A Royal Divorce (1938 film)

Last updated

A Royal Divorce
"A Royal Divorce" (1938).jpg
Directed by Jack Raymond
Written by Miles Malleson
Jacques Théry
Produced by Herbert Wilcox
Starring Ruth Chatterton
Pierre Blanchar
Carol Goodner
Cinematography Freddie Young
Edited by Peggy Hennessey
Music by Anthony Collins
Production
company
Imperator Films
Distributed by Paramount British Pictures
Release date
  • 21 September 1938 (1938-09-21)(United Kingdom)
Running time
85 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

A Royal Divorce is a 1938 British historical drama film directed by Jack Raymond and starring Ruth Chatterton, Pierre Blanchar and Frank Cellier. [1] The film portrays the complex relationship between Napoleon I of France and his wife, Josephine Bonaparte from their first meeting until their divorce more than a decade later. [2] It was shot at Denham Studios in Buckinghamshire. [3] The film's sets were designed by the art director David Rawnsley.

Contents

Cast

Critical reception

TV Guide called the film a "mediocre adaptation", [4] while Allmovie wrote, "in terms of costumes and settings, A Royal Divorce is authentic to a fault; in terms of adherence to the facts, it's a bit shaky, though undeniably dramatic. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joséphine de Beauharnais</span> Empress of the French from 1804 to 1810

Joséphine Bonaparte was Empress of the French as the first wife of Emperor Napoleon I from 18 May 1804 until their marriage was annulled on 10 January 1810. As Napoleon's consort, she was also Queen of Italy from 26 May 1805 until the 1810 annulment. She is widely known as Joséphine de Beauharnais.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Napoleon</span> Military leader and emperor of France (1769–1821)

Napoleon Bonaparte, later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French emperor and military commander who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led successful campaigns during the Revolutionary Wars. He was the leader of the French Republic as First Consul from 1799 to 1804, then of the French Empire as Emperor of the French from 1804 until 1814, and briefly again in 1815. His political and cultural legacy endures as a celebrated and controversial leader. He initiated many enduring reforms, but has been criticized for his authoritarian rule. He is considered one of the greatest military commanders in history and his wars and campaigns are still studied at military schools worldwide. However, historians still debate whether he was responsible for the Napoleonic Wars in which between three and six million people died.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Château de Malmaison</span> Château in Rueil-Malmaison, France

The Château de Malmaison is a French château situated near the left bank of the Seine, about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) west of the centre of Paris, in the commune of Rueil-Malmaison.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Barras</span> French politician, nobleman and military officer

Paul François Jean Nicolas, Vicomte de Barras, commonly known as Paul Barras, was a French politician of the French Revolution, and the main executive leader of the Directory regime of 1795–1799.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruth Chatterton</span> American actress

Ruth Chatterton was an American stage, film, and television actress, aviator and novelist. She was at her most popular in the early to mid-1930s, and in the same era gained prominence as an aviator, one of the few female pilots in the United States at the time. In the late 1930s, Chatterton retired from film acting but continued her career on the stage. She had several TV roles beginning in the late 1940s and became a successful novelist in the 1950s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louis Antoine, Duke of Enghien</span> French royal; son of Louis Henri, Prince of Condé

Louis Antoine de Bourbon, Duke of Enghien was a member of the House of Bourbon of France. More famous for his death than his life, he was executed by order of Napoleon Bonaparte, who brought charges against him of aiding Britain and plotting against Napoleon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cultural depictions of Napoleon</span> Napoleon Bonaparte in world culture

Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, has become a worldwide cultural icon generally associated with tactical brilliance, ambition and political power. His distinctive features and costume have made him a very recognizable figure in popular culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caroline Bonaparte</span> Princess Murat

Carolina Maria Annunziata Bonaparte, better known as Caroline Bonaparte, was an Imperial French princess; the seventh child and third daughter of Carlo Buonaparte and Letizia Ramolino, and a younger sister of Napoleon I of France. She was queen of Naples during the reign of her spouse there, and regent of Naples during his absence four times: in 1812–1813, 1813, 1814, and 1815.

<i>Napoléon</i> (miniseries) French TV series or program

Napoleon is a 2002 historical miniseries which explored the life of Napoleon Bonaparte. It was the most expensive television miniseries in Europe up to that time, costing an equivalent of (USD) $46,330,000 to produce. The miniseries covered Napoleon's military successes and failures, including the battles of Austerlitz, Eylau, and Waterloo and the retreat from Russia. It also delved into Napoleon's personal life: his marriage to and divorce from Josephine de Beauharnais, his marriage to Marie Louise, the Duchess of Parma and daughter of Francis II, and his affairs with Eleanore Denuelle and Marie Walewska. The series draws from Max Gallo's biography.

<i>Austerlitz</i> (1960 film) 1960 film

Austerlitz is a 1960 French film directed by Abel Gance and starring Jean Marais, Rossano Brazzi, Martine Carol, Jack Palance, Claudia Cardinale, Vittorio De Sica, Orson Welles, Leslie Caron and Jean-Louis Trintignant. Pierre Mondy portrays Napoleon in this film about his victory at the Battle of Austerlitz. Leslie Caron plays the role of his mistress Élisabeth Le Michaud d'Arçon.

<i>Napoléon</i> (1955 film) 1955 Italian film

Napoléon is a 1955 French historical epic film directed by Sacha Guitry that depicts major events in the life of Napoleon.

<i>Suez</i> (film) 1938 American film directed by Allan Dwan

Suez is an American romantic drama film released on October 28, 1938 by 20th Century Fox, with Darryl F. Zanuck in charge of production, directed by Allan Dwan and starring Tyrone Power, Loretta Young, and Annabella. It is very loosely based on events surrounding the construction, between 1859 and 1869, of the Suez Canal, planned and supervised by French diplomat Ferdinand de Lesseps. The screenplay is so highly fictionalized that, upon the film's release in France, de Lesseps' descendants sued (unsuccessfully) for libel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eléonore Denuelle de La Plaigne</span> Mistress of Emperor Napoleon I (1787–1868)

Eléonore Denuelle was a mistress of Emperor Napoleon I of France and the mother of his son Charles, Count Léon.

<i>The Coronation of Napoleon</i> 1807 painting by Jacques-Louis David

The Coronation of Napoleon is a painting completed in 1807 by Jacques-Louis David, the official painter of Napoleon, depicting the coronation of Napoleon at Notre-Dame de Paris. The oil painting has imposing dimensions – it is almost 10 metres (33 ft) wide by a little over 6 metres (20 ft) tall. The work is on display at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pierre Blanchar</span> French actor

Pierre Blanchar was a French actor. He appeared in more than 50 films between 1922 and 1961. Blanchar was married to actress Marthe Vinot, with whom he had a daughter, actress Dominique Blanchar. He played Napoleon in the 1938 British film A Royal Divorce alongside Ruth Chatterton as Josephine. He later appeared alongside Michèle Morgan in the 1946 film Pastoral Symphony.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First French Empire</span> Empire in France from 1804 to 1815

The First French Empire, officially the French Republic, then the French Empire after 1809 and also known as Napoleonic France, was the empire ruled by Napoleon Bonaparte, who established French hegemony over much of continental Europe at the beginning of the 19th century. It lasted from 18 May 1804 to 3 May 1814 and again briefly from 20 March 1815 to 7 July 1815.

<i>Take My Tip</i> 1937 British film

Take My Tip is a 1937 British musical comedy film directed by Herbert Mason, produced by Michael Balcon and starring Jack Hulbert, Cicely Courtneidge, Harold Huth and Frank Cellier.

<i>The Rat</i> (1937 film) 1937 film directed by Jack Raymond

The Rat is a 1937 British drama film directed by Jack Raymond and starring Anton Walbrook, Ruth Chatterton, and René Ray. It is based on the play The Rat by Ivor Novello which had previously been made into a 1925 film The Rat starring Novello. It was made at Denham Studios by Herbert Wilcox Productions.

<i>Le Destin fabuleux de Désirée Clary</i> 1942 French film

Le Destin fabuleux de Désirée Clary is a French film released in September 1942, black and white, written and directed by Sacha Guitry. The film concerns the life of Désirée Clary, the daughter of a Marseilles merchant, who became Queen of Sweden and the founder of a dynasty.

<i>Napoleon</i> (2023 film) Film by Ridley Scott

Napoleon is a 2023 epic historical drama film directed and produced by Ridley Scott and written by David Scarpa. Based on the story of Napoleon Bonaparte, primarily depicting the French leader's rise to power as well as his relationship with Empress Joséphine, the film stars Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon and Vanessa Kirby as Joséphine.

References

  1. "Royal Divorce, A (1938) - Overview - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies.
  2. "A Royal Divorce". BFI. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009.
  3. Wood p.99
  4. "A Royal Divorce". TVGuide.com.
  5. "A Royal Divorce (1938) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast - AllMovie". AllMovie.

Bibliography