Korda had a few flops after The Private Life of Henry VIII but this was a solid hit, later inspiring a sequel and a remake. It gave Leslie Howard one of his best roles, perhaps his best (although that is saying something considering his career). He was perfectly cast as the adventurer who pretends to be a fop; it mirrors his real life adventures, where the seemingly dreamy, sensitive soul was also a war hero, great womaniser and brilliant businessman, the stereotypical Englishman who was really a Hungarian Jew, etc, etc.
It’s not a love letter to the aristocracy – the English upper classes are full of pompous, blustering clowns (who better to depict that than Nigel Bruce and Melville Cooper), the excesses of the French nobles are duly noted. Also the revolutionaries are imposing antagonists – smart, ruthless.
Merle Oberon is stunning (check out that low cut gown) and Raymond Massey a superb, scowling villain. There is some funny comedy (eg “how the French speak that devilish language of theirs I’ll never know”) although to be honest the piece could have done with some more action. At times it feels very much like an adaptation of a stage play.
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