If I Were King( 1938)

TV-MAAdventureHistory

68%

User
Score

His Love-Making Was as Dangerous as His Sword-Play

Overview

King Louis XI masquerades as a commoner in Paris, seeking out the treachery he is sure lurks in his kingdom. At a local tavern, he overhears the brash poet François Villon extolling why he would be a better king. Annoyed yet intrigued, the King bestows on Villon the title of Grand Constable. Soon Villon begins work and falls for a lovely lady-in-waiting, but then must flee execution when the King turns on him.

Top Billed Cast

Ronald Colman
François Villon
Basil Rathbone
Louis XI
Frances Dee
Katherine de Vaucelles
Ellen Drew
Huguette
C. V. France
Father Villon
Henry Wilcoxon
Captain of the Watch
Heather Thatcher
The Queen
Stanley Ridges
Rene de Montigny
Bruce Lester
Noel de Jolys
Alma Lloyd
Colette
Walter Kingsford
Tristan l'Hermite
Sidney Toler
Robin Turgis
Colin Tapley
Jehan LeLoup
Ralph Forbes
Oliver le Dain
John Miljan
Thibaut d'Aussigny
William Haade
Guy Tabarie
Adrian Morris
Colin de Cayeulx
Montagu Love
General Dudon
Lester Matthews
General Saliere
William Farnum
General Barbezier
Paul Harvey
Burgundian Herald
Barry Macollum
Storehouse Watchman
May Beatty
Anna
Winter Hall
Major Domo
Francis McDonald
Casin Cholet
Ann Evers
Lady-in-Waiting
Jean Fenwick
Lady-in-Waiting
Jimmy Aubrey
Drunk (uncredited)
Guy Bellis
Third Officer (uncredited)
Lionel Belmore
Chief Steward (uncredited)
Ted Billings
Parisian Peasant (uncredited)
Ed Brady
Beggar (uncredited)
Henry Brandon
Soldier (uncredited)
George Bruggeman
Restraining Guard (uncredited)
Marie Burton
Girl (uncredited)
Ethel Clayton
Old Woman (uncredited)
David Clyde
First Officer (uncredited)
Bing Conley
Burgundian Knight (uncredited)
Alec Craig
Spy (uncredited)
Paula DeCardo
Dancer (uncredited)
Jane Dewey
Maid (uncredited)
Shorty English
Beggar (uncredited)
Ralph Faulkner
First Watch (uncredited)
Norah Gale
Lady-in-Waiting (uncredited)
John George
Beggar (uncredited)
Eddie Hall
Soldier (uncredited)
Darryl Hickman
Child (uncredited)
Shep Houghton
Burgundian Knight (uncredited)
Brandon Hurst
Beggar (uncredited)
Major Kieffer
Burgundian Knight (uncredited)
Claude King
Courtier (uncredited)
Judith King
Girl (uncredited)
Stanley King
Captain of Archers (uncredited)
Ian Maclaren
Beggar (uncredited)
Eric Mayne
Court Member (uncredited)
Merrill McCormick
Ruffian
Clive Morgan
Second Officer (uncredited)
Paul Newlan
Beggar (uncredited)
Carol Parker
Girl (uncredited)
Russ Powell
Ruffian (uncredited)
Ruth Rogers
Girl (uncredited)
John Roy
Restraining Guard (uncredited)
Ralph Sanford
Cook (uncredited)
Charles Schaeffer
Third Watch (uncredited)
Louise Seidel
Girl (uncredited)
Allen D. Sewall
Parisian Peasant (uncredited)
Count Stefenelli
Court Member (uncredited)
Dan Strebel
Second Watch (uncredited)
Evan Thomas
Officer (uncredited)
Cheryl Walker
Girl (uncredited)
Robert Wegner
Fourth Watch (uncredited)
Pat West
Bit Part (uncredited)
Dorothy White
Girl (uncredited)
Gloria Williams
Girl (uncredited)
Harry Wilson
Beggar (uncredited)

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A review by CinemaSerf

Written by CinemaSerf on Mon Jun 20 2022

This is a cracking bit of swashbuckling adventure with Ronald Colman ("Villon") and particularly Basil Rathbone (Louis XI) on top form. The former is a poetic vagabond, Robin Hood style, character who pinches what he can to help feed the population of a besieged Paris, whilst their King sits in his palace living the life of Riley. When the King's personal store is raided, the King's guard step up their searches and it isn't long before "Villon" is apprehended. The King is a wily old buzzard, though, and realising potential in this man of the people, appoints him to command the city and his armi...