Under the Red Robe

Director: Victor Sjostrom Victor Sjostrom

Overview

Famed Swedish director Victor Sjostrom was coaxed out of retirement to direct his final film, Under the Red Robe, a swashbuckling adventure that takes place in the France of Louis XIII. Conrad Veidt stars as Gil de Berault, quick with his sword yet set for execution. But right before his sentence is carried out, Cardinal Richelieu (Raymond Massey) offers a stay of execution if Gil will find and kill a duke suspected of leading the revolutionary antimonarchist Huguenots. Gil tracks the duke to a castle, sneaks into the guarded fortress, and ends up falling in love with the duke's sister, Lady Marguerite (Anabella). Gil now has to save the duke without bringing about his own execution.

Product Details

Release Date:	01/24/2012
UPC:	0874757020693
Original Release:	1936
Source:	American Pop Classics
Language:	English
Time:	1:22:00
Sales rank:	57,998

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Conrad Veidt	Gil de Berault
Annabella	Lady Marguerite of Fiox
Raymond Massey	Cardinal Richelieu
Romney Brent	Marius
Sophie Stewart	Elise
Wyndham Goldie	Edmond
Lawrence Grant	Father Joseph
Baliol Holloway	Clon
Haddon Mason	Count Rossignac
J. Fisher White	Baron Breteuil
Ben Soutten	Leval,Leval
Anthony Eustrel	Lt. Brissac
Shayle Gardner	Louis
Desmond Roberts	Capt. Rivarolle
Frank Damer	Pierre
Jim Regan	Jean
Des Roberts	Capt. Rivarolle
Edie Martin	Maria
Eric Hales	Lieutenant at Castle
Ralph Truman	Captain at Castle
Helen Mack	Actor

Technical Credits

Robert T. Kane	Producer
Victor Sjostrom	Director

Editorial Reviews

Because of the talent connected with it, one expects Under the Red Robe to be something special -- and thus one is inevitably disappointed to find that it is, after all, only a rather run-of-the-mill swashbuckler. The aforementioned "talent" that raises expectations includes director Victor Sjostrom; actors Conrad Veidt, {Annabella and Raymond Massey; and cinematographers James Wong Howe and Georges Perinal. The last-named, at least, do not disappoint: Robe has a marvelous look to it, thanks in large part to the careful ministrations of these expert photographers. There's a full-bodied, gorgeous yet powerful feel to their work, and it adds a considerable amount to the film. One wishes that director Sjostrom could have been as inspired as his camera gurus, but sadly the extremely talented Swedish helmsman is largely uninspired here; he doesn't seem to have his heart in the matter, and so while the film is professional, it lacks spirit and drags a bit. Of course, a large portion of the blame for this lies in the screenplay, which is adequate but nothing more. Veidt is a bit miscast; he's a tad old for the part and doesn't have the natural flair for this kind of thing that Errol Flynn did. Annabella looks stunning but performs without real distinction, and Massey overplays the "heavy" role.

All Movie Guide - Craig Butler