The Man in the Iron Mask (1939 film)
| The Man in the Iron Mask | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | James Whale |
| Screenplay by | George Bruce |
| Based on | The Vicomte of Bragelonne: Ten Years Later 1848–50 by Alexandre Dumas |
| Produced by | Edward Small |
| Starring | Louis Hayward Joan Bennett Warren William Joseph Schildkraut Peter Cushing |
| Cinematography | Robert H. Planck |
| Edited by | Grant Whytock |
| Music by | Lud Gluskin Lucien Moraweck |
Production company | Edward Small Productions |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date |
|
Running time | 96 minutes 113 minutes (uncut) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1 million[1] |
The Man in the Iron Mask is a 1939 American
The film was directed by
Plot
In 1638, King
Fouquet sends soldiers to force d'Artagnan and his people to pay the taxes, though the old king had exempted him and his village from them. They are driven off, but return in much greater numbers and, with great difficulty, capture d'Artagnan, the three musketeers and Philippe. Louis is about to order their executions when Colbert tells him about Philippe's uncanny resemblance to him. As Louis is aware of an assassination attempt to take place that day (but not where or when), he makes Philippe impersonate him in exchange for his friends' lives. Philippe not only survives the ambush, he shows mercy to his would-be killers and is cheered by the people. Princess Maria Theresa (Joan Bennett), whom Louis is to wed to seal an alliance with Spain, finds this new Louis much more attractive than the real one. However, when she discovers that Louis is having an affair with Mademoiselle de la Valliere (Marion Martin), she threatens to return to Spain. Philippe, as the king, persuades her to stay in Paris and they are officially betrothed.
When the truth is discovered, Louis has Philippe imprisoned with an iron mask placed on his head, hoping that Philippe's beard will grow inside the mask and eventually suffocate him. Philippe is rescued by the musketeers, who break into the sleeping Louis's chamber and imprison him in the mask. The musketeers drag him away and lock him in the Bastille, where the jailers mistake him for Phillippe, and whip him.
When Louis manages to get a message to Fouquet, he is freed, and a chase by coach ensues to stop Philippe from marrying Maria Theresa and taking Louis' place on the throne. The coach is waylaid by the musketeers, who all die heroically, but Fouquet and the real Louis XIV are also killed when the driverless coach plunges off a cliff. The mortally wounded d'Artagnan survives long enough to exclaim "God Save the King!" at Philippe's wedding, and then falls dead. Philippe finally assumes the throne.
Cast
- King Louis XIV / Philippe of Gascony
- Joan Bennett as Princess Maria Theresa
- d'Artagnan
- Joseph Schildkraut as Fouquet
- Alan Hale Sr. as Porthos
- Miles Mander as Aramis
- Athos
- Walter Kingsford as Colbert
- Marion Martin as Mademoiselle de la Valliere (credited as Marian Martin)
- Montagu Love as the Spanish ambassador
- Doris Kenyon as Queen Anne
- King Louis XIII
- Nigel De Brulier as Cardinal Richelieu
- Boyd Irwin as Lord High Constable of France
- Howard Brooks as Cardinal Mazarin
- Reginald Barlow as Jean Paul
- Lane Chandler as Captain of Fouquet's Guards
- Wyndham Standing as Doctor
- Dorothy Vaughan as Midwife
- Sheila Darcy as Maria, Theresa's Maid
- Robert Milasch as Torturer
- D'Arcy Corrigan as Tortured Prisoner
- Harry Woods as First Officer
- Peter Cushing as Second Officer
- Ted Billings as Prisoner (uncredited)
- Dwight Frye as Fouquet's Valet (uncredited)
Production
The film was the third movie producer
Reception
Influence
The first film adaptation of Dumas' novel to allow for the lasting triumph of the good twin over the evil twin was Douglas Fairbanks' 1929 version of the tale, The Iron Mask (although in this case the good twin was the one already on the throne, reared under the tutelage of D'Artagnan, and it was he who had to be rescued when the evil twin was put onto the throne). The 1939 version flips this around so that the evil twin, Louis, sits on the throne and the good twin, Phillipe, is raised by D'Artagnan and must eventually win the throne. The staging of several other scenes are borrowed from the 1929 version, most importantly the ending. The ending of the 1939 version, with the ghosting of the figures of the four musketeers together (presumably in heaven), is a direct homage to the ending of the 1929 Douglas Fairbanks' film in which Athos, Porthos, and Aramis greet D'Artagnan upon his death and they in a ghosted image head off together for the "greater adventure beyond."
Most subsequent film versions, including the 1977 version and the 1998 version, have followed the basic outline of the 1939 film (and its borrowings from the 1929 version), not of the original novel.
The English band Iron Maiden was named by founder Steve Harris after seeing the film.
References
- ^ a b Schallert, Edwin (Dec 12, 1938). "Selznick Quests New Serious Lombard Idea". Los Angeles Times. p. 28.
- ^ TV.com review
- ^ "SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOOLYWOOD: Edward Small Signs James Whale to Direct Remake of 'Man in the Iron Mask' OPENING AT RIALTO TODAY New George O'Brien-Picture, 'Painted Desert,' and 'Gift of Gab'. on Same Bill New Picture for Dick Powell Of Local Origin". New York Times. Sep 13, 1938. p. 28.
- ^ Schallert, Edwin (Sep 27, 1938). "Second Costarring of Davis, Flynn Planned: 'Iron Mask' Story Begun Truex Set for 'Ambush' Helen Parrish Signed Joseph Calleia Tests". Los Angeles Times. p. 15.
- Nugent, Frank S. (July 14, 1939). "Movie Review – The Man in the Iron Mask". The New York Times. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
- ^ "Film Reviews". Variety. New York: Variety, Inc. June 28, 1939. p. 14.
- ^ "The Man in the Iron Mask". Harrison's Reports. New York: Harrison's Reports, Inc.: 110 July 15, 1939.
- Film Daily. New York: Wid's Films & Film Folk, Inc.: 10 June 30, 1939.
- ^ Mosher, John (July 15, 1939). "The Current Cinema". The New Yorker. New York: F-R Publishing Corp. p. 61.