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Cardinal Richelieu

  • 1935
  • Approved
  • 1h 22m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
248
YOUR RATING
George Arliss in Cardinal Richelieu (1935)
DramaHistoryRomance

The cunning Cardinal Richelieu must save King Louis XIII from treachery within his inner circle.The cunning Cardinal Richelieu must save King Louis XIII from treachery within his inner circle.The cunning Cardinal Richelieu must save King Louis XIII from treachery within his inner circle.

  • Director
    • Rowland V. Lee
  • Writers
    • Edward George Bulwer-Lytton
    • Cameron Rogers
    • Maude T. Howell
  • Stars
    • George Arliss
    • Maureen O'Sullivan
    • Edward Arnold
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    248
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Rowland V. Lee
    • Writers
      • Edward George Bulwer-Lytton
      • Cameron Rogers
      • Maude T. Howell
    • Stars
      • George Arliss
      • Maureen O'Sullivan
      • Edward Arnold
    • 13User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 wins total

    Photos16

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    Top cast42

    Edit
    George Arliss
    George Arliss
    • Cardinal Richelieu
    Maureen O'Sullivan
    Maureen O'Sullivan
    • Lenore di Brissac
    Edward Arnold
    Edward Arnold
    • Louis XIII
    Cesar Romero
    Cesar Romero
    • Count Andre de Pons
    Douglass Dumbrille
    Douglass Dumbrille
    • Count Baradas
    Francis Lister
    Francis Lister
    • Prince Gaston
    Halliwell Hobbes
    Halliwell Hobbes
    • Father Joseph
    Violet Kemble Cooper
    Violet Kemble Cooper
    • Queen Marie
    Katharine Alexander
    Katharine Alexander
    • Queen Anne
    Robert Harrigan
    • Fontrailles
    Joseph R. Tozer
    • De Bussy
    • (as Joseph Tozer)
    Lumsden Hare
    Lumsden Hare
    • Gustavus Adolphus - King of Sweden
    Russell Hicks
    Russell Hicks
    • Le Moyne
    Keith Hitchcock
    • Duke D'Epernon
    • (as Keith Kenneth)
    Murray Kinnell
    Murray Kinnell
    • Duke of Lorraine
    Herbert Bunston
    Herbert Bunston
    • Duke of Normandy
    Guy Bellis
    • Duke of Buckingham
    Boyd Irwin
    • Austrian Prime Minister
    • Director
      • Rowland V. Lee
    • Writers
      • Edward George Bulwer-Lytton
      • Cameron Rogers
      • Maude T. Howell
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews13

    6.3248
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    Featured reviews

    10treeroland

    l'Eminence Rouge

    This is really a terrific movie, surprisingly underrated. To begin with, George Arliss is flawless and dazzling in the role of l'Eminence Rouge. I wish someone would someday make a serious Fu Manchu movie, faithfully bringing Sax Rohmer's creation to the screen, and I can only imagine George Arliss in the role of Fu Manchu. Cardinal Richelieu and Fu Manchu have a lot in common.

    Even though Alexandre Dumas isn't credited for the story, all of the action comes straight out of Dumas.
    6HotToastyRag

    Richelieu as a good guy

    When most of us hear the name Cardinal Richelieu, we think of the evil bad guy from The Three Musketeers. Vincent Price, Tim Curry, and Christoph Waltz have portrayed him - and they always play bad guys! However, in this 1935 biopic, he's supposed to be a good guy. George Arliss plays the cardinal, and he spends the whole movie making master plans for the greater good: protecting King Louis XIII from assassination and betrayal. George Arliss was very famous in the early silver screen, but if you don't like his style, you probably won't like this movie.

    I watched it for Cesar Romero, who plays the young, handsome romantic lead. In full "musketeer gear", armed with a wig and a sword, he falls madly in love with the equally beautiful Maureen O'Sullivan in one evening. It's a whirlwind courtship, and they vow to marry - but they haven't even learned each others' names! When George Arliss orders Cesar to marry a woman of his choice, even threatening him with an execution order if he refuses, Cesar does refuse. He loves Maureen and won't marry anyone else. It turns out Maureen is George's daughter, and he was playing a little joke on the couple. It's a very cute scene, but the rest of the movie is a little boring by comparison. And Edward Arnold's thick New York accent feels out of place as the French king, especially when everyone else is trying to hard to be in a period piece.
    6utgard14

    "Cheer him, I say! Cheer Richelieu!"

    Enjoyable historical drama about efforts of Cardinal Richelieu (George Arliss) to unite France against its enemies, as well as protect his ward (Maureen O'Sullivan) from lustful King Louis XIII (Edward Arnold). Cardinal Richelieu is a complex historical figure, usually portrayed in movies as a villain. Here, he's the hero. George Arliss may be largely forgotten today but he was one of the finest actors of the '20s & '30s. Arliss gives an effortless performance in this film. Even some of the quality actors backing him up here pale by comparison. Edward Arnold is great as Louis XIII, although from what I've read of the real monarch, this performance is more Arnold than Louis. It is entertaining though. Maureen O'Sullivan and Caesar Romero supply the romantic subplot. Both do well in unchallenging roles. Douglas Dumbrille, Halliwell Hobbes, and Frances Lister are among the other nice actors in the cast. It's a fine old costumer with drama, romance, and intrigue. A little slow-going at times but always interesting.
    searchanddestroy-1

    Rowland V Lee and history of France

    Year 1935 was definitely the year for Rowland V Lee to speak of history of France, and more precisely Cardinal Richelieu character; because this very year, the director gave us THE THREE MUSKETEERS, also speaking of Richelieu, but in a supporting role, whilst in this movie - CARDINAL RICHELIEU - the latest is the lead character. I have always been astonished by the interest that the Hollywood film industry took for history of France. More than England.... This movie is maybe accurate and faithful is not bad at all but very talkative and destined to history goers. I don't crave for it but don't mind my opinion, that's just an opinion. Good acting and directing.
    dbdumonteil

    Richelieu goes to Hollywood.

    It is always interesting,nay funny,to see how Hollywood broaches FRench history.To make Louis XIII a bon vivant fond of young maidens whereas he was misogynous and is known for only having had two (platonic)affairs with women is the contrary of what we learn in history books.On the other hand,the king's homosexuality was never proved :he had favorites but they could possibly have been only good friends.

    On the other hand,George Arliss is Richelieu as a French person can imagine it.He is a shrewd adamant man,with a great fondness for cats .He was hated by the queen and the queen mother Marie De Medicis whose regency was a disaster .The movie shows how disinterested he was:he used to work for the king's throne,preparing the absolute monarchy which would come into bloom with the Sun King in 1661.He fought against the nobles -who ,after his death would rebel in the days of "La Fronde" - and against the protestants (the siege of La Rochelle is depicted in "Les Trois Mousquetaires").

    The story is a bit far-fetched -the Cardinal goes as far as to pretend he is dead;the nobles who see his "dead body" take naiveté to new limits-but rather entertaining.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Star George Arliss and Edward Arnold did not get along at all on this film, with Arnold charitably describing working with Arliss as "a trying experience".
    • Goofs
      On a proclamation shown Richelieu the word "eminence" is spelled with two "m's."
    • Connections
      Featured in Biography: Cesar Romero: In a Class by Himself (2000)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 28, 1935 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Kardinal Rišelje
    • Production company
      • 20th Century Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 22 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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    George Arliss in Cardinal Richelieu (1935)
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