Bardelys le magnifique

"In an age of light loves and lively scandals, a certain gentleman of France excelled in the noble art of getting himself talked about," introduces us to womanizing swashbuckler John Gilbert (as Bardelys). When Mr. Gilbert meets beautiful and rich Eleanor Boardman (as Roxalanne), he is dared to settle down and get married, on a bet. However, Gilbert's "rival in fashion and love" Roy D'Arcy (as Chatellerault) is also determined to win Ms. Boardman's hand, on orders from the King...

If "Bardelys the Magnificent" had not been lost for most of the 20th century, it would have built a reputation as a highly regarded and influential classic. The MGM personnel is first class, led by director King Vidor and cameraman William Daniels. Writer Dorothy Farnum gives Rafael Sabatini's story a very witty adaptation. Comic relievers George K. Arthur (the original Mike Myers) and Karl Dane are used well; it was after this film that they teamed up as a successful comic duo.

Gilbert's rambunctious sensuality is at its peak. It may not have been discussed, but Greta Garbo admired this film and had Gilbert do a version of his "Bardelys" character for "Queen Christina" (1933); her relationship with Gilbert has been documented, but she was also close with underrated co-star Boardman and Mr. Daniels, who photographed both films. A great cast and crew doesn't always guarantee high art in motion pictures, but it happens here. Everyone and everything is stupendous.

Some great moments tease along the way to a majestic (approximately five minute long) sequence involving Gilbert's escape from beheading. Don't miss this part (after about 75 minutes of running time), you'll want to play it again. Helping make "Bardelys" magnificent, the "3-D"-like escape sequence is certainly one of Mr. Vidor's greatest accomplishments. Thanks to everyone who worked with Eric Lange, Serge Bromberg and David Shepard in making "Bardelys the Magnificent" available.

********** Bardelys the Magnificent (9/30/26) King Vidor ~ John Gilbert, Eleanor Boardman, Roy D'Arcy, George K. Arthur

I thought this was a great film. It's got everything. There's plenty of tongue-in-cheek humor (as with Sabbatini's MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE, one of Valentino's more underrated films) and also some terrific action sequences.

John Gilbert and Eleanor Boardman are great together. Roy D'Arcy has another memorable role as the bad guy (see THE MERRY WIDOW). Karl Dane and George K. Arthur provide comic relief (so does Gino Corrado in the opening duel sequence). Lionel Belmore and Emily Fitzroy are solid as the Lavedans. Try to find John Wayne and Lou Costello as extras.

The missing reel (?) seems to leave us without the story of Lesperon (whom Gilbert masquerades as), but the missing footage doesn't ruin the story.

As has been pointed out, the river seen among the willows is lushly romantic and beautifully done and reminds one of scenes from SUNRISE. The escape scene is terrific with great closeups of Gilbert as he swings on tapestries from the castle walls. It would be interesting to know how they shot these scenes.

There are enough comic and action scenes here to dispel the image of John Gilbert as merely some pale and insipid "great lover" of the silent screen. Gilbert was a solid actor who had appeared in around 70 films by 1926. Gilbert did everything: westerns like HELL'S HINGES with William S. Hart, sports films like THE BUSHER with Charles Ray and Colleen Moore, comic roles like the manic hayseed dancer in HEART O' THE HILLS with Mary Pickford. When he finally reached stardom in the early 1920s, Gilbert continued to explore a full range of roles. He was also a writer and director.

BARDELYS THE MAGNIFICENT ranks among Gilbert's best and most entertaining silent films.

John Gilbert is in his dashing prime as the great lover in Bardelys the Magnificent. Adept at both swordsmanship and seduction Gilbert intersects the careers of Fairbanks and Flynn with a dash and panache equal to them in their heyday.

In the court of Louis Xlll no one is more gossiped about than the charismatic Bardelys, an insatiable rake who literally has women lining up on his doorstep to be seduced. The fun loving Bardelys delights in deluding the ladies with the same pick-up lines sending each away with the feeling they are that special one. Bardelys enviable talents however draws the enmity of Chatterault (Roy D'Arcy) a recently spurned suitor of the the lovely Roxanne (Eleanor Boardman). In a devious attempt to even things up with both he challenges Bardelys to seduce her sight unseen. What Bardelys expects to be another day at the office, however, turns into passionate love and Chatterault vows revenge on both.

Gilbert is perfect fit as Bardelys. With dark piercing eyes he conveys both a hard to resist charm and noble resolve. In addition to his expressive features Gilbert displays a wily limberness in some action scenes where he does some challenging stunt work. As the venal Chatterault Roy D'Arcy aquiline features bespeaks iniquity. Eleanor Boardman's sedate beauty and restraint as Roxanne brings counterpoint to Gilbert's rakish Bardelys and it's all good chemistry.

Director King Vidor who made a star out of Gilbert in The Big Parade the previous year injects Bardelys with his signature crane and exposition shots to bring grandeur to the court as well as depict the hedonistic existence of the let them eat cake crowd. Dividing the film with ample amounts of action, romance and humor Vidor keeps Bardelys moving and magnificent most of the way.

Well first of all, M. BEAUCAIRE is Booth Tarkington and not Sabatini but it's still a pleasure to see this as an early entry in the MGM Sabatini cycle, along with a couple of Scaramouches, especially when it had been lost for so long. The copy seems incomplete outside the missing reel. Where is Edward Connelly's Cardinal Richelieu? The subject is not a good match with the talents of King Vidor. La BOHEME is a much better film and it appears perverse to have him do it, when Victor Seastrom, one of the originators and masters of the costume movie was on the MGM pay roll.

Vidor gives it good try and seems to have a nice rapport with the leads. Gilbert was at his peak and radiates star power here and Eleanor Boardman is a nice departure from heroines in ringlets. Their relationship makes the piece agreeable and the action climax, while it is sub Fairbanks, is ingeniously staged, making great use of the lances and having some striking downward shots.

This is an agreeable missing piece in the film history jig saw.

Based on a 1906 novel by Rafael Sabatini and subsequently dismissed as hack work by director King Vidor, 'Bardeleys the Magnificent' was a lost film until 2006, nearly a quarter of a century after Vidor's death.

It's certainly no 'Big Parade', although Eleanor Boardman (who married Vidor the same year it was made) would play the female lead a couple of year's later in Vidor's next major achievement, 'The Crowd', and is here a very attractive if too modern heroine (although that may be what makes her so attractive).

The emphasis is on romance rather than action, although enlivened by a last minute escape from the scaffold obviously based on Fairbanks but embellished (as elsewhere in the film) by Vidor's accomplished use of the camera.

Roy D'Arcy is a marvellous, sneeringly urbane villain who drops out of the film for quite a while; although during his absence an overdressed, baby-faced George K. Arthur enlivens the proceedings as a would-be villain hopelessly not up to the job.