L'affaire du collier de la reine

This is,by large, an accurate account of the famous story which was widely talked about during the years before the French revolution.The version featuring Hilary Swank was overblown,making countess de la Motte a romantic heroine .L'Herbier's version shows la Motte as she was: a smart crook who could put anyone on ,including the unfortunate Rohan.The part was tailor-made for Viviane Romance,who often played the bad gals (she was also "la voisin" in "l'affaire des poisons").In this version,there is neither Cagliostro nor la Motte's father-Robin-Hood.This is the one to recommend.Marcel L'herbier,one of the pioneers of the French cinema offers one of his best latter days works.