The Beloved Rogue

The Beloved Rogue is a 1927 American silent film, loosely based on the life of the 15th century French poet, François Villon. The film was directed by Alan Crosland for United Artists.[1][2]

Not to be confused with The Delightful Rogue.
The Beloved Rogue
Original theatrical poster
Directed byAlan Crosland
Produced byJoseph M. Schenck
Written byJustin Huntley McCarthy (novel & play If I Were King)
Paul Bern (adaptation & scenario)
Walter Anthony (intertitles)
StarringJohn Barrymore
CinematographyJoseph H. August
Edited byHal C. Kern
Production
company
Art Cinema Corporation/
Feature Productions
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release date
  • March 12, 1927 (1927-03-12)
Running time
10 reels
(9,264 ft)
CountryUnited States
LanguageSilent film
English intertitles

François Villon is played by John Barrymore, and other cast members include Conrad Veidt as King Louis XI and Marceline Day as Charlotte de Vauxcelles.

The story had been filmed in 1920 as If I Were King with William Farnum. The film was later re-made in the sound era again reverting to its original title If I Were King with Ronald Colman. And as the Vagabond King in 1930 and again in 1956

Plot

François Villon is a poet and avid patriot whose father was burned at the stake. François is particularly committed to helping the oppressed and the weak. The Duke of Burgundy is out for the French throne. With cunning and deceit he tries to deceive the superstitious king, who is warned by his astrologers about a war with Burgundy. So the king also gives in to the demand that his ward Charlotte marry the Burgundian Count Thibault d'Aussigny.

On "Day of Fools" François is elected King of Fools by the population. The citizens protest against the living conditions. The Duke wants to end the uprising, but is offended by François. King Ludwig, fearing an affront to the duke, banishes François from Paris. With some friends, François steals a wagon with food that the Duke has sent to the King. They use a catapult to transport food into town to care for the poor.

François is accidentally catapulted into the city. It ends up in Charlotte's room, who is waiting there with her groom for the wedding to begin. The count pursues the surprised poet. A battle ensues in which François defeats Thibault. Charlotte decides to run away with the poet. But François is captured and Charlotte surrenders to her fate.

François is brought to Burgundy, tortured and, as a special wedding surprise, locked in a cage. Surprisingly, soldiers attack the king who has been convinced that the wedding is part of an intrigue against him. The soldiers free François and Charlotte, who now want to get married.

Cast

Production and preservation status

This film was lost for some 40 years until a tinted & toned copy was discovered in the late 1960s in the collection of film pioneer Mary Pickford. Pickford, an early champion of film preservation, tried saving all things "United Artist", the production company in which she was a co-founder. Barrymore's Eternal Love (1929) is another UA film Pickford preserved. This surviving Pickford print of The Beloved Rogue represents what a true tinted & toned silent film looks like, made directly on tinted film stock prevalent in the silent era.

Reception

John Barrymore viewed the premiere of the film with a large picture palace audience. Unbeknownst to the audience he was standing at the back of the movie house. Barrymore apparently was discontented or bemused with his own performance stating, "...what a ham".

References
  1. The AFI Catalog of Feature Films:..The Beloved Rogue
  2. The Beloved Rogue at silentera.com
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