The Taking of Power by Louis XIV
Original title: La prise de pouvoir par Louis XIV
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
1.7K
YOUR RATING
After the death of Cardinal Mazarin, young king Louis XIV decides to assert his power to control the aristocracy.After the death of Cardinal Mazarin, young king Louis XIV decides to assert his power to control the aristocracy.After the death of Cardinal Mazarin, young king Louis XIV decides to assert his power to control the aristocracy.
- Awards
- 1 nomination
César Silvagni
- Cardinal Mazarin
- (as Silvagni)
- Director
- Writers
- Philippe Erlanger
- Jean Gruault
- Roberto Rossellini(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaJean-Marie Patte, an office clerk moonlighting as an amateur actor, had terrible difficulty memorizing his lines, and had to read from cue cards in most of his scenes. Roberto Rossellini believed that Patte's awkward, unrehearsed nervousness mirrored that of Louis as he takes on the responsibilities of kingship.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Petit manuel d'histoire de France (1979)
Featured review
You'd have to be interested in the era
Lethargic minimalist film about Louis XIV's rise to power in the mid 17th Century. I suppose if I had a greater interest in the time period or historical characters, I wouldn't have been bored. Case in point, several months ago I saw another of Rossellini's biopics from the same period, Socrates (1970), and, as I am a classics scholar, I liked it very much. I know a lot about Socrates, but almost nothing about Louis XIV. Both are similar in style (although Louis has much less dialogue). I guess Rossellini's point was to subtract the usual pomp and circumstance that surrounds the European royalty of this historical period, depicting everything in a very realistic light. I think I can make at least two legitimate criticisms against this film: 1) I think it takes too long with the first act, the Cardinal's death. It takes more than a half an hour of a 100 minute film (actually, the Hen's Tooth video falls about 9 minutes short of that mark). We learn nothing much about what is actually going on during this half hour. 2) Jean-Marie Patte, who plays Louis XIV, seemed particularly passionless to me. I did like some parts, or at least I found them interesting. At one point, Louis designs his now-famous costume. He tells his subordinates that all nobles will be dressed in exactly the same way. In the following scene, they are. I also liked the meal scene, where we, as well as everyone else in his court, watch as patiently as possible as Louis eats course after course. The nobles in the court feign interest. What weird customs we humans have developed. I wouldn't suggest The Rise of Louis XIV unless you are interested in the period, or are a huge fan of Rossellini. 6/10.
helpful•56
- zetes
- Jul 20, 2002
Details
Box office
- Gross worldwide
- $266
- Runtime1 hour 30 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 4:3
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Top Gap
By what name was The Taking of Power by Louis XIV (1966) officially released in Canada in French?
Answer