VOLTAIRE (1933) Warner Bros. (72 minutes)
George Arliss' Greatest Performance
I own dvds of all 19 Arliss sound films and have viewed them many times over. For me, his greatest performance on screen was Voltaire, the last of ten films he made for Warner Bros.
His characterization is spot on, from his aged stoop to his vocalizations, gestures and facial expressions. He is costumed perfectly with wigs for court and a dressing gown and turban for home.
Set in 1762, at the court of Louis XV, the film's script centers on the need for societal reform. Voltaire (1694-1778) was a prolific writer, both fiction and philosophy. A true Renaissance man. He sounded the alarm that would culminate a few years after his death in the French Revolution.
Initially he is seen by Louis as an amusing fellow to have at court, a harmless rabble rouser. The fictional villain, Count De Sarnac, is in fact the true danger to Louis' court, feeding secret information to the Prussian court. It is Voltaire's double purpose to expose Sarnac and lift suspicions from his own person. A second interest is to restore lands and property to a young maiden, whose father was unjustly executed.
In addition to Arliss' masterful performance, Doris Kenyon lends able support as Madame Pompadour, the King's mistress. Reginald Owen does a decent job playing the bumbling Louis, while Alan Mowbray is an appropriately sly Sarnac.
The film moves briskly and all comes right in the end. A must-see for anyone interested in truly great film acting.
George Arliss' Greatest Performance
I own dvds of all 19 Arliss sound films and have viewed them many times over. For me, his greatest performance on screen was Voltaire, the last of ten films he made for Warner Bros.
His characterization is spot on, from his aged stoop to his vocalizations, gestures and facial expressions. He is costumed perfectly with wigs for court and a dressing gown and turban for home.
Set in 1762, at the court of Louis XV, the film's script centers on the need for societal reform. Voltaire (1694-1778) was a prolific writer, both fiction and philosophy. A true Renaissance man. He sounded the alarm that would culminate a few years after his death in the French Revolution.
Initially he is seen by Louis as an amusing fellow to have at court, a harmless rabble rouser. The fictional villain, Count De Sarnac, is in fact the true danger to Louis' court, feeding secret information to the Prussian court. It is Voltaire's double purpose to expose Sarnac and lift suspicions from his own person. A second interest is to restore lands and property to a young maiden, whose father was unjustly executed.
In addition to Arliss' masterful performance, Doris Kenyon lends able support as Madame Pompadour, the King's mistress. Reginald Owen does a decent job playing the bumbling Louis, while Alan Mowbray is an appropriately sly Sarnac.
The film moves briskly and all comes right in the end. A must-see for anyone interested in truly great film acting.