Monsieur Beaucaire

Rarely in cinema history has a film provided as much controlled energy as this Rudolph Valentino vehicle, based upon what is probably Booth Tarkington's weakest novel, proving its superiority to most silent works of its time owing to a virtually flawless and lavish production and an intelligent and very witty screenplay. Valentino sings (on the sound track), he dances, he duels, he romances, in this the apogee of his comedic period, and proves to be an authentic cinematic force to conjure with, ably supported throughout the proceedings by an excellent cast and a production department which outdoes itself. The sharp cinematographic landscape presented by director Sidney Olcutt of court intrigue and mores in mid-18th century Paris, London and Bath presents a pleasant flavour of a period when good taste and etiquette overwhelmed the dolors which emerged from the conflicts periodically savaging both France and England.