Other supporting character include Frances Dee as a lady-in-waiting whom Villon falls in love with, Ellen Drew as Villon's sort-of girlfriend (and wench), and C.V. France as Father Villon. Henry Wilcoxon is interesting as Captain of the Watch -- a type of role he played later in "The Ten Commandments". All these supporting actors do their jobs in this film, but none are particularly outstanding. The multi-untalented Sidney Toler is also here in a small part as the owner of a tavern.The production is a handsome one, with quite a few relatively elaborate sets.As the film proceeded, I got more and more into it, and more and more into Colman's performance. Please do see for yourself. It's definitely worth watching, and although far from my favorite Colman picture, it's on my DVD shelf.

blanche-2 Ronald Colman gets his wish in "If I Were King," a 1938 film also starring Basil Rathbone and Francis Dee. Colman plays the vagabond poet Francois Villon, who is overheard by the disguised King (Basil Rathbone) criticizing His Highness and talking about what he would do if given the chance. He and his entire party are arrested, and Louis makes Villon the Lord High Chancellor. Villon gets to work immediately and elevates the king's reputation among the people. He opens up the stores of food at the palace and gives it to the citizens - they have no food because the city is being held by the Burgundians. The sentences he passes out to anyone arrested are merciful and fair. It seems as if he has succeeded. But what the King has failed to inform Villon is that he is only Chancellor for a week - and he has that week to convince the French army, who are refusing to fight the Burgundian army, to do so and win."If I Were King" is a great deal of fun, and Ronald Colman is delightful as Villon. But first, in response to a previous post, a word about accents. The previous poster asks if there was a vocal coach available, as there were people speaking in British and American accents - no French accents. Hollywood often confuses the accent issue of films set in foreign lands by casting one or two people who have some type of accent while the rest do not. The rule in acting is that no accent is necessary when doing a film or a play set in a foreign country. Why? Because the people of that country are not speaking English. They are speaking their own language. They are NOT walking around France speaking English with a French accent. This is why when actors perform Russian plays, or Hollywood did films set in Nazi Germany, Budapest, Spain or anywhere else, the actors did not have to use an accent of that country. An accent would only be necessary if a German were in America speaking English, for instance.To get back to the cast, led by the wonderful Colman, Basil Rathbone is excellent as the hated Louis, and Frances Dee is lovely as Katherine de Vaucelles, who falls in love with the Lord High Chancellor.Someone complained because Errol Flynn did not play this role. Flynn would have been marvelous, as he was a very charismatic actor, but I think Colman is marvelous. His Louis is not only energetic and charming, but highly intelligent, and Colman is able to shade the role in a way that Flynn, who tended to be much more superficial in his characterizations, could not.An enchanting film, highly recommended.

Ron Oliver A cunning king of France allows a rapscallion poet to become Lord High Chancellor - for the space of only one week...IF I WERE KING is a fascinating film based on the fictionalized lives of two very real personages, Louis XI and François Villon. The performances are impeccable, Preston Sturges' script is literate and Paramount Studios provided excellent production values.As Villon, Ronald Colman makes full use of his most magnificent talent - his beautiful speaking voice. Like honey flowing over velvet, it caresses the dialogue & adds emotional heft to the lines of Villon's poetry used in the film. While perhaps a bit mature to swashbuckle altogether convincingly, he plays the lover very creditably in the romantic scenes.Obviously determined not to acquiesce the entire film to Colman, Basil Rathbone is hilarious as King Louis. Gaunt, wizened & cackling like a crone, he effortlessly steals his every scene. Eschewing the use of his own superb speaking voice, Rathbone plays a character that will remind some viewers of the disguises the actor would use shortly as Sherlock Holmes. The sequences between Rathbone & Colman are very enjoyable, especially since in their only other joint appearance, A TALE OF TWO CITIES (1935), they had no scenes together.The two women involved in Villon's life are portrayed by Frances Dee & Ellen Drew, one an aristocrat, the other a wench - lovely ladies both. Smaller roles are filled by fine character actors Henry Wilcoxon, Walter Kingsford, Sidney Toler, John Miljan & Montague Love. Way down the cast list is the always reliable Ralph Forbes, playing the king's toady.Movie mavens will spot an uncredited Lionel Belmore playing the Chief Steward of the royal palace.**********************************Fat & ugly, Louis XI (1423-1483) was nicknamed 'the Spider' as a grudging tribute to his remarkable skills at plotting & scheming. Although he showed talent in administration from an early age, he also was quite adept at angering his father, Charles VII, and ultimately had to take refuge at the Burgundian court until the time of his succession to the throne. Almost universally unpopular, he set up an elaborate spy network which kept him informed as to nearly all that went on in his kingdom. His overriding mission was to crush the power of the great nobles, especially Burgundy - now ruled by the successor to Louis' former protector - and this he was largely able to do, thanks to his policy of encouraging the minor nobles and the middle class. The might of the French crown was significantly strengthened during his despotic reign.François Villon (1431-1463?) was both France's greatest lyric poet and a complete scoundrel & ruffian. Raised by a chaplain, Villon absorbed none of the virtues of the Church, consorting with the basest of companions and involving himself in numerous scrapes, misdeeds & robberies. His murder of a priest during a street brawl was but one of several outrages. Imprisoned many times both in Paris and other French municipalities, Villon was almost preternaturally fortunate in being able to take advantage of various pardons & amnesties - all undeserved. After one final clemency, he was banished from Paris for life - whereupon he completely disappears from the historical record.Although stained by a most unsavory reputation, critics have long admired Villon's poetry and have extolled both the exquisite imagery of his tender verses and the unremitting detail in the poems describing his coarser experiences.The bulk of the tale told in IF I WERE KING is a complete fantasy. There is no indication that Louis XI & Villon ever even met.