More interested in playing checkers with the servants than in governing his people, King Eric VIII is dominated by Martha, his queen, a humorless woman who believes in doing her royal duty a... Read allMore interested in playing checkers with the servants than in governing his people, King Eric VIII is dominated by Martha, his queen, a humorless woman who believes in doing her royal duty above all else. Her daughter, Princess Anne, however, loves commoner Freddie Granton, the k... Read allMore interested in playing checkers with the servants than in governing his people, King Eric VIII is dominated by Martha, his queen, a humorless woman who believes in doing her royal duty above all else. Her daughter, Princess Anne, however, loves commoner Freddie Granton, the king's secretary, and refuses to marry her mother's political choice, the foppish Prince Wi... Read all
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- Grecian Ambassador
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- Guest at Grand Ball
- (uncredited)
- Lady in Waiting to Princess Anne
- (uncredited)
- Guest at Grand Ball
- (uncredited)
- Lady in Waiting to Princess Anne
- (uncredited)
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This was a film based on a play and during some moments that was obvious, probably more than it should be.
The heart of this story is about a royal Princess Anne, played by Astor, who wants to marry a commoner, Freddie, but her mother the queen has promised her off to the Crown Prince William.
Before their wedding...a peasant uprisings occurs (which I found very strange and unnecessary for the plot). Princess Anne could have gone off and married Freddie with her father's blessing...but she couldn't leave her father alone while the palace was under attack do she stays...which means marrying the Crown Prince when her mother returns...or does it?
The best part really is Sherman and Astor...they breathe wonderful life into the father and daughter relationship that is the only part of the film worthy of watching.
Sherman plays the lead in Royal Bed as the King, Nance O'Neil his discerning wife The Queen, Mary Astor their daughter, the wonderful Robert Warwick(later in Sullivan's Travels and numerous others)as the pompous General Northup and a host of characters. Basically the King is a softy. He's intimidated by his high ranking officials such as Northup. And also by his wife who seems to have been betrothed to the King decades earlier in an arranged marriage. Sherman's tender scenes are with his daughter Mary Astor. Her mother and General Northup want her to enter an arranged marriage so as to make the country look good. And Northup would gain more feathers in his cap so to speak. The girl wants out of the arranged marriage to a fop of an aristocrat. She eventually gets to marry the man she loves, her father's male secretary, after cooing him over. This disappoints her mother who decides to take a vacation to America on an ocean liner. Northup conspires to have the King deposed so that he can take over in a Coup. As the kingdom crumbles Sherman remains a calm and collected monarch eager to toss out one liners and play checkers with his butler. He's a down to earth monarch in a kingdom crying out for leadership.(Can't help wondering how much the recent history of the fall of the Romanovs influenced Sherwood as well as Sherman).
This may be a forgotten little comedy. One of many by RKO. RKO wanted to capitalize off of the hit play. The melodrama aka over-acting may seem corny today. But not really. Melodrama can be fun for the audience. And for the actors quite tiring when you think about it. All of that energy to pronounce vowels and consonants in an exaggerated manner.The interacting between the actors is hilarious as they read their over-the-top dialogue. Robert Warwick's deep stage trained voice is so well recorded that he's my favorite character in this. This is not a bad 90 minutes of viewing. Turner may dust it off once in a while. That's where you'll likely see this and many other Sherman directed early talkies if they don't come to video or dvd.
Sherman is essentially indifferent to the role of king, he'd just as soon abdicate and let Princess Mary Astor marry her heart's desire Anthony Bushell. But Queen Nance O'Neill likes the perks of being royalty so Sherman stays.
The issue may get forced as there's revolution in the air and a most authoritarian army commander in Robert Warwick to put it down. At this point Sherman snaps out of his indolence and shows some statesmanship to set the ship of state right.
Next to work like The Petrified Forest, Abe Lincoln In Illinois and Idiot's Delight this is most second rate Robert Sherwood. But it does get its satirical points across. Watch for a nice performance from Hugh Trevor as a visiting foreign prince scheduled to marry Mary Astor and as unhappy about the prospect as she is. Another tragedy as Trevor died soon after this film was released.
There are some amusing moments. Lowell Sherman is fine in the role, but I can see how Roland Young would have fit this perfectly.
As for the princess, Princess Anne (Mary Astor), she was the typical oppressed princess. You know the one--she can't do anything she wants to do and she's being forced to marry someone she doesn't want to marry. Only if she were a common peasant then she'd be free.
Gag.
Oppression is oppression no matter who is being oppressed, but I still find it difficult to watch a princess complain about how terrible her life is, or how she'd prefer being a beggar over being a princess. It's language like that that makes rich and royalty so unrelatable.
As for the king, King Eric VIII (Lowell Sherman), he was a solid dude. He loved his daughter, liked playing checkers with his palace guard, and was in favor of a republic. He was also in favor of his daughter running off and eloping with her secret lover, Freddie Granton (Anthony Bushell), the king's secretary. The king was in an untenable position that required some deft moves to navigate. He would have to use all of his wits to keep the peace, give his daughter what she wanted, and remain king at the same time. He did what he could and kept it funny all the while.
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Did you know
- TriviaNancy Lee Blaine's only film.
- Quotes
Princess Anne: She's furious now because father is going out. Mother tries to boss everything - well, she not going to boss me! I'm not her husband. I'm going to lead my own life!
Granton: And may I ask when do you intend to start?
Princess Anne: As soon as she's safely on her trip to America. One of these days, Mother will pick up a New York paper and discover her daughter has eloped. You *are* going to elope with me, aren't you, Freddy?
Granton: Oh yes, Anne. I wouldn't let you elope alone.
- Crazy creditsOpening card: Truly, there is no reason why all kings and queens should not be human beings, even though there is every reason why all human beings should not be kings and queens. ...... Louis XI
- ConnectionsVersion of The Queen's Husband (1946)
Details
- Runtime1 hour 15 minutes
- Color