Under the Red Robe (1937) Online

Victor Sjostrom's final directorial effort is made in England by the resourceful silent film taskmaster, and he is aided by a competent cast, magnificent score (Arthur Benjamin) and a clever scenario (Arthur Wimperis) in this engrossing historic drama which deals with the efforts of Cardinal Richelieu (Raymond Massey) to quell rebellious Huguenots in 17th century southeastern France. To achieve his purposes, Richelieu employs the services of Gil de Berault (Conrad Veidt), a dashing swordsman, to serve as a spy for Catholic King Louis XIII, assigning the duellist to travel to Foix in order to infiltrate the castle of the Huguenot leader, the Duke of Foix, wherein Berault falls in love with Lady Marguerite (Annabella), the Duke's sister, and where many adventures take place during the course of this romantic, witty and exciting film.

Told with deft comic timing from Veidt (as the feared duellist known as the 'Black Death') and his faithful sidekick (Brent) as they try to fulfil the Cardinal's (Massey) hopeless mission to infiltrate the enemy and bring back the Duke of Fiox alive from behind enemy lines. Though he initially charges like a bull with impunity, and for the exoneration offered to him if he should succeed, things get complicated when the fiercely patriotic and honourable Veidt falls for the Duke's sister (Annabella), forcing him to improvise tactics that will not only fulfil his agreement, but deliver also the damsel with whom he is now enamoured.

Veidt delivers his dialogue with precision displaying a keen sense of comic timing with a lightly-parodied chivalry, while dialogue director and veteran stage actor Brent is a scene-stealer from first to last (don't miss the hilarious closing scene) as the faithful 'puppy' like servant with a sleight of hand and an uncanny knack for acquiring information. Annabella is a classy characterisation of the aristocratic resistance and Massey plays his role of perceived cruelty and dictatorial ambivalence with aplomb.

There's more than meets the eye here (as I found) and contrary to some reviews claiming the opposite, this Baroque-era romantic swashbuckling yarn is funny, exciting, sometimes tense and remains true to form throughout thanks to enthusiastic direction from a noted director (Sjostrom) and an accomplished cast who keep the momentum energetic and entertaining throughout.

This is an enjoyable period drama that combines a little history, some action, some romance, some dry and occasionally macabre humor, and most of all plenty of intrigue. It has an interesting historical setting, centering on the devious Cardinal Richelieu, one of history's more interesting (if hardly admirable) figures. While there isn't much here to take seriously, it is good light entertainment.

Conrad Veidt stars as a dreaded duelist under sentence of death, to whom Richelieu offers a pardon if he can bring in a Huguenot duke whose plans for an uprising have the Cardinal in a panic. Raymond Massey is very well cast as the Cardinal, and he does full justice to the role. Veidt is believable as Gil, and his deadpan style works rather well with some of the occasional lines of dry humor.

Veidt's character is accompanied by a slippery servant played with good humor by Romney Brent. The heart of the movie comes in Veidt's interactions with the duke's sister, played by Annabella, who makes her a worthy adversary for the swordsman, both with her beauty and with her brains.

Beyond the basic details of the anticipated conflict, the story relies less on the historical background than on the easily understood human drams among the characters. Veidt finds himself torn between his word, his affection for Annabella, and his fear of death. The servant and the duke's sister likewise have their own dilemmas to face, and these give some depth to the story, which is nothing deep, but is rather entertaining and interesting in its own right.

Even though I was quite entertained by this film, I couldn't help thinking about who the target audience might have been back in the late 1930's, or who, other than old time film nuts like myself might be the slightest bit interested in it today. It's part of an eclectic genre that might appeal to a fan base of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" or any other movie dealing with stories of sixteenth century France, which is to say, virtually non-existent. Still, it's an interesting story on a number of levels, including mystery, intrigue, and romance, with a cast that includes a host of well known professionals.

This was my first look at the actress Annabella, and quite honestly, I think she could have held her own against some of the current greats of the day in the looks department. She's the romantic interest at the center of the story as Gil de Berault's (Conrad Veidt) mission to arrest the Duke of Foix (Wyndham Goldie) is met with one challenge after another. Berault's nick name is 'The Black Death' as regards his skill with the sword, and he's spared his life following an edict against dueling if he brings in the rebel Huguenot leader to Cardinal Richelieu (Raymond Massey). For Berault it would have been a relatively easy task if not for Lady Marguerite (Annabella), but alas, love is blind. His nobility and loyalty is severely tested, to the point of sending the Duke on his way instead of certain death at the hands of the Cardinal. That he himself is spared at the film's finale might be considered almost a twist ending considering the temperament of the power lusting Richelieu. Chalk one up for the romantics.

Actor Romney Brent provides just the right amount of comic relief in an otherwise rather serious enterprise, utilizing a pick pocket routine and clever conversation with his mentor Berault. He's at the center of the old missing bag of diamonds trick, which Berault uses to his advantage when his back's against the wall. It's another humorous diversion that cements the relationship between the undercover swashbuckler and his lady love, and it pretty much works. I guess the only question I would have, given all the subterfuge at the Foix castle, is why was the missing Duke's sister calling all the shots instead of the Duchess?

With the aid of the Swedish Film Institute, a collection of Victor Sjöström's movies will "tour" around the world to various film clubs and like so I have had the pleasure of watching most of the movies he directed. Sadly though, Sjöström's final effort proves to be the most disappointing. Conrad Veidt is without a doubt less dashing than Errol Flynn playing a debonair French swordsman - with a German accent.

He's not the only one though with an accent, Annabella with a thick French one, her sister the countess speaks the Queen's English and the men at the inn sounds like peasants from the English countryside. It is all rather confusing.

I don't know why Sjöström accepted the direct this movie, perhaps he was eager to direct again but too many constraints were put on him. The end result looks like any movie that includes musketeers or cardinal Richeliu.

Congenital swashbuckler Conrad Veidt (as Gil de Berault) can't keep his sword in its sheath, despite a law against dueling; so, he is sentenced to death. Mr. Veidt receives an offer of exoneration from ruthless and powerful Raymond Massey (as Cardinal Richelieu); but, he must first capture Mr. Massey's enemy, a revolutionary Duke. Veidt manages to install himself as a guest in the Duke's castle, with its master away. While waiting for his prey to return, Veidt becomes smitten with the Duke's sister, Annabella (as Lady Marguerite).

Notable as Victor Sjöström final film as director; and, the direction of "Under the Red Robe" is certainly a highlight. The performances of the three leads are also excellent, intensified by Mr. Sjöström, a master filmmaker. Unfortunately, this re-make of a 1923 swashbuckling silent doesn't offer very much action, which doesn't help its already slow-moving story. Romney Brent (as Marius) contrasts the intense lead performances, as Veidt's light-heeled lackey.

****** Under the Red Robe (5/31/37) Victor Sjöström ~ Conrad Veidt, Annabella, Raymond Massey

This 1937 film was the third version of a rather creaky Victorian era play Under The Red Robe written by Edward E. Rose and debuting on Broadway in 1896. This British production is the only sound version and given the material is rather arcane we're not likely to see another version made.

The Red Robe of the title refers to the vestments of Cardinal Richelieu, minister to King Louis XIII in 17th century France and first statesman of Europe. The man who said on his deathbed that he had no enemies save those of the state is played with a combination of subtlety and fanaticism by Raymond Massey, two qualities normally not compatible.

Massey has a mission and it requires a guy who can think fast on his feet and be both a courtier and a duelist. He's got such a man in Conrad Veidt. But Veidt is under a death sentence for violating the Cardinal's edict against dueling.

But if Veidt brings in the leader of the Huguenot Protestants who hops back and forth over the Pyrenees to Spain stirring up revolt, he can get the sentence commuted. To aid and assist Veidt, Massey assigns his man Romney Brent.

One small complication Veidt falls for Annabella whom he thinks is the Countess. A real mess all around.

The cast does well by the material, but it's ancient and dated and some of the motivations are a bit hard to follow. The play was written in a far more romantic era and was old fashioned when it got to the screen in 1937 let alone seeing it now.

But as a curiosity it might be worth a look.

France, 1622. The master duellist & assassin known as the "Black Death", Gil de Berault, accidentally finds himself on the wrong side of the Cardinal when he unwittingly violates the Cardinal's edict on duelling by challenging a man who claims he cheated him. Sent to the gallows, he is saved only by the Cardinal's instruction in return for a secret mission – to capture the rebel Duke of Foix & bring him to the Cardinal's chamber to be executed. Along with a master pickpocket named Marius, Berault heads into Foix, where he cons his way into the Duke's castle as an injured guest. But his mission heads into complication when he falls in love with Lady Marguerite, the Duke's feisty sister.

Conrad Veidt was a legend in the early years of cinema – the actor who played the creepy somnambulist Cesare in the horror classic The Cabinet of Dr Caligari, the French king Louis XI in The Beloved Rogue & later in Casablanca. What is amazing about Veidt is that he excelled in both silent cinema & the new-fangled "talkies" of the 1930s. Here, he stars as a master assassin & spy who finds his loyalties tested by going onto a mortal mission to save his neck by offering another.

Under the Red Robe is something of a minor (obscure, to be exact) film in the 1930s but the miracle of the digital age has given the film another kind of afterlife on the DVD format – indeed I picked it up on a DVD multipack. The film's plot is okay, if nothing particularly special but it is Veidt himself who makes the film passable. His character's persona – alternating between cold duty & polite manners – is proof that the actor is a legend. Helping him in the mission is the film's dialogue director, Romney Brent (who himself does a good acting turn, making an effective comic relief) & Annabella as the love interest.

Who's under the red robe? Cardinal Richelieu, of course. But, with B&W cinematography, we can't tell what color it is. Several reviewers complain about the poor quality of the copy they saw. I saw a good copy at YouTube. However, another copy at this site was not great.

This is a semi-historical drama and love story, taking place in France, around 1630. The central character: Gil de Berault, is played by Conrad Veidt. Also known as the Black Death, he is noted for his dueling success and his gambling. Gil's retainer: Marius, is especially skilled at eavesdropping, and pickpocketing. Played by Romney Brent, he is perhaps the most charismatic male player in the film, adding humor here and there. Cardinal Richelieu is played by a dour Raymond Massey, intent on squashing a feared imminent rebellion by Huguenots of southwestern France, led by the Duke of Fiox. Instead of sending a regiment to try to capture the duke, Richelieu decides to send one man(and his retainer)Gil, on a spy mission, to try to be accepted as a guest in the duke's castle. Gil just barely escaped the hangman's noose for engaging in a duel, after such was made a capital crime. If he fails in this mission, he faces the gallows again. However, if he is discovered as a spy, he will surely be killed by the Huguenots. Complicating matters, there is a mutual attraction between himself and what he assumes is the duke's wife: Lady Marguerita, who is the dominant personality in the castle in the absence of the duke, who is in Spain. Once she informs him that she is the unmarried sister of the Duchess, rather than the Duchess, their romantic relationship is intensified. Also, Gil gives her the bag of diamonds she was going to send to the duke, which mysteriously had disappeared(Marius had pickpocketed them, and given them to Gil, who claimed he had found them on the ground). This act finally convinced Annabella she was wrong in her suspicion that Gil was a royal spy.

Annabella would come to regret her new impression of Gil when a squad of royal soldiers caught the duke when he returned to his castle from Spain. Gil objected that he had priority in capturing the duke, as shown in his written instructions from Richelieu. This was reluctantly accepted by the captain of the soldiers, who remarked "I thought you were an honest man on the wrong side, but I see you are a scoundrel on the right side." Naturally, Annabella was quite shocked by this turn of events. She, the duke, and Gil begin a journey, by horse, to Paris, to see Richelieu. At a strategic point, they stop and chat. Gil has a risky plan how he might please Richelieu, the duke, and Annabella. I will let you see the movie to discover how this turns out. Hint: Gil does luck out and accomplish all this, but how?

Anabella is quite charismatic and beautiful, but her thick French accent is sometimes nearly impossible to make out. Sophie Stewart, as the Duchess of Fiox, is hardly noticed. Conrad Veidt(Gil) is not especially charismatic as a swashbuckler. Could have used Errol Flynn in his place.

I say "unearthed" because the film seems to have been buried -- the condition of the print is pretty bad, and the soundtrack is so worn that half the subtitles say, "Inaudible". Apparently this is an orphaned film, in the public domain, without a decent print to remaster. Considering that many fine films have disappeared, we are lucky that this one survived at all. Lucky, because we see here what made this movie's era "Golden". Even routine costume dramas/comedies such as this one were blessed with fine production values, interesting scripts, and great directors and actors.

You can't have everything, and I wanted to see more of the deliciously ruthless Raymond Massey, who got second billing as Cardinal Richelieu but only a few minutes of screen time. A great discovery for me was Romney Brent. I looked him up, and most of his career was on the stage, so to see this delightful character player on the screen is a real treat. Annabella's heavy accent is hard to decipher, but she's so lovely, who cares, especially when she's framed by Victor Sjöstrōm, who brought us Garbo.

The sets are impressive, and the story is an interesting piece of historical fiction. There really is a Château Foix (subtitles call it "Fiox"), which did have a connection to Richelieu. If you're a movie lover, then look past the poor print and be grateful for this unearthed gem.

Victor Sjöström's last movie as a director, is a mixed result of a try at a prestige movie to celebrate Denham Studio's opening, what with a script co-written by Lajos Biros and camera-work by James Wong Howe. Raymond Massey is Cardinal Richelieu. To thwart an uprising by Hugenots, he reprieves Conrad Veidt from hanging and sends him to capture Wyndham Goldie, the leader of the Protestants. Veidt is a rogue, but when he falls in love with Goldie's sister, Annabella....

It all starts out very well, given strong compositions and a typically Sjöström-like storm raging as he slips the leash of his watchdog, Romney Brent, recovers the diamonds and offers to duel the soldiers sent to arrest anyone they can. By the end of the movie, alas, the director is overwhelmed by the rigors of dramatic form and having Mr. Brent as his dialogue director. Sjöström retired from directing movies, although he would distinguish them as an actor for the next twenty years.

For the first half, it's a great movie. Too bad it couldn't finish that way.

Conrad Veidt plays Gil De Berault, a duelist and rogue who occasionally helps Cardinal Richelieu (Raymond Massey). Needing to have an opponent to the crown found and killed, Richelieu sends De Berault on a mission. However De Berault finds romance with his enemies sister and must find away to keep everyone, especially himself, alive.

Veidt makes an odd swashbuckling hero. To be honest he may have been a bit too long in the tooth, but he still manages to give a good performance as man who knows his way around a sticky situation. His witty delivery and occasional bits of daring do make up for any short comings his age may have inferred. While far from perfect it is the sort of thing thats perfect at 1am when you can't sleep, though odds are you'll be like me and end up really past your bad time waiting for the no always certain conclusion.